Tips for a Successful Social Media Detox
- Ginny Kappel
- Sep 12, 2020
- 2 min read

I recently decided to take a break from social media. If you haven’t already, you can read that blog post here. There are a few things I learned and want to share in case you need that extra nudge of support to do your own detox.
1. Anticipate your barriers.
Some businesses and schools use Facebook as a main information source. You may be able to work around that, you may not. If not, can you still use the app ONLY for informational purposes?
2. Be open-minded, flexible, intentional and compassionate with yourself.
If you want to still participate in a particular platform, go for it. It does not have to be all or nothing. I was off Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. I still used Snapchat from time to time because it has never caused an issue for me. The point is that you are intentional. If you say you’re going to be off an app, don’t later get on and make an excuse. Say you’re off and stay off.
I didn’t have any “rules” for myself but I did have intentions. Doing exactly what I said I was going to do was important to me. It was my own way of staying accountable to myself.
3. Decrease your chances for access.
I put all my social media apps in one folder on my phone. That folder was on the very last page of my phone. Know your own boundaries, though. You may need to delete the app. You may be just fine with leaving it where it is. Find what works and don’t be afraid to change it up.
4. Tell friends/family about your “detox."
They don’t need an explanation, unless you want to give them one. But tell them for the purpose of communication. Maybe a party invite is coming up or anticipated big news. Let those people know to communicate another way. (I actually exchanged numbers with someone that I solely talked to through DMs or messenger. We have more meaningful conversations now through text :)
5. Come up with alternatives.
Realize that we use social media for many reasons. Chances are, during the detox, you will learn more about yourself and why you use social media. Use a journal to jot down how you feel when you want to open an app. Call and ask mom the best casserole recipe instead of Pinterest. Go back and watch old videos on your phone or computer, rather than watch other people on TikTok. Make your own motivational/vision boards instead of searching for inspirational quotes on Instagram. You get the idea.
6. Just try it.
The point is to learn more about yourself in this process. What comes up for you when you think about unplugging? Are your afraid you will miss something (FOMO)? Do you think others will miss you? Are you worried you will feel a certain way without it? These are interesting initial questions to ask yourself. If you do unplug, consider how you feel throughout the process. My wish for you is that you feel free, more present, and happier.
Good luck and please e-mail me if you need support in this journey. I believe it the power of self-awareness and learned a lot from my own social media detox experience!!
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