Idk why but since I’ve deleted tiktok, instagram, Snapchat, and stopped scrolling on YouTube shorts I feel like I can’t relate to my peers, I’m 17 but I feel like those give easy platforms to stay updated with what’s going on in everyone’s life and stay relatable. But now as a 17 year old without any of those platforms I don’t feel relatable anymore and like it’s a bit difficult to make friends without those platforms

I recently downloaded Tiktok again after not having it for years. I'm a teen and all of my friends have Tiktok. I miss out on a lot of trends and jokes when I don't have the app.

I do really hate short-form content. It feels like brainrot. I always feel myself scrolling mindlessly but I don't want to get rid of app because I want to stay connected with my friends. It feels contradictory but I have no idea what to do.

I noticed that about 90% of my social media use start when I'm feeling tired or bored. I just want to turn off my brain for a few minutes, because I am very anxious and get racing thoughts, which are exhausting, and I don't have brain energy to do anything else. I am already getting therapy for the anxiety.

After this initial impulse, I spend hours on the internet and feel like crap afterwards, like I just wasted my day.

Has anyone had success replacing internet/social media with other behaviors that require low energy as well, in case you are too tired to read a book or exercise? If so, which behaviors?

Thank you

I’ve successfully managed to reduce or cut out most other apps/websites, but I find Twitter to be the most stimulating of them all.

The way the algorithm feeds images and information has turned my brain into mush. To make matters worse I'd cross share media from Discord to twitter creating a dopamine loop. It takes 30 days of being lootged out for your account to fully deactivate so a relapse is too easy. Any advice?

Hey my name is Ben and sadly like 99% of people nowadays, I spent too much time on my electronic devices. Sometimes i dont even wanna scroll and suddenly i find myself mindlessly watching yt short after yt short and in the end i cant even remember a single short i just saw. I need advice and guidance...how can i leave this, the thought of stopping suddenly scares me....

Thanks

Probably some of you have the same problem, but since few years ago it is really difficult to concentrate -specially when I want to read or study something- it's frustrating because I'd like to study something like English or German, but my capacity of concentration it's really bad.

So, someone in the same situation know how to overcome this and to have willpower and capacity of concentration again?

Cheers!!!

What's the point of it?

Title says it all. I'm genetically predisposed to osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, this was the reason I started going to the gym a few years ago. So while that is a factor, the women in my family usually only started experiencing issues in their 50s, post menopause. I've had issues with my hands since age 29! Swelling, pain, now bone spurs.

I've tried many things and over the years have made huge lifestyle changes - learning to cook and bake from scratch, giving up smoking, giving up drinking, being active again, learning to cook again (vegetable heavy and healthy), decreasing stress, and much more. The last remaining hurdle is device usage.

I can no longer use devices the way I have been for over a decade. I have delayed creative projects and now face a reality that I won't have full use of my hands by the time I hit retirement, I can't wait. This is honestly a terrible wake up call and sharing here as a warning.

Good luck to us all in reducing screen time! I'm down to 35 hours a week for work and 7-10 for personal usage. Hoping to make it 28 for work and 2 for personal usage.

I want to endorse the method of entirely quitting one thing at a time.

October; I quit tiktok
December; I quit 4chan
February; I quit facebook and instagram

I think this method is great for a few reasons.

1. It lets you wean off screens in general, so it's easier to cope with. Going cold turkey and smashing your phone with a hammer typically ends in failure and affirmation of the idea that screens are unbeatable.
2. When you quit an app, the desire to use it eventually goes away. You don't need to struggle with willpower anymore, because you don't want to go back in the first place. IME this only takes about a week. If you decide to "moderate" apps, you will constantly be battling temptation, which rarely went well, at least IME.
3. It shows you that your dependence on screens is overblown. Previously, I honestly couldn't imagine a life without 4chan because I was a daily poster for at least 8 years, but now I can see that I can easily live without it, which means I also don't need these other forms of screentime.

