I was scrolling through Insta earlier and my algorithm changed, again. And it initially bothered me. But then I thought, why do I actually care? That’s when I realized: maybe it’s time to log off. Like…actually log off. Delete the dating apps. Ditch the socials. Deactivate, uninstall, and take a deep, unfiltered breath.

I’m not saying this from a holier-than-thou, “I live off the grid and forage mushrooms” place. I’m saying it as someone who remembers the dial-up tone. Someone who grew up in an era where you had to choose between being on the phone or being online. Someone who’s watched the internet go from “a cool thing to check out” to a digital hamster wheel where we perform ourselves 24/7 for invisible audiences.

And I think we’re all tired.

For what it’s worth: I’ve already deleted TikTok, Tumblr, and Twitter. Gone. Outta here. And honestly? I don’t miss them. Not really.

Now I’m sitting here, wondering if my Meta Apps are next. Still, part of me hesitates, and not because I love them, but because they’ve been defaults for so long. But maybe that’s exactly why they need to go.

We’re Living in the Truman Show, and We Built the Set Ourselves

Half the time we’re not even living anymore. Nope. Instead, we’re curating. Performing. Editing ourselves into brand-friendly versions with the hope that someone will validate it with a beloved double-tap.

We’ve stopped having real conversations because we’re too busy trying to be clever in DMs or post cryptic stories that are basically subtweets in a bland Canva font.

Dating? It’s become a gamified marketplace where people swipe like they’re ordering takeout. And friendships? Hard to maintain when we confuse “I liked your story” with “I checked in on you.”

We’re not just desensitized. Nah. What we are is dissociated as hell.

We Were Never Meant to See This Much

We were never meant to be this informed about every corner of the world, every war, every tragedy, every headline, every celebrity’s skincare routine, every friend’s engagement, breakup, trauma dump, or passive-aggressive tweet.

We were never supposed to carry this much noise in our heads.

And we were definitely never meant to see our own faces this much.
Even Narcissus would blush at the number of front-facing cameras we’ve stared into this week alone.

Remember Grass? Go Touch It.

You know what gives you instant dopamine and actually fixes your cortisol? Sunlight. Grass. Hearing the birds.

Or a real conversation where no one is refreshing a feed mid-sentence.

Or laughing until your stomach hurts with people you didn’t meet through a sponsored post.

Maybe it’s time to build community the old-fashioned way: by actually talking to each other. Calling a friend. Hosting a dinner. Asking the person next to you how their day is going, and not in a customer service way, but because you actually care.

Because the real world? It still exists. And it misses you.

Logging Off Isn’t Quitting

This isn’t a call to burn it all down. It’s a gentle (but firm) reminder that you don’t have to stay plugged in. The apps need you more than you need them, and you’re allowed to step away.

You’re allowed to just be. This means without documenting it, without optimizing it, without explaining it to the algorithm.

Maybe it’s time to live for you again. Not for the likes, not for the metrics, not for the fake closeness that leaves you lonelier than ever.

Just…for you.

Delete the apps. Touch grass. Call your people.

Live unfiltered.

The algorithm can wait.

Your real life can’t.