Are We Scrolling Our Lives Away?

I know we’ve all been there. You pick up your phone to check ‘one thing’, and next thing you know an hour has disappeared and you can’t even remember one piece of content you have consumed. That is the power (but also danger) of social media.  

On average, people spend 3 hours or more a day on social media (https://www.demandsage.com/average-time-spent-on-social-media). For young adults that number can sometimes be even higher, we’re often looking at 4-5 hours per day (same source). Sure, we have 24 hours in a day and that might not seem like that much, but that can add up to over 1,000 hours a year. 

But the biggest problem we have found isn’t just the time, it’s what this excessive social media use is causing us to miss out on. Research shows that excessive screen time is linked to higher levels of stress, worse sleep quality, and lower productivity (https://www.sleepfoundation.org/bedroom-environment/blue-light). Or, what scares me even more than that, it can damage our ability to focus and connect with others in real life. As soon as I started realising these factors, it really kicked me into gear.  

This all isn’t to say that social media is ‘bad’. It has numerous positive qualities, like connecting us with friends and allowing us to make new connections, even with people from across the world. It makes us laugh and can keep us informed on topics we wouldn't usually be able to reach. The problem only comes when the balance tips too far toward endless scrolling instead of intentional use.  

And that is where the Digital Detox Challange comes in. Step back, reclaim your time, focus, and peace of mind.  

So, next time you catch yourself on the old ‘just one more’ scroll, ask yourself: What could I be doing instead?