Social media is a digital technology that allows people around the world to create, share, and exchange information in virtual communities. It was originally created to help people stay connected with friends and family who may live far away. Social media quickly turned into a place to share content, politics, and business marketing. Although the idea of social media is great and can be used for positive things, many aspects of social media are extremely negative and toxic. It may not seem like it, but taking a break from social media can be extremely beneficial! One great way of taking this break is starting a social media fast.

Social media fasting is also known as a “digital detox.” Participants refrain from using any sort of social media for an extended time. The duration of each fast may vary depending on the individual’s personal preferences and goals. The main objective of this is to avoid distractions, spend more time doing meaningful activities, and enhance productivity. I, myself, am currently partaking in a 40-day social media fast. After about a week or so, I instantly saw a huge difference in my productivity levels and my mood. 

When I first started hearing about social media fasting, I thought the idea was pointless and would have absolutely no effect on me. Many others may agree, but there are countless reasons why fasting is an amazing idea. As high school students, our main priority should be our school work and grades. Many times, we find ourselves procrastinating our schoolwork. Rather than finishing our work, we spend countless hours mindlessly scrolling through social media. Forcing yourself to stay away from social media for a long period can help you focus on school and develop a more balanced screen time. Most teenagers spend their free time on TikTok or Instagram. These two social media platforms are great ways for teens to stay connected to friends and family, but they can also turn into very toxic environments. They may lead to cyberbullying, social anxiety, and exposure to content that is not age-appropriate. Taking some time off of platforms like this leads to a healthier relationship with social media and technology!  

Before you start your fast, always set specific goals, durations, and objectives. Having all of this set in your head prior will help motivate you since you have specific goals you have your mind on and want to achieve! It is also important to notify your friends and family that you are starting this fast. You do not want to just randomly disappear off of all social media platforms and leave anybody worried. This also helps manage expectations since many others are aware of your task. Staying consistent during your fast is the hardest part. A great way to help you stay consistent is to uninstall all social media apps to avoid accidentally clicking on them. When I first started my fast, I found myself coming home from school and instantly clicking on TikTok due to old habits. I realized that this needed to be avoided, therefore I deleted TikTok from my phone to avoid this from continuously happening. If, however, you are unable to uninstall any apps, another great alternative is to simply silence all notifications to avoid any temptations! The main reason for our mindless scrolling is boredom. To lower these chances, engage in new activities to fill the extra free time with new productive habits! This could be anything from a new sport, exercising more, or even reading! The number 1 tip that truly helped me push through my fast was having a friend do the fast alongside me! Having a close friend accompany you can truly motivate you! It is also an amazing way to grow closer to them and create a new bond that you most likely don’t already have with anybody else. 

Partaking in a social media fast is not an easy task. It takes a lot of discipline, dedication, and hard work. In the long run, taking time off of social media is a great way to improve your focus on school work, enhance your productivity, and help your mental well-being! Social media fasting is something everyone should participate in at least once in their lives. This truly is such a life-changing thing that can benefit you and others around you in the long run! Fasting helped me in so many ways and I have definitely changed for the better!