Why You Should Never Quit Social Media
Once upon a time, many moons ago, people kept in touch with each other through letters, phone calls, or just good old-fashioned home visits.
If you wanted to know what Sally from kindergarten was up to since graduating, you had to hope you still had her address or phone number. If you were curious to see if Johnathan, the class clown from high school, ever got his life together, you’d have to pray you ran into him.
Ah, those were the days! I know I’m dating myself here, but I remember them well.
Everything’s changed now, of course, thanks to social media. It’s never been easier to stay connected with (or, as I like to call it, stalk!) your friends, family, and acquaintances.
But I’m not just talking about keeping tabs on those from your past. Social media has become a critical part of our daily lives. It’s where news is shared, opinions are voiced, and a whole new world of connections opens up. Heck, some employers even check out potential hires’ social media profiles before offering them a job!
Put simply: social media is ubiquitous, and as much as I hate to admit it, it’s here to stay.
So, if you’re like so many people who have contemplated ditching social media, I urge you to reconsider. Here’s why.
9 reasons why you shouldn’t quit social media
1. You’ll lose touch with family and friends
This one’s the most obvious, but it bears repeating. Social media has made it so easy to keep up with the daily happenings of all the people we care about, regardless of how far apart we are geographically.
Thanks to globalization, many people have family or friends who live in different parts of the world. Social media ensures that distance doesn’t become an obstacle to staying connected with them.
2. You’ll miss out on important news
Gone are the days where you had to wait for the evening news to come on TV or the morning paper to get your daily dose of current events. Nowadays, social media is often where breaking news first… well… breaks.
Not only that, but social media also lets us personalize our sources of information according to our interests and preferences. Want only sports updates? Follow ESPN on Twitter. Interested in politics? Give CNN a follow.
By quitting social media, you run the risk of missing out on important news updates, which could have real-world consequences.
3. You’ll lose a platform for self-expression
Remember when the only way to voice your opinion was by writing into your local newspaper or standing on a soapbox in the park? Social media has given us (limited. Had to put that in there) freedom of speech that didn’t exist before.
Whether it’s ranting about politics or venting about your terrible day at work, social media gives us a platform to express ourselves in ways we never could before. Quitting social media means losing that outlet for our thoughts and feelings.
4. You’ll miss out on new job opportunities
As mentioned earlier, many employers now check out potential candidates’ social media profiles as part of their screening process. This is because what you post online can often give a glimpse into your personality beyond what’s on your resumé.
In fact, there are some jobs that are specifically looking for candidates who are active on social media and have a strong online presence. By quitting social media, you may be closing the door to potential job opportunities.
5. You’ll lose legitimacy
As hard as it may be to believe, there are people out there who view a lack of social media presence as suspicious. In today’s world, not having any social media accounts at all can be seen as weird or even shady.
Think about it: if someone meets you or hears about you and tries to look you up on Facebook or Instagram but finds nothing, they may question your legitimacy. They might wonder if you’re hiding something.
Having an active online presence is now considered standard practice in many industries and personal interactions.
6. You’ll miss out on networking opportunities
Whether it’s for personal or professional reasons, social media has made it easier than ever to connect with people from all walks of life. By quitting social media, you’re effectively shutting yourself off from a vast network of potential contacts and collaborators.
Most networking opportunities these days happen online, whether it’s through LinkedIn, Twitter or even Facebook. By staying active on social media, you may be able to get to know people in your industry who could help you with your future plans.
7. You’ll be less informed about popular culture
Love it or hate it, pop culture is a big part of our lives these days. Whether its movies, TV shows, music or viral trends and memes –- social media is where they first take off and become big news.
Quitting social media can mean being out of the loop when it comes to the latest pop culture phenomena. You’ll be missing out on meme trends, viral videos, and breaking entertainment news that are keeping people engaged around the world.
8. You’ll be more isolated socially
Quitting social media could lead to increased feelings of loneliness and isolation. In today’s world where most people are so busy with work and other commitments, social media often serves as a way to be a part of the community and society in general.
As we witnessed during the pandemic, social media can be a lifeline to those who are unable or reluctant to venture out into the physical world. It provides people with much-needed connection and support during times of hardship.
With the increase in people working from home, social media has become even more vital to maintaining social connections. By quitting it, you risk becoming increasingly isolated from the communities and networks that matter.
9. You’ll have withdrawal symptoms
Though this probably means that you’re addicted to social media, if you quit it cold turkey, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. This can be due to the many factors mentioned earlier –- losing connections with friends and family, missing out on news updates or pop culture trends.
Withdrawal symptoms from quitting social media could include feelings of restlessness or anxiety as well as compulsive thoughts about what others are posting online. It might also lead to an increased sense of boredom when running errands; this happens since we no longer fill vacant moments by scrolling through our feeds.
Final thought
Look, I hear ya, I don’t like social media either! It’s okay to take breaks from it; in fact, I’d consider it healthy to unplug for a while every so often.
But giving it up altogether? That’s a bold move and one that comes with some real consequences.
Social media has become such an integral part of our lives, whether we like it or not. It’s a tool for communication and connection in ways that were impossible before.
Yes, it can be toxic, and yes, it can be addictive. But when used consciously and with intention, social media can bring immense benefits too, as I hope I’ve demonstrated here.
So, before making any drastic decisions, I encourage you to weigh up the pros and cons. Perhaps you can limit your social media use, take detox breaks or even switch to more positive platforms. But whatever you do, don’t completely shut yourself off from the many opportunities that social media provides.