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The Rag | Living
Here’s What Happened When I Deleted Facebook From My Phone
Taking a break made social media fun again
I’m not real cute social media. I’m inconsistent on Insta and I might never make a TikTok video. My hashtag game is lackluster. Unlike other media workers that I follow, I don’t have a knack for those effortlessly cool tweets that are somehow equal parts office in-joke and the most globally relevant thing I’ve read all day.
But it’s Facebook that’s the real challenge for me—especially freelancer groups. I forget that folks don’t actually know me or when I’m being sarcastic. I always hit the wrong note when I post anything emotional or venting. I inadvertently alienate people. I keep getting canceled.
The past year has been this perfect storm of pandemic-exacerbated ADHD, constant nightmares, intense anxiety, and professional burnout, making staying mentally healthy a real challenge.
So when a recent Facebook flame war ratcheted up my symptoms, I decided it was time to not only leave most of my Facebook groups, but delete the Facebook app from my iPhone altogether. I didn’t know if it’d be forever, but I knew I needed a break. Here’s how it went.
