Social Media in Numbers
Latest Statista data shows that at the start of 2024 over 5 billion people worldwide used social media. That’s already roughly 63% of the global population, yet in the next couple of years, as emerging digital markets come online, that number is expected to climb past 6 billion.
Spurred on by the relentless rise in mobile phone use, users in 2023 spent an average of 143 minutes per day on social media and messaging apps. Last year’s figure of 141 minutes was a surprising dip but may be reflected by the shift to AI-driven systems and smarter search engines. Together, these help users engage with more purposeful, targeted content, with summaries that reduce the need to click through endlessly.
However, a daily average of 141 minutes still adds up to spending nearly a month each year on social media. As a species, we’ve mastered the art of being social while being strangely antisocial – often more connected to our feeds than to our feelings.
Why You May Want To Step Back From Social Media
Mental-Health Costs
40% of adults say social media makes them feel lonely or isolated. And among young adults, up to 73% report negative effects on their mental health.
FOMO – the Fear of Missing Out
Instagram and Facebook have exacerbated FOMO. Seeing friends at parties, enjoying exotic holidays or purchasing expensive items breeds anxiety, jealousy, and can create a sense of exclusion.
Cyberbullying is Everywhere
In the UK, a 2022 Ofcom report found 39% of children aged 8–17 experienced bullying, most often via a device (84%) – with social media accounting for 43% and messaging apps for 56%.
And it’s a problem that adults face too: defamation of character, harassment, and emotional distress inflicted by others are areas of growing concern.
Sleep Disruption
Reading before bed has been replaced with endless scrolling. Becoming as much a part of bedtime rituals as brushing your teeth, checking social feeds at night unsettles the brain, strains the eyes and disrupts sleep patterns. This inconsistency affects emotions, elevates anxiety and impacts physical health.
Conversation Skills and Attention Spans
Teenagers are losing deep conversational skills, with fragmented communication and shortened attention spans blamed on constantly refreshing feeds.
We Fail to Live in The Moment
Focused on creating content that will drive likes – a perfect photo or engaging video – is leading us to remember less about experiences.
Downtime is Disappearing
Researchers describe “a constant stimulation culture”, when even downtime leads to content consumption. We’ve lost the ability for quiet reflection or mental rest.
Cutting the Feed
Though numbers continue to grow, many are choosing to leave – or jump between – social platforms. Social media relationships are personal and unique. Consider how time spent online affects your mood, sleep and relationships. Only you can decide if a change or break is needed.
Digital Detox
A temporary digital detox is the technical version of a failed diet. Starting strong and positive, gradually there’s a return to old habits. Yet even a two-week break can reduce stress and help to improve sleep quality.
Longer or permanent breaks need realistic planning and a focused mindset on the reasons behind the decision. Delete the problem app, limit usage to specific times, or go full cold turkey deleting accounts.
Saying Goodbye is Never Easy
Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook each have deactivation periods of 30 days before accounts are permanently removed. Full deletion of social media presence is trickier, thanks to Google cache, reposts, tweets and shares usually outlasting account closure. Check out data-wipe tools if you need a deeper cleanup.
Keep On Track
The temptation to fall into familiar patterns is human nature. …something that the 30-day grace period is aimed at. Win the fight by deleting apps, switching off notifications, or go so far as to block websites.
Plan alternative activities. Pick up forgotten hobbies or discover new ones. Spend time with friends, family or simply chill!
Celebrate your progress: a win for both your time and health.
But Wait… the Prospects Aren’t All Doom and Gloom
Before deciding to quit entirely, take a moment to consider how social media’s current evolution into a commercial hub might impact your professional and personal opportunities.
Commerce is Taking Over
While mental health concerns are real, completely abandoning social media could mean missing out on future benefits.
Social platforms are increasingly business channels. Ads on social platforms reached approximately $220 billion globally in 2024 – but this commercial shift benefits users too. Exclusive deals, early product access, and customer service in the form of bots available 24/7 to answer sales and product queries are standout features.
A social media presence has become non-negotiable for professionals and entrepreneurs. Small businesses reach customers, freelancers find clients, and everyone benefits by joining professional networks.
Influencer marketing continues to boom: in 2024, more than 80% of marketers used Instagram for campaigns. And shoppers are turning to Instagram too: 70% look to it for purchasing ideas.
So rather than a complete digital detox, consider how to engage without over-indulging. Schedule specific hours for social media use to ensure you don’t miss opportunities yet also have the time to protect your mental health.
The Next Frontier: AI and AR
AI-powered systems are enhancing targeting and personalisation. Augmented Reality (AR) for shopping is rolling out, adding immersive layers to an already digital experience.
Platform Leaders Remain Strong
Thanks to their global reach, data capabilities, and powerful targeting, Facebook (favoured by millennials) and Instagram (favoured by Gen Z for more visual, short-style content) are thriving. Created with social connections in mind, they are mutating into digital sales platforms.
Telegram, WeChat, WhatsApp, and YouTube all compete for the top spots, but as of 2024, our worldwide favourites are still the big boys of Facebook (32.6% share) and Instagram (20.3%).
Egg That Broke the Internet…
Need a reminder of social media’s unpredictable power? 2019 saw an Instagram account called world_record_egg post a simple egg picture. The caption: “Let’s set a world record together and get the most liked post on Instagram.”
Within 10 days, Kylie Jenner was left with egg on her face as her previous record for a most-liked image on the platform was beaten.
The lesson? Social media’s power is undeniable, thus finding a way to use platforms intentionally – rather than being used by them – is key to your sanity. Though when something as ordinary as an egg can mobilise millions of people willing to beat a global celebrity, perhaps our collective sanity is already scrambled…
Source Links
https://www.statista.com/topics/1164/social-networks/
https://affmaven.com/instagram-statistics/
https://blog.hootsuite.com/instagram-statistics/
https://cropink.com/social-media-mental-health-statistics
https://affmaven.com/digital-marketing-statistics/
https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/tools-information/all-about-bullying/prevalence-and-impact-bullying/prevalence-online-bullying
https://www.buzzfeed.com/meganeliscomb/why-people-quit-social-media
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39280291/
https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/wellbeing/social-media-and-mental-health