The joy of missing out

 

 

LAST year, I took a sabbatical from social media platforms. Instagram reels, Facebook feeds, and YouTube shorts were filling me in with more than I could take. When I was quarantined during the third COVID wave, I wanted to check my perseverance without social media platforms and went unplugged. I substituted social media apps with reading on my Kindle, doing crafts, exercising, and enjoying my solitude. I also resorted to some old-school activities like solving newspaper crosswords and Sudoku puzzles. I chose to filter out the social noise with small things that added value to my life. Little did I know that what started as a mere five days quarantine experiment shall last for a whopping 75 days’ long worthwhile disengagement from social networks.

While social media – understandably - bags a lot of merits to itself, it was taking a toll on my mental peace for quite some time. It had decreased my productivity and replaced my hobbies with trending fads and aimless scrolling. Instagram feeds had started dictating my likes and dislikes. I was dwelling virtually with influencers more than the real people around me. Following the mad Internet rush had become my routine. The temptation of garnering likes, comments, and shares felt more worthy than creating memories. The fear of missing out (FOMO), almost every time, prevailed over my self-made rules.

I, finally, snapped when I realised that social media was changing ‘me’. Once never a nosy person, I was snooping on people’s profiles, checking out their vacation destinations, ogling over their beauty styles, watching the 5 minutes’ craft videos (without actually making one), and splurging on things I could have easily managed without. I was failingly straining my personal life in an attempt to fit in. I was sailing in a mad rush to avoid being left behind. I knew I had to get out of this madness of the digital realm and roll back into my real life. It was time to take a digital break, I thought!

My loathing for social media comes from the façade that people are building to shape their online presence. Such a sham facade pushes the common man to pursue unrealistic standards. Thanks to my age-gained wisdom, I do not let people’s social media resumes frame my opinion about them. I still believe in the mystery of knowing people in a more natural and organic way. I still believe in fostering real connections rather than superficial relationships. I still believe in having a private life; being surrounded by a small yet meaningful circle of friends; and cherishing real, non-Instagram moments!

While I was on my digital detox days, once, my friends at a dinner party were talking about ‘Kala Chasma’ going

viral on the Internet. I felt a twinge of FOMO (fear of missing out) creep in. But then, I realised that it didn’t really matter. I was happy and content with my life, and I didn’t need to see that trending video to validate that.

I discovered that the joy of missing out on social media was a real thing, and that sometimes disconnecting from the online world can actually make us feel more connected to the real world. So what did I miss in these 75 days? Maybe some wedding pictures, vacation sagas, pregnancy announcements, or trending memes. While I may not be ready to completely extricate myself from the labyrinth of social media; but on my terms, I will decide how far down the rabbit hole I am willing to jump.