Like many of us, I have a love/hate relationship with social media. 

I love seeing the photos of my friends, love connecting with people from different places around the world, love the funny memes and heart-warming stories that often appear on my newsfeed. There is definitely much to like.

But the negative aspects of social media (and the smart phone more generally) play on my mind a lot.

The gravitational pull. The need to always have it within reach. The inability to watch a television show without also scrolling through Instagram. The impact of ‘likes’. The carefully curated photos. The Fear Of Missing Out. The advertising that is so personalised and embedded that you don’t even know it’s happening. And do not even think about reading the comments on a news article, people will eat each other alive before attacking their young. You will not put your phone down a happier person I can tell you. 

I am pretty strict on myself when I’m with the kids. Aside from taking photos, I rarely use the phone in their presence and I don’t even think about it (or have time!) when I’m at work. 

BUT! Once the kiddies are in bed and the dishes are done, I will literally spend hours browsing on my phone. Not just on social media, but looking at online shops, reading articles, finding ideas for work and goodness knows what else. 

None of it is bad, in fact it’s very relaxing. And I know I’m certainly not alone, many of us enjoy the nightly catch up of events and photos from the day that’s been. 

But man, it’s been nagging at me. I have this feeling that I am scrolling away my attention-span and ability to just be. If I’m on my phone, what am I NOT doing?

Who am I without social media? Even aside from the blogging stuff, on a personal level, if I’m not on social media…do I even exist?

Of course the answer is yes. But it doesn’t feel like it.

If I can’t share a photo, or be tagged in something funny, or bear witness to someone’s rant, who will I be? How will I fit? 

I wanted to find out. I deleted both Facebook and Instagram from my phone. No quick access to social media. No touching my phone to check for notifications, there would be none to see. 

I lasted 48 hours, the shame!

And what did I find?

Well, the biggest benefit was that on both evenings I lay on the couch with my partner and we watched television together. That doesn’t sound very exciting, but when you’re used to being distracted by devices, it was amazing how much more we talked and engaged with each other. There is nothing worse than talking to someone who is simultaneously glancing at their phone. 
And while the kids rested during the day, another hotspot social media time for me, I read books and magazines in the sunshine (still no housework). It was lovely.
 I’m not going to lie though, I missed it. I missed having that extra piece of stimulation in my hands at the ready, it is undoubtedly addictive.

I’m not sure what I’ll do now, I’m certainly not being all self-righteous about it (ahem* I only lasted 48 hours) and I don’t think you’re a better or worse person for how much you use your phone. We live in a technological world, there is no escaping it. 

Still, it’s on my mind a lot. 
Apparently there is a growing group of people who are turning their back on the smartphone and returning to the not-so-smart Nokia. Oh the good old days! The indestructible Nokia whose battery would last five days. There’s certainly something to be said for it.
But could I live without social media on my phone? I’m not sure I could. Maybe I’ll go back to snail mail and start posting newsletters. 

I’m pondering. 

Eliza xx