why I'm taking a break from social media

I’ve decided to take some time off from social media. This feels slightly dramatic to write. Unlike many social media break stories, I haven’t reached a point where I think social media is ruining my life, or where I’m desperate to throw my phone into the sea and move to a remote cabin in the woods. I actually think social media has brought a lot of genuinely wonderful things into my life. But ultimately, I have reached a point of mental fatigue.

I’m in a crucial period of my PhD: I’m juggling thesis writing alongside some long-term health issues, family stuff, and all of the other things that, frustratingly, seem to be an inevitable part of adult life. I’ve started to notice a creeping sense of stress associated with social media, and TikTok in particular, which has gradually ramped up over the last couple of months. Since looking after myself feels particularly important right now, I can’t afford to ignore what my mind and body are telling me.

The pressure comes from two directions.