I Took a Social Media Break

By Waffa Abu-Hajar, Blog Coordinator

It was my last year in high school and I finally had the space in my schedule to take the subjects I always loved the most: Photography and English.

Although high school until then was kind of boring, senior year for me was a time in which I began realizing my passions and who I was as a person. I would post the photos I took for assignments on Instagram, Facebook, and sometimes Twitter. I became very engaged on social media. I loved it.

The next fall came and I was ready to begin my first semester in community college. As a community college student, I was determined to complete all my units, and get good grades so within two years so I will be able to transfer to a university.

I spent a lot of time debating which photos I should post and constantly checking how many likes I got on a status became a habit. Towards the end of fall semester, it became clear to me that social media really takes up a lot of my time. I wanted to take a step back and practice “being present in the moment”, which lead me to take a social media break.

This break was about two weeks, and I have to admit, in the beginning it was really difficult. But by the end of it, I was being more conscious of the environment around me, noticing things I hadn’t before, and it made me a happier person. Sharing, liking, and posting weren’t as important for me anymore and I decided it was more important to be more present to enjoy the company of the people actually around me.

But being a community college student, many people may not know, this interaction can be less than frequent and hard to come by. Between attending class, studying at libraries and coffee shops, while juggling other responsibilities, having time for friends can be difficult.

Now, I’m not saying spending a great deal of time on social media is good for you, but when you post a status or a photo and your friends like or comment, it is gratifying, and can also be a comforting feeling. It’s hard for a lot of people to admit, but it is a place where people are able to connect. I love being able to keep up with my friends, follow creatives on Instagram, and stay in touch with people from all over the world.

While it is crucial that we, as a society, don’t get too caught up with constant feeds refreshing every few minutes, it’s also nice to have a touch of community at our fingertips.

Follow Waffa on Instagram and Twitter at @waffabuhajar

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