In general, my screentime has reduced by ~40%. I've found that because using apps gets you in the mood to use other apps, quitting one will in turn decrease your desire to use others. I still play a lot of videogames, listen to lots of music and use twitter, so those are next on the chopping block.

Thoughts?

don’t feel like it.

So i setup my cold turkey to block google images, videos, news, books, shopping etc. All using the associated google.*/*tbm=vid respectively. But I noticed that the images werent getting blocked anymore. And sure enough, when i looked at all the urls for google image searches, there was no tbm=isch in any of the urls. Did this happen to anyone else? Is there another way to block google images?

Hey folks, I've had a ton of success lowering my screen time in the past 2 years and wanted to share something that's been the most helpful. I found I had a bad habit of using my phone not because I actually wanted to, but because it was quick and easy entertainment to fill the void.

My advice is to find a hands-on, tactile activity that you actually love to do.

This might take time, and that's okay, But I found when I was happily engaged with something hands-on, I didn't even think about my phone. I wasn't fighting myself to stay away -- I simply found things I'd rather be doing.

Interests that (for me personally) that helped replace my screen time has been: doing crossword puzzle books, getting a pet and playing often, going on hikes, kickboxing, and picking up guitar again. I'll be honest, it took me awhile to find joy in these physical activities. But after committing time to them, having more hobbies has made me feel more fulfilled (especially being able to see my progress, and connect with others about my interests).

None of those new things I did, or would have found out because of my addiction. My screen time naturally lowered when I forced myself to explore new things, and discover what actually made me happy.

I legit have conquered so much in my life. Addiction after addiction actualized and worked on. My realization in adulthood I have worsening ADHD, to the point that I now can't hold down work, can't get anything done, and yet I'm so tired and numb. I don't feel fear like I did when I was young. I feel paralyzed, like if dread were constant white noise. Staring at Medusa yet I cannot look away.

I feel like the internet is a nightmare to those with too much time.

So much time, yet too little of it saved for what matters. I have to scroll, I have to hover, click, zoom. I need to keep feeding my mind that is starving for yesterday's greatest hits of dopamine. There's got to be something good, just one more page... Theres got to be something shocking, just one more search... Theres got to be.. time for me.. But just one more hit.

I've been on this internet merry go round for 20+ years now.. I remember the first time I fell asleep with my ipod touch Gen 1, with the white glow of a game or eventually reddit illuminating my face through the night. Except I open my eyes, and I'm now 32 in my apartment, and I have yet again forgotten last nights one on one mirror self talk that today will be the day I get things done.

I'm not even depressed anymore. I'm numb. I legitimately can't believe how addicted I am. Even though I now block all apps and distractions on my phone and pc, the hunger for internet fueled dopamine becomes dominant in my mind. I'll binge eat, I'll take drugs, I'll consume porn for hours, and if my addiction worsens, I fall into the darkest parts of the internet to shock morbid curiosities out of me. I'm an internet addict in recovery mode, and desperately wishing I could go back and full restore my younger years.

Everyone uses it now. It used to be unique, and a representation of who you were, what you were interested in. The wild west. Now, everyone sounds the same. When I found my generation to once be wildly individualistic, they are now all starting to sound the same. Everyone seems to have a hill to die on, and the hills are reducing in number.

This is a bad day for me... I have felt fucking stun locked since waking. My home is a mess, my chores, bills, and responsibilities have fallen into last night me's 'forget me not' basket. I feel like I need rehab.. But you realize that even after removing the phone and the pc... You now have to face the reality that you don't know how to operate without it.

I honestly would cry tears of joy if the internet were to vanish from my life. But it's my career.. My specialty.. My social life.. My comforter. My drug. My crippling addiction. My gateway to a fictitious world that fills the emptiness my lonely soul lives in. I crave adventure in this short life and yet my thumbs have traveled more than me.

