Why I Deleted Social Media Apps and What Happened Next

Are Your Social Feeds Making You Happy Or Just Eating Your Time?

Here’s something wild: the average person spends over two and a half hours a day on social media. Yep, that much. Ever get that weird feeling after scrolling—like you’re not sure what you just did for the last hour? That’s exactly what led one Redditor (and, recently, me) to ditch social media apps from their phone.

The Constant Scroll Trap

Let’s be real. Most of us don’t even think before checking our feeds. It’s a reflex when we’re bored, anxious, or just waiting in line. At first, social media feels harmless—catching up with friends, funny memes, cute dog photos. But too often, it spirals into endless scrolling, comparison, or just mindless content. You look up, and poof! An hour’s gone.

If you’re anything like me, that leaves you feeling a little empty, or even stressed. And yet, we keep going back.

The Simple Move: Saying Goodbye (For Now)

A while back, I read a Reddit post where the user deleted all their social media apps—Instagram, Reddit, Twitter, you name it. Not the accounts, just the apps. They decided they’d access those networks only from their laptop. Suddenly, picking up their phone became a lot less…exciting.

Inspired by the post, I tried it myself. At first, it was weird. I kept reaching for my phone out of habit, only to realize there was nothing to scroll. But after a few days, I noticed:

  • I reached for my phone less—my screen time dropped by almost half
  • I actually called friends and texted more
  • My attention span felt longer (I wasn’t diving into my feed every hour)
  • My mood seemed steadier
  • I even picked up an old hobby I’d forgotten about

My Roommate Joe—A Case Study

Joe, my roommate, was a TikTok addict. He’d lose whole evenings to the algorithm. We made a bet—whoever lasted longer without the apps would win dinner at our favorite ramen place. Joe deleted his apps, grumbling the whole time.

First couple of days? He was restless. Kept asking, “What’s trending?” But by the end of the week, he noticed he had way more free time, and the stories other people were sharing started to feel less essential. He didn’t win the bet (I caved and checked Instagram), but he didn’t reinstall the apps, either. For him, the break stuck.

Ready to Try A Social Media Detox?

We’re not saying you have to quit social media forever. But if your feeds are making you anxious or just wasting your day, why not try giving it a rest? You might be surprised by what you find—more time, less FOMO, and maybe even a little peace. Have you ever deleted your social apps? Would you try it for a week?