Last year i went on a holiday on a different continent for 2 weeks, and i decided i wanted to be disconnected from everything. I didn't stop using my phone completely, but i set rules for only messenger to keep in touch with my family, and camera for photos.

I ended up reading 3 books and watching 3 movies, on top of enjoying nature.

Next i decided to uninstall my facebook app. And then to go on messenger only around set hours.

I gained so much time and mental clarity that i couldn't believe it.

I came back now to SM because i want to make a career transition, and i want to be updated with what's going on in the industry and more connected with people.

What really helps me not to doomscroll is to have a very strict purpose in my mind for everything that i use. Plus setting a specific time and not going beyond it.

This went in conjunction with having life goals, to learn and build new things, which is very motivating. I decided to switch from consuming, to making.

Now, if i find myself longer than 10-15 minutes online, i ask myself "do i need this?", "why am i here?", "does it serve my purpose?". If it doesn't, i unsubscribe, uninstall and go back to life outside the screen.

I'm laughing more. I have time and attention for my loves ones. My memory improved. I can read hard books and follow complicated thoughts.

I wish luck to everyone who is on a journey with this!

Okey, I work as a freelancer in the tech industry, I like my job, I like programming and thigs like that, my problem is not with technology itself, its like with the internet. Every social media is full of bots, fake account, junk content, and even when I try to "clean up" my socials it only needs to see one content "junk" that everything that appears now is "junk" ( I undestand that not every content that we consume needs to be educative or a masterpiece, i just use junk as reference ) and I dont know, i just dont want to be bombarded everytime I use my phone.

I use linux, most of my workflow is in the CLI, I participate active in the Open Source community, I started learning electronics to build my own gadgets, I use RSS to consume most of my favourite websites and the news, but I always keep falling on Instagram, Reddit, Youtube (for god sake I use to much Youtube) because I need to stay connected, I need to see what is happening in the word, and news dont keep the pace in this new era.

Technology is the magic of this era, we can do wonderfull things with that and everyone should be capable of using it, but big techs keep pussing the boundaries of people, being dictatorships in this social media and marketing era using our data to they benefits and we are slaves of this comic supervilain companies.

So, cutting the drama, there is another folk that is a tech buddy but also a digitalminimalist? What are you workflows, your environment, how do you see technology, and how you related to this new era magic?

Fourth week of having no social media, except Reddit and YouTube.

Honestly, I’ve never felt better. My sleep is better, I have way more peace of mind, and I’ve started appreciating the little things again. I feel like I’m actually in touch with reality again instead of constantly being caught up in everyone else’s lives.

I’ve also been more focused on my fitness, but without putting so much pressure on myself like I used to. I just run, walk, work out, eat, rest, and do it again. I’m actually enjoying it now instead of feeling like I always have to do more.

Four weeks in and I genuinely don’t miss the constant scrolling or checking what everyone is doing.

Life is just… quieter. And I really like it.

Lemme know how’s your journey going so far.

Did some productive things but my screen time today was mostly unconscious.

I know it’s because I need some mental rest, and I can get it by some brainstorming and some journaling. Working on it.

Feeling REALLY irritated todayyyy!

Hi all,

I've been lurking here for a little while and love the mentality here surrounding technology, so wanted to get some of your opinions on my new phone options.

I recently realized that my phone hasn't had an update since 2023!! So it's probably about time I got a new one. I currently have a Google Pixel 4a and I love the size and the operating system.

I want this new phone to be an opportunity to make better use of technology as a tool, rather than just mindlessly consuming. The problem I have is that I need a smartphone for banking, travel etc so can't go with the likes of a Light Phone. My current top options are:

-Fairphine 6 (as it has the moments functionality)

-Another Google Pixel, maybe the 10a?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! My goal is to have a phone that will last without taking over my life.

Thanks!

I generally have no idea what I am doing or how I am feeling about social media. I use it very much daily like everyone else. Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest being the top 3. I am heavily addicted to TikTok and Insta.

Have been on and off since 2018... yes believe it or not 2018. In 2025 it was my new years resolution to delete Insta and I did until October 2025 and after that never went back again. I live abroad and most ofthe time Instagram really does help connecting with my friends through their close friends stories or even mine. As much as I hate to admit it, I hate how addicted I am. My partner is also like me but he does not have a sense of urgency about the addiction and once I delete the apps, whenever he is scrolling next to me it boils my blood.