Typing this is just helping me.. I hope anyone reading this tangent at least feels heard, or a little less alone in this addiction. Today is a bad day for me, but there will always be good days to come. I'm just feeling really sad and alone right now, and just want to be heard in some form.. Sincerely, my traveling thumbs

So we all know that social media influences the way people think to a degree but is anyone else getting real tired of the degree that it’s happening nowadays?

I’ve cut back hugely on social media for many reasons and this is just one. Every time I open up Instagram and tap through stories or have a scroll I’m seeing ALL THE SAME STUFF. Same unfunny memes, same opinions on everything ranging from social issues to the mundane (for context I’m a huge leftie but I hate the way information and opinions are often regurgitated by my side with little to no nuance or understanding at all), the same ‘relatable’ posts that I often don’t relate to at all, the same shows/films/games/music being put on a pedestal, all of it. Even among groups based on specific interests, for example music genres, there’s basically no attention given to anything other than what’s most popular in that group. I’m a huge people person and prefer in-person socialisation and I’m finding I relate to people less and less because I haven’t based my personality on what everyone else on the internet is talking about.

I’m sorry for how whiny this sounds. I don’t feel superior because of this and I do still love the people I spend time with but I just needed to vent

Something I've thought of is this:

Letter making! Writing letters, short and simple, and posting them in random houses. Maybe with a picture, maybe not. Just little decorated notes with positive messages, reassurance, happy reminders, things like that! Not quite sure if I'll do this as being seen on a doorbell camera gives me anxiety but it could be nice and a good way to get steps in.

Any ideas like that? Maybe I could do a similar thing but with posters. I do have a laminator lying around. Just would need bluetack, or tape.

This may sound kinda insane but I am considering using an old phone I have without a sim and putting the classic Instagram, Twitter etc. on there with followings of creators,news etc. I create social media posts for two community projects so can’t delete it instantly and do find it inspiring at times/ laptop functionality is terrible.

Reddit and Facebook are not addictive to me bc of forums and literally just old friends that don’t do totally fake content so will keep them for birthdays and messaging on my standard phone.

Wondering if anyone has tried having a similar approach of a social media phone separate from normal? To clarify won’t get another contract- will just use on wifi when I want access to these apps.

Because everyone regardless of age or whatever is just starting at their phones now.

I’m 23 years old and can’t help but feel a bit cheated out of enjoying my youth by being born just a little too late. Everyone my age is really vigilant and guarded about what they say and do, and it feels like no one is free to be themselves for fear of being judged, particularly online.

I’ve deleted social media, but now I just feel like I’m the crazy one for not participating. No one wants to hang out away from phones anymore, unless there’s alcohol involved. Everyone seems so anxious and unhappy. I’m at university, and sitting in the canteen, all I see are people with their heads buried in their devices. It feels like people are constantly rejecting real-world interactions for the online alternative.

It just feels like there’s no room for goofiness and people’s quirks anymore. I was 11 or so years old when I remember everyone started getting the screens. My parents were strict and I was only allowed to have a brick phone until I was 18, so I guess I have a less common perspective. At the time, I resented them so much for making me feel socially isolated. Now I’m thankful they did that, as I was able to find a group of friends in high school that weren’t constantly on their phones. I can’t seem to find people like that at uni though, as much as I try. Feels like the cultural addiction runs deeper nowadays, and the pandemic only amplified that.

I miss the freedom of not having a smartphone, actually. It made me get out and see the city, get active and do things! I credit a lot of my early career success to the advantage I had in not having wasted those years on the internet. I want to get back to that feeling, but it’s a bit lonely not having social media when it seems so important to everyone else. Also, I’m in a career where it would benefit me to have instagram, though you can do well without it. I’ve built up quite a following on instagram over the past few years on my art account, but am just finding it way too much and am absolutely hating the creepy DMs I get from men.

That was a mild tangent. My real question is, am I right to feel cheated out of my 20s? Everyone’s so weird, and my parents have such cool stories of things they did when they were my age. I can’t help but feel envious.

