Do I need a social media break?

Social media—such as Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, etc.—can be great places to get information and build friendships, sometimes through communities that just don’t exist locally. But social media can also be a place where people can spend too much time, make unfair comparisons between themselves and others, and get stuck in conflict.

A social media break may just be what the doctor—or therapist—ordered if you are experiencing one of more of these drawbacks. Do you want to be more active, but find that instead of doing yoga you find yourself on the couch after an hour of watching reels? Are you feeling worse and worse about how you look the more people you see online who appear to be “perfect?” Do you find that you are spending most of your time online, rather than face-to-face with friends who are close by?

If you feel as though your online activities are eating up all your time, taking a break—whether it’s a day, three days, or a week—can be a good thing to try. Even if you aren’t concerned about your use, what you discover when you take a break may surprise you.