Written by Victoria Tran
Three years ago, I made a decision that many would consider extreme: Quit social media entirely. No Instagram, no Twitter, no LinkedIn. At the time, the prospect of disconnecting felt almost impractical — social media is, after all, deeply embedded in modern life, a tool for networking, self-expression, and staying informed.
Now, after three years, I can confidently say that this decision has fundamentally reshaped my perspective on attention, success, and social interaction.
The Restoration of Deep Focus
One of the most immediate changes I experienced was a dramatic improvement in my ability to focus. Social media had conditioned my mind for rapid, fragmented consumption skimming headlines, bouncing between updates, and absorbing information in short bursts.
Without it, I began to rebuild my capacity for sustained attention. I found myself able to read complex material without the impulse to check notifications. I could engage in deep work for extended periods, immersing myself in projects with an intensity I hadn’t realized I had lost. Conversations became richer, lectures more engaging, and books more absorbing. In short, my cognitive bandwidth expanded, allowing me to engage with ideas at a level that had previously been eroded by constant digital distraction.
A More Authentic Understanding of Success
Social media functions as a constant comparison engine. Whether consciously or subconsciously, scrolling through curated highlights of others’ achievements can create a distorted perception of success. Before quitting, I often found myself benchmarking my progress against an algorithmically selected subset of others’ accomplishments—promotions, accolades, travel, and professional milestones—all condensed into digestible, envy-inducing posts.
Without social media, I stopped evaluating my trajectory based on external validation. The absence of a virtual audience allowed me to make decisions with greater clarity, focusing on genuine intellectual and personal growth rather than performative success.
Strengthening Personal Relationships
Social media creates an illusion of connection. By keeping up with others’ lives through curated snapshots, it often feels as though we are engaged in meaningful relationships but in reality, these interactions are passive.
Without social media, I had to be intentional about maintaining relationships. I reached out to friends directly, and engaged in long-form conversations rather than exchanging likes or brief comments. As a result, my friendships became deeper, less transactional, and more fulfilling. Interestingly, I also observed a natural filtering effect: Without the convenience of online interactions, only the relationships that truly mattered endured.
The Reclamation of Time
One of the most startling realizations was how much time social media had quietly consumed. What had seemed like brief check-ins five minutes here, ten minutes there had accumulated into hours of distraction each day.
Freed from this, I found myself with an abundance of time that I could redirect toward more meaningful pursuits. The time I once spent passively consuming content became time I could actively invest in myself learning new skills, deepening my knowledge, and engaging in more thoughtful conversations.
More importantly, my perception of time itself shifted. Without the constant interruptions of scrolling and notifications, my days felt longer and more intentional. I no longer felt rushed or overwhelmed by the never-ending stream of digital input. Instead, I had the mental space to focus on the things that truly mattered to me.
Final Thoughts
Leaving social media did not mean disconnecting from the world. If anything, it deepened my engagement with it. I became more present in conversations, more intentional with my time, and more focused on my own path rather than the curated lives of others.