There was a point about three years ago that I got tired of the drama. I couldn’t handle it anymore! The first thing I eliminated? My Facebook. There was a while there that I didn’t have a Facebook account, and I didn’t want to. That meant no Instagram and no Facebook and I was okay with that. It didn’t stop me from going online; it prevented me from creeping on what my old friends were doing.

I would reopen my Facebook accounts in spurts. I’d open it for a short time; then my anxiety would take over. I’d hate that I lacked control over who could contact me so much, I would delete it. I had a Twitter account – it was under a fake name though, and I made some online friends through Twitter, Skype, YouTube, apps that didn’t require me to have a Facebook.

I’d immediately close it, so I knew no one I didn’t want to contact me could contact me. There were times I’d forget to deactivate the Facebook account all the way, but I wasn’t interested in it. I wouldn’t have an interest in Instagram; I wouldn’t have an interest in any form of social media, all I did was check my Twitter account, watch my friends’ videos, watch my friends live stream. I’d just hang out by myself.

What I learned before reactivating it though – not everyone has the life that they will portray on Facebook or Instagram. I’ve done it, and I’m sure you’ve done it. Everyone has posted things were better than what they were. They don’t want to post the downsides of their lives.

Yes, I know that’s an option on Facebook, but I’ve always felt Facebook was a little more public about everything. It was harder to hide.

There are many reasons to close a Facebook account, but my primary purpose was hiding. What I learned during that year was I improved my self-esteem and became a confident person. I grew more satisfied and content with myself, my hopes and my dreams. I did some soul searching and realized that many people I held dear didn’t deserve their placement.

My confidence grew, my self-esteem grew, and I realized that social media is nothing more than that. It’s a different way to stay in contact with people. Don’t take everything you see on any form of social media to heart. As cliche as it sounds that’s where people put their best foot forward. They get to pick and choose what you want them to see. I was seeing people as they were. Without social media, I felt more connected to people than I did before. I didn’t have as many connections, but the connections felt more real than they did when everything was online. I felt happier with the people that I was around. 

I’m now at a point where I’m back on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, the works. I have all social media, but I’ve learned now – don’t take it so seriously. It’s just the Internet.