Hi y'all. Recently I've been trying to modify Instagram (browser version) to only show DM's. This has been hard because I am using an Apple Phone (IOS). I think I have found an easy enough way. Use any browser that allows filter lists (any adblocking browser should do the trick, I use Brave) and add this filter list https://pastebin.com/raw/EkWSQUSz. Enjoy your scroll-free experience. Cheers!

Hey you guys!

Honestly this is just an feeling about some things I’ve been noticing about phone upgrades

More than ever, I’m seeing how many people just change their phones (especially the iPhones) because they HAVE TO HAVE the newest, fanciest model. I’m currently 21 and using an iPhone 11 for three years now. I bought after saving a lot because I wanted a good phone that would last for at least my graduation years. It’s a great phone that’s still going strong, especially after I’ve adopted some digital minimalism tips, so the phone is fast and declutterred.

However, some people in my family and friends circle started asking me “why you don’t upgrade your iPhone?” very frequently. And I’ve also noticed how some oh them are expending money they don’t even have to get the newest Pro Max Plus Ultra model, so they can show off.

These days, my aunt said she was going to buy an iPhone 15 pro max. She has an 13 for less than two years and the phone is perfect. When I asked her the reason for the update, she basically couldn’t say one. It was clear she just wants to have the most expensive iPhone

OH! Detail: I’m from Brazil, so here iPhones are incredibly overpriced and even more a luxury item than some other countries,

Anyway, does anyone also see this trend about phone upgrades in your personal lives? How do you deal with this? Because honestly, sometimes I found myself wanting a new phone too, but I know I don’t need it and try to shake away.

A pattern I’ve recognized across social media platforms is the toxicity. It is extremely easy to encounter people that want to shit on you, for any given reason and any given chance. It is so easy to get condemned and ridiculed on social media.

It’s almost inevitable that you get a piece of shit commenting on you.

I feel like social media is the medium to which people can project their insecurities, within safety. Because the element of anonymity and long distance. It is so easy to shit on someone knowing they probably live no where near me. It’s way different in person.

The amount of stuck up people you meet in real life versus online is drastic. You still meet some in real life but again they’re everywhere online.

It’s mind boggling. I’ve noticed this on twitter, tiktok, instagram, and especially on reddit, where i feel like everyone wants to be a smart aleck. And criticize people as if they’re a saint.

I used to argue back and forth with people on this app, sending paragraphs etc. and for what? What am I accomplishing? What? trying to prove myself to someone I don’t even know? That’s a person probably just expressing and projecting their insecurities and ridiculing people makes them feel better?

I feel so dumb for getting on these peoples levels. Social media is a place where people just want to be negative and toxic. And the sad thing is the world revolves around it.

Fuck this, I’ve already deleted most of my social medias and i think reddit is next.

Hey nosurf. New here. Since gradually ceasing from mainstream social media outlets (save for bi-monthly reddit posts, checking instagram for local concerts on weekends, and the cold uncaring grip of the background-youtube-video) I've noticed something that's been bothering me. I feel like I talk about myself too much when I'm engaging with other people. I've noticed a pattern in exchanges with friends that are still pretty online.

I'm 22 years old, and a college student. It's a natural fact of our society that a majority of my peers are pretty online, being young and bored. I don't judge or blame them one bit for this, and only really insert my views on the matter when they ask if I've seen a tiktok video, or something relevant like that. However, it doesn't change the fact that this pattern has been irking me, and I'm beginning to recognize that I am, in fact, part of the problem.

The pattern is that these exchanges are mostly sharing facts about ourselves instead of sharing and posing questions to each other in conversation. I feel like this is a product of social media usage, as it is inherently just an elaborate performance all about sharing things about yourself, rather than learning about others or engaging with them.

