raq.best March 1, 2025, 6:38 p.m.

30 Day Social Media Blackout - Results were NOT what I expected

Just completed a month-long digital detox experiment after reading about elevated cortisol levels from notification addiction. Originally planned just a weekend but extended it when I noticed changes happening.

What I actually did: • Deleted all social apps (not just logged out - GONE) • No news websites or TV • Phone for calls/texts only • Email checked once daily at scheduled time • Told friends/family in advance so they wouldn't worry

First 72 hours were legitimately uncomfortable - caught myself phantom-reaching for my phone 100+ times. Week 1 was pure boredom and FOMO. But then something shifted...

By week 3, I slept better, finished two books, reconnected with neighbors, and strangely - felt more informed about things that actually mattered than when I consumed news hourly.

Most unexpected: I stopped caring what strangers think about literally anything. Opinions of people I've never met stopped mattering completely.

Anyone try something similar? What happened? Did you go back or stay disconnected?

Nik000- March 1, 2025, 10:30 p.m.

lmao at posting about quitting social media ON social media. The irony is thicker than my morning oatmeal

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roland March 2, 2025, 12:21 p.m.

My dreams came back!!! Third week off insta/tiktok and suddenly vivid dreams every night. Been years since i remembered dreaming before this

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Rim13 March 3, 2025, 6:54 p.m.

Dude the withdrawal is REAL. Day 5 right now and my thumbs still automatically tap where the apps used to be. Brain literally rewired

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megas March 4, 2025, 12:03 a.m.

Brave of you to assume your boredom is somehow morally superior to my scrolling. Some of us connect with distant family this way

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silver123 March 5, 2025, 2:22 p.m.

Did this when my kid was born. Nobody knew how to reach me for party invites. Apparently "just call me" is too complicated in 2025

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33823 March 5, 2025, 11:49 p.m.

oof that hit home. Realized who actually cares enough to contact me directly vs who just interacts with whatever floats across their feed

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shewolf March 6, 2025, 6:10 p.m.

the surveillance capitalism machine thanks you for your brave post before welcoming you back with optimized advertising based on your absence

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Korean March 8, 2025, 9:01 a.m.

Easy for office workers to disconnect. Try being a freelancer. Clients literally expect instagram portfolios and 24/7 availability

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71abc89 March 11, 2025, 8:06 p.m.

Researchers tracking "Attention Residue" found task-switching between apps can reduce cognitive performance by up to 40%. Michigan state university published fascinating study on this last year

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Flink March 15, 2025, 4 p.m.

Watched my teenage nephew have actual shakes during 3-day camping trip without service. Not exaggerating. Physical tremors. Terrifying

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Dupuplinly March 21, 2025, 2:07 a.m.

Tried for two weeks. Anxiety got worse not better. Turns out doom-scrolling was masking deeper issues that therapy is now addressing

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ddddd860 March 23, 2025, 7:49 p.m.

careful with one-size-fits-all wellness advice. Social media detox isn't miracle cure some make it out to be

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globalhome March 30, 2025, noon

Small town resident here - our community FUNCTIONS via facebook groups. Emergency alerts, power outages, school closings all through there. Disconnecting = dangerous isolation for rural folks

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ANDR250 April 3, 2025, 9:23 p.m.

Implemented tech shabbat with family dinners. No phones friday sunset to saturday sunset. Kids complained for weeks then started talking to each other again. Wild concept

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400kg April 10, 2025, 12:52 a.m.

Measuring improvements would help. Anybody track sleep data, blood pressure, or resting heart rate during their detox? Curious about measurable changes

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Linux April 14, 2025, 10:09 a.m.

japan's been dealing with "hikikomori" phenomenon for decades - extreme isolation enabled by technology

the west catching up now with our own digital withdrawal patterns

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