Logging Out: Your Guide to Redefining Success and Happiness in the Era of Social Media Dependence

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like if you were to shut down all social media platforms- for a day, a week or longer? We are so dependent on social media that we literally live our lives through our smartphones, or tablets. Everywhere you walk, someone is talking through their bluetooth earphones at someone, or even you find yourself attached to one of your devices and find it hard to detach.

I have noticed that detaching myself from any one of my social media accounts raises a conundrum. If I post something, and I get a bunch of likes and don’t reply to the likes or comments, people can sometimes get upset, or if you post too much, people make comments also. I can honestly say that I never ever thought it would get to a point where you find yourself considering “logging out” just for the sake of your own sanity.

I picked this book up rather randomly, but then got right into it. The author Loona Embers opens the book with a scenario that is all too familiar with everyone, including me. “Imagine having a computer in your bedroom which allows you to talk to all your friends, family and colleagues. Or imagine being able to have access to all the information of the world right at your fingertips? (p.5)

Then imagine the next scenario, the power goes out, it’s off for a day, a couple of days, or even longer. How would you react? Embers acknowledges that it is hard to resist the temptation of social media and that spending more time in front of our social media applications makes us less happy and less satisfied with our lives. So what is the answer, you may ask.

We live in a virtual world, where hiding behind our computer screens becomes so comfortable that we can literally forget how to interact with someone in the real world. If you are addicted to social media, you may find problems coming up at work and your overall performance, and it can also affect our relationships with people in our lives, especially if we are forgetting to contact friends and family through ways we used to before social media platforms became such a force in our lives.

People, often abandon traditional forms of communications for these online platforms, including email, text messages, phone calls and letters. I know that I’m guilty of this, and one of my goals moving forward is to try do one thing outside of being on social media that doesn’t involve being on my computer as much. In doing this, it will help me take care of my time so that I don’t completely become a recluse.

Embers makes suggestions on how we all can set boundaries for social media use. Some of her examples include: 1. Get rid of your smartphone 2. Delete social media apps 3. Limit access to your social media accounts 4. Consider regular exercise 5. Spend time in nature 6. Play video games 7. Spend time in your kitchen 8. Check in with others 9. Talk with other people face to face. 10. Talk to yourself more often 11. Do something creative and lastly 12. Find the time to breathe and meditate.

Finding alternatives to social media is something we all need to do to save our sanity especially in the world we live in these days. Alternate methods of using social media for me include: 1. Reading 2. Sewing 3. Taking pictures when I am out walking or taking pictures of my cats etc.

The general message of this book is that there is importance in finding happiness outside of social media. Happiness is something that we all innately desire, but if we truly want to escape from being obsessed with social media, we need to look deep down inside ourselves and ask ourselves “What can I do today that will make me happy without signing onto my social media platforms and getting lost for hours.”

Logging Out: Your Guide to Redefining Success and Happiness in the Era of Social Media Dependence. Embers, Loona. 2023. Blulight Homes & Digital Publishing. Regina, Saskatchewan, CA.