Everything feels like a competition in a university setting. This is a timeless sentiment that pre-dates the internet, obviously. It's a hub of bragging, showing off skills that we hope are hirable, the very human urge to show off at the gym, outdrinking your friends, etc. I just feel like social media sort of displays of 'micro' performance have seeped into every conversation I have. I've seen friends compete over who had a worse relationship, who cares about an international conflict more, who adheres to a trend the most, who doesn't adhere to a trend the most, etc. Again, I am guilty and want to take steps to change it. There's a superlative-seeking mindset in seemingly every interaction I have with anyone who isn't my partner– a relationship in which we regularly, mutually assert that we are equals.

What do you guys think? Am I ascribing a typical annoyance and pattern in university culture to the internet because it's easy to pin my problems onto? Or is there a genuine and real connection between everyday bragging and social media?

Little rant here. I have been chronically online for the last 15 years, and as I approach my 30s I want to make sure to be free of this addiction so that I can enjoy my relationship with my partner, find my playfulness and personality again and hopefully enjoy the presence of my future children.

I have tried everything to reduce screentime. JOMO, black & white screen, keeping the phone far on wakeup. Nothing works and it is because of one little issue.

My job revolves around social media.

I create content for my clients for a living, which means that I am always drawing inspiration from the latest trends, and trying to keep up to date. But "market research" turns into mindless scrolling in seconds. I manage 4 social media accounts, and getting derailed is the easiest thing ever. I also get many inquiries through instagram DMs. So what if JOMO told me that I have reached my limit of screen time for the day? I HAVE AN INQUIRY that could translate into my salary for the month, I cannot just wait until tomorrow.

This is affecting my job as well since I am feeling drained and so I put off everything all the time and miss deadlines due to scrolling.

I have considered getting a "dumb phone" but I also run a space rental and I feel the need to have my phone close at all times in case one of the bookings needs something. I therefore cannot do cold turkey chuck my phone into a well for 30 days and reset my brain.

I think my question is, has anyone in a similar line of work successfully done this? It feels like I am shooting myself in the foot here with my job.

Leaving this job is not an option. I am a freelancer with a good business and I have worked for half a decade to get where I am.

So.... I deleted or blocked most time-wasting apps. I do sometimes use reddit to look up information that I find useful, usually in specific subreddits. So I'd like to be able to access those, but block everything else, so that I don't get the urge to go into a reddit binge. Is there a way to do this on my phone through the app?

I don't want to do it through selective browser blocking, because my whole browser (on my phone) is blocked, I only unblock it for 5min if I really need to look up sth quickly for a specific purpose. But that's not conducive to reading/writing anything longer than a couple of sentences, also because I have to log in new every time (my cookies all get deleted every time, so I'm always logged out of everything).

Right now, I don't have reddit on my phone at all, and if the above is not possible, I won't install it. Too big of a risk. But would be convenient if it was possible.

This post included.

I’ve had so many comments that I’ve deleted the past few weeks with this in mind. I consider adding a comment that’d be helpful but I realize this will just enforce their use of the platform and the real value being added here is mine being converted into content for Reddit. The posts themselves are this too.

This might sound im14andthisisdeep but I never felt it so viscerally as I do these days. If I disagree with Reddit’s practices or systems (mods) then I shouldn’t make content for the platform.

I’m confused by the entire concept. What prevents an incorrigible addict such as myself from just deleting the app? My addiction really knows no bounds and I need something where I can completely surrender control.

Has anyone done mirror meditation in service of nosurf?

It’s exactly what it sounds meditating while looking yourself in the mirror, more to it obviously but that’s the jist.

I was really down bad on digital input, especially last fall, currently working on a thesis project to combat it. So if you’ve used meditation of any kind in service of nosurf, especially if you used a mirror, I’d love to hear about your experience

...For Overpopulation

More time on social media -> Less time for social interactions -> More depressed -> Less understanding of opposed genders -> More hating of opposed genders -> Less sex -> Less babies -> More sustainable planet

Well, on the bright side, social media could potentially help humans avoid extinction in the long run

Today I'll quit watching porn, touching my dick (consciously), gambling, watching useless youtube videos, doing anything useless on the internet and eating unhealthy foods. I promise to update on this post if I fail and also provide updates every month or so.