Struggling Life Away from Social Media: A Student's Tearful Confession after a Three-Year Absence
In a series of heartfelt reflections, popular singer Max Giesinger and student Billy shared their experiences of life without social media, discussing its positive and negative aspects.
After a three-year hiatus from social media, Max Giesinger decided to spend less time on platforms like Instagram and more time in nature, fearing ridicule. He admitted that the decision was not without its challenges, as he realised he was missing out on seeing people share their achievements, which often inspired others. However, he also emphasised the importance of finding balance with social media.
Meanwhile, Billy, a student who spent three years offline from social media, touched on the more fleeting bonds social media helps maintain. She admitted it hurt to realise she now has "a huge chunk of her life where she doesn't have photos of what she did." Many of the connections she made during summer camps faded without social media, and she often felt left out of conversations when people referenced viral content and bonded over it.
However, Billy also noted that it's easy to lose connections due to social media's ease of maintaining contact with friends. Upon returning to social media, she felt more encouraged to try new things. One viewer emphasised the importance of cultivating a healthy relationship with social media for the next generation, while another acknowledged that TikTok can be dangerously addictive but has positively impacted their life.
Many viewers of Billy's TikTok posts shared their thoughts on social media. One viewer, who hasn't had an Instagram account since January, hasn't felt any negative effects, except for not being able to keep up with local business events. Another noted the importance of finding balance with social media, while yet another emphasised the importance of maintaining real-life connections over virtual ones.
Max Giesinger's reflections and Billy's shared on TikTok with 200,000 viewers, sparking a wider conversation about the role of social media in our lives and the importance of finding a balance that works for us. As Billy put it, "Without social media, I documented my life so much less," highlighting the need to find a balance that allows us to capture and share our life's experiences, while also maintaining real-life connections and experiences.