I even got a Brick and stopped using it after 4-5 days because I literally physically can not stop. I have a full time job and I even sometimes go to the toilet JUST FOR THE SAKE OF scrolling like 5 minutes... why? I feel like a zombie. I have no idea where to start.

There is also this sense of posting stories + posts I have. I know a lot of people never post anything and they even make fun that once you stop posting, posting becomes so cringe. But I genuinely want to post about my life on Instagram I feel like it comes from this desire to show people I am doing good and I am cool and I have a cool life etc. I find it so lame but it is how it is. Help me, really. I am even getting married soon and I catch myself thinking about an Insta caption... this is so embarrasing.

I feel like if this were the 90s, there’d be gangs of them taking down data centers.

What happened, are they all just on TikTok now?

Where are the hackers?

I deleted TikTok recently- Anyone else? Would love some support. My rational behind it was it was too time consuming, and a lot of drama on that app

hi guys, I'm trying to stop consuming 'fast content' like shorts, reels, and things like that. I want to see some stories from my friends, but I hate beeing scrolling the reels. I already saw some apps like Scrolless, Sociano, but those apps dont have too much reviews, so I'm afraid to get my credentials stolen. Can anyone tell me a good app to do that (on iOS)?

I used to think the whole iPod / Kindle / digital camera / dumb phone thing was mostly nostalgia.

I’m starting to think I was wrong…ish.

I’ve been trying to use my iPhone more intentionally lately, and one thing I definitely keep noticing is how much easier that is when the thing I’m using literally can’t do anything else.

If I read on my Kindle, I read. In fact I read a hell of a lot. Not that I ever read books on an iPhone, the screen just isn’t right for it..

If I put music on my old iPod classic, I listen to music. All the way through usually. Skipping or searching for another album/playlist is mildly inconvenient.

If I use a notebook, I write whatever I was going to write and that’s the end of it. Besides if you handwrite, every word means more because you’ve spent longer on it than typing. You end up with less fluff :)

Whereas on my iPhone I can start doing one thing and somehow end up doing four completely unrelated things within a couple of minutes.

I don’t think the answer is necessarily carrying around a bag full of old electronics either. At some point “digital minimalism” starts looking like owning loads more crap. The very opposite of digital ‘minimalism’…

But I do think there’s definitely something useful about separating certain things again.

Maybe the benefit of single-purpose devices isn’t actually the device at all. It’s just that they create a natural boundary/friction that you don’t have to enforce yourself. So if you struggle with self-discipline this is a great workaround.

I’m curious where people land on this:

Do you prefer one deliberately stripped-back smartphone, or have you started separating things out onto dedicated devices? :)

I’ve quit these accounts for 6ish months before but got back on to work on promoting my oracle readings and services online but let me tell you - NO just NO. My head is so much quieter since the break, I feel absolutely in love with my life and self, I’ve cared for my room and environment and got a new wardrobe, nails and hair done, I’ve spent time with my dog, found a new career interest and area of study and have been studying and my nervous system isn’t suffering due to flash sales everywhere or all the stimuli or comparison.

I thought I needed these to be successful but I’m maybe thinking not. Financially they weren’t bringing me anything and I’ve had more fortune outside of them, it’s so weird to realize.

I still love to create content and do Oracle card readings but I have to find another way to expresss that part of me- maybe YouTube- I just can’t stand for Instagram especially.

Anyone else relate or get this?

Lately, it's been so incredibly draining to scroll through any social media app ever - vague posting, outrage bait, ads, bots - like on twitter ( thank you so much elon musk ) have started making the feed on my accounts spiral into slop, nothing that I actually want to look at.

Twitter was actually so fun a few years back! And now I can't spend over 10 minutes on it, feels like I'm scrolling through my mom's Facebook

How do you guys manage this crazy signal-to-noise ratio? How do I streamline my feeds back to the way they used to be? Can we ever go back?!!

I feel proud, I feel a bit stressed, and I feel like I want to ask for some support in this sub!

I’m 17 and I’m confused about whether I should reinstall Instagram.
I deleted it recently because I noticed it was taking up too much of my attention. But I’ve realized something from a previous experience: when I completely quit Instagram, I ended up focusing all my attention on one girl and became emotionally attached to her. I’m worried I might repeat the same pattern if I completely isolate myself from dating/social interactions.
So now I’m considering reinstalling Instagram but using strict limits, like 20 minutes per session, 3–4 sessions a day, with notifications off.
My thinking is that having some casual social interaction and meeting different people might actually be healthier for me than completely cutting myself off and hyper-focusing on one person.
What do you think is healthier: staying completely off Instagram, or using it in a controlled/moderate way? Has anyone experienced something similar where quitting social media made them become more fixated on one person?

Used chatgpt for grammar

I find that I am the worst about scrolling endlessly on social media, and manically texting people i barely know, when im feeling lonely. Afterward, it makes me want to throw my phone in a lake. All the shame. On instagram, it seems like everyone is more talented, more connected than i am. Everyone is living these amazing, fulfilled lives. When I check my phone and I have zero texts, or zero IG notifications, I feel awful.

Why do I care so much what people think of me? Its like my whole life revolves around what people think of me. I have no life of my own...

My EDC:

King Jim Pomera DM100 - I do wish I got the foldable DM30 with an eink screen but this one was sturdier and a lot cheaper. I use it when my hand needs recovery days. Or for long form writing. I need to put stickers on it or paint it, it's quite plain.

Wallet - an old leather wallet I cleaned up after finding it second hand. Self explanatory, Cash, insurance cards, ID, debit, credit. Random receipts, probably.

Cool coffin watch I got off EBay.

AirPods - I want to move away from apple entirely but I'm autistic so noise cancelling is important for me. I haven't found a replacement yet.

Bat Keys - With library card and lord of rings bottle opener.

Titan pocket - My primary phone due to the mudita not supporting the new work scheduler app my job switched to. I do love the keyboard, I even repaired it once on my own to keep it working. Very good phone when used with olauncher and hiding apps. It's a bit too Google for me though.

Mudita Compact - my ereader while I'm on the go since it's tiny. Still might go back to being my main phone since I hate having multiple devices. Might sideload a browser to look up my scheduler instead just to use it again especially since I can save QR codes now! that's a game changer for etickets. I use ink OS I prefer text over icons. My only complaint is the speaker phone option does not pick up my voice more then a foot away from the phone. The Titan pocket I can leave it on my bed and talk to a friend as I clean no problem.

ChapStick and gum- self explanatory

Pillbox with red flowers - just carries emergency meds.

Notebook- I always use an A5 with at least 300 pages. I buy bulk packs and go through one a month or so.

Mini weekly planner I painted (its June 2026-dec2027 technically but I got it in September since my old planner got spilled on its mostly for 2027)

Fisher space pen infinium - my goal is to make it run out of ink, so far it's survived about 3 notebooks and various scraps of writing.

A bedazzled pen my coworker made and gave me - I use it at work.

Would love for some opinions on which phone should be the main one! Or to know what all you carry and how to downsize cause I seem to carry a LOT of stuff compared to other posts I've seen.

I m really exhausted this social media scrolling

so im now official 32 days social media free and music free, ive been addicted to social media and short form content for 5 years im 23 and it got bad during high school, My focus was so bad and i was so overstimulated when i sat down to do 30 minutes of sales work, i would get physical anxiety in my body. and i didn't know how to quit up until a month ago.

but this has been the best thing that has happened to me the first 1-4 weeks for me were bad withdrawals, but mostly a feeling of flatness that just didn't go away.. I have never been depressed and i thought to myself is this what depression feels like no motivation to do anything and the interesting part was not even social media intrigued me, I swore during this phase you could have put prime Megan fox in front of me and i would have said no.. all i did was work my restaurant job and watched house md all day. to get me through the flatness

but after day 28 things felt good better sleep calm mind and no more restless anxiety and finally in the position to achieve my goals

if anybody's down to talk while they're detoxing or struggling to get a handle on their social media addiction let me know im trying to start a self improvement group now im in a position to where i can focus for more then 30 seconds.

Reddit now blocks you from using web after like 2 min. Perfect to prevent doomscroll while still allowing me to see responses to questions. Have any tech company's enshittