DOING FINE WITHOUT YOU

But are we really 'all good' when we ditch our socials?

- CHARNDRÉ EMMA KIPPIE

Let's be real: we've all scrolled mindlessly through apps like TikTok and Instagram, even good old Facebook. We consume hours of reels, POVS and memes, convincing ourselves that it's “just for five more minutes”. We tell ourselves that in the modern world, social media is a necessity to stay connected, informed, inspired – boosting our 'social capital. But somewhere between the perfectly curated feeds, day-in-my-life vlogs and viral challenges, I started to feel... Drained. Anxious. Out of touch with myself. So, I left.

I just stopped.

First Instagram, then Facebook. I had different reasons for each, of course. I gave myself a full year off the apps that once consumed hours of my day. Then, at intervals, I started giving TikTok the boot too.

But having instant access to, and being present on, social media kind of comes with the territory when you're pursuing a career in the media space, which I have been for nearly 10 years. Social media platforms and apps have become essential tools - basically a hack for everyday work tasks like quickly DMing an influencer to connect for an interview, researching the latest trends and hot topics, and updating an online portfolio to promote your work.

So, by deactivating my accounts, diminishing my online presence, one would say I was 'shooting myself in the foot, right?

Well, here's how it went...

THE BREAKING POINT