Social media is everywhere, and like many, I can’t seem to escape it. It’s in our hands, pulling us in with every notification. At first, it was fun and a way to stay connected, share moments, and be part of a larger world. But over time, I’m starting to wonder if I’m just too hooked. The truth is, I’ve become increasingly aware of the overconsumption of social media, and it’s concerning.

We’ve all been there, haven’t we? You open Instagram and start scrolling, only to realize you’ve spent an entire hour looking at photos that don’t matter. Then, you check Twitter for updates and find yourself diving into thread after thread, getting wrapped up in other people’s thoughts, opinions, and lives (I know it’s now X, but I’ll always call it Twitter!). But for what? What do we gain from all this? Sometimes, it can feel like a cycle that’s tough to break, no matter how much we wish to escape it.

Here’s the thing: social media isn’t inherently bad. It’s an excellent tool for staying connected and sharing ideas. But the way it’s designed makes it so easy to get sucked in. Every post, tweet, and video is an invitation to stay a little longer. The algorithms know us too well, what we like, what we comment on, what keeps us scrolling – and it works! We get caught up in constantly checking for updates, only to find that the more we engage, the more it takes.

Feeling the pressure to always be “on” is really tiring. I’ve been experiencing this more and more in my own life. It often seems like I’m missing out if I’m not checking my phone every few minutes. Yet, over time, I’ve realized this isn’t the healthiest way to live. The more I scroll, the less I truly connect with those around me. I’ve found myself in moments where I’m physically with friends or family, but my mind is elsewhere, focused on my screen. While social media gives us the sense of being connected, it can sometimes pull us away from the beautiful world right in front of us.

While we’re on the topic of connection, can we talk about how social media has made socializing in person feel … harder? I’ve noticed that people are less willing to go out, meet others, or even have conversations that aren’t through a screen. It’s so easy to just send a text, like a post, or react to a story instead of making the effort to hang out. Sometimes, it feels like we’ve forgotten how to be present with each other. Social media should help us connect, but instead, it often keeps us in our own little bubbles, making real-life interactions feel like a second thought.

Then there’s the comparison trap, something we can all relate to! We see someone’s stunning vacation photos, flawless selfies, or big accomplishments, and suddenly, our own lives might not seem as bright. But here’s the truth: social media is just a highlight reel, not the whole picture. No one’s life is as perfect as it looks online. I often remind myself that what people choose to share doesn’t tell the entire story. It’s so easy to overlook that behind those beautifully curated posts, everyone faces their own struggles and challenges, things that often go unseen.

But it wasn’t until the whole TikTok ban situation that I realized the actual extent of our social media obsession. The idea of TikTok being banned sent people into an absolute frenzy. It was eye-opening to see how many people were genuinely panicked as if their entire world was about to come crashing down. For some, the thought of losing TikTok felt like losing a lifeline. The hysteria around it made me think: how much of our lives are we giving to these platforms?

When something like the possibility of a TikTok ban sends people into a meltdown, it shows that we’ve allowed social media to take too significant a role in our lives. We’ve become so accustomed to having our entertainment, connections, and even our sense of identity tied up in a digital world that the thought of it vanishing feels unthinkable. This realization made me understand that social media’s grip on us is more substantial than I imagined, and perhaps it’s time to start questioning how much we truly need it.

Social media isn’t going away, and I’m not saying we should abandon it altogether. However, we must start being more mindful of how much time we spend on these platforms. It’s about finding balance. For me, this means setting limits, taking breaks, and focusing on the real-world connections that matter. The TikTok panic showed me that it’s time to stop letting social media control us and start taking control back.

Social media can be a powerful tool, but it shouldn’t dominate our lives. It’s time we started living in the moment, offline and online. We can still enjoy the digital world but shouldn’t let it consume us as people.