The Quiet Liberation: Life Beyond Social Media

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I'm not a believer of new year resolutions, mostly because I cannot keep up with them, but one thing that I surely wanted to do this year was to go off social media. Instagram especially, as that's the only channel I'm active on as a viewer. I stopped posting updates months ago. Most people enjoy being on social media. It gives some a sense of purpose or a sense of validation. It did for me too, a while ago. It started feeling like a hindrance a few months ago, something that I was compelled to look at even if I did not want to. I was not enjoying it anymore. While I know most of the content out there is genuine (yes, I'm being generous using 'most'), more often than not it felt like "fitting in". Like being forced to do something just because others were doing it. Honestly, I got saturated of the monotonous dancing videos, baby updates, food and travel updates and milestone photography, even if those were of people I cared about. I knew I needed an out. Not just a break, a clean exit.

My personal account was the first to go. I did this much before November last year. I had to keep my book account going as I was running a month long challenge in December along with a co-host. I did not want to give up on it. As soon as I was done with the challenge, off I went. The first thing I realized was that I was unaware of so many things once I was outside the medium. The default expectation is that you'll see it on social media, are informed and react. Like those celebrity wedding, pregnancy or divorce announcements no one asked for but are startled by. Since I wasn't on it, I wasn't privy to a lot of information. 

At first, stepping away felt disorienting. Social media has become the default dashboard for staying informed. Not being on it meant I was no longer in the loop, missing celebrity announcements, viral trends, or even updates from friends and family. While this brought immense peace, it also revealed a bittersweet truth: social media often bridges gaps that people won’t go out of their way to cross. No one wants to pick up the phone and call or text anymore. Disheartening, but true.

As a woman in her late thirties, going off social media raises a lot of "expecting" questions. If you want to ask me how I'm doing as you don't see my stuff online, I can respond to you. If you want to know if I'm pregnant without bothering about anything else, well, I'll continue to remain mute. Social media amplifies the noise, but without it, I’ve found immense clarity and control over what I share and with whom.  

Honestly, cross my heart and hope to die, I couldn't be more glad that I'm off social media and all the noise and vitriol out there. Facebook is a place I need to be solely for the purpose of sharing my blogposts. I directly go to the community page, share my post, read others' posts and logout. I haven't taken a look at my timeline in more than three years now. I'd obviously like to be off it too, but I need readership for my blog. Without that the writing community has no motivation to continue. I prefer to express my thought via blogposts than social media updates.

Life without social media has been a revelation; a quiet, transformative revelation that I never knew I needed. The decision to step away wasn’t easy; it felt like cutting ties with a world where everyone shared everything. But as the days turned into weeks, I noticed how much simpler my life had become. The constant buzz of notifications, the curated highlight reels, and the endless scrolling were replaced with something I had almost forgotten: stillness. It was in that stillness that I began to see things more clearly, especially the true colors of those around me.

Without the constant updates and digital likes, it became apparent who genuinely cared. Most friends drifted away, their absence echoing loudly in the silence of my inbox. But others stepped forward, reaching out with heartfelt calls and thoughtful notes. These were the people who didn’t need a social media prompt to remember me. They remembered my birthday without a Facebook reminder, checked in just because, and shared their lives with me in ways that felt authentic. It was bittersweet, but liberating. For the first time in years, I truly understood who my real friends were.

Another unexpected benefit of leaving social media was the peace that came with not being exposed to an overwhelming amount of information. I hadn’t realized how much my mind had been drowning in a sea of news, opinions, and trends. Without that constant influx, I could breathe again. I started to focus on things that truly mattered to me. Instead of scrolling through random photos, I spent time on myself, my hobbies, and the people I love. I found clarity in simplicity, and it felt like coming home to a calmer, more grounded version of myself. With all that extra time on my hands, I rediscovered passions I’d neglected. I’ve picked up books that had been gathering dust on my shelves, written pages of thoughts that had long been confined to my mind, and even learned new crochet patterns. My paintbrushes, once forgotten, now dance across canvases with joy. Yoga, too, has become a daily ritual, grounding me in ways that social media never could. Each activity feels like a step back into a more intentional life, a life filled with creativity and self-care.

Looking back, stepping away from social media felt like a bold move in a world that thrives on connectivity. But in reality, it was an act of self-preservation. It allowed me to declutter my life, both digitally and emotionally. I’ve gained clarity, authentic relationships, and a newfound appreciation for the simple joys of living. It’s a quieter life, yes, but one that feels richer and more meaningful with every passing day. And while I’m not against returning to social media in the future, for now, I’m savoring the freedom it has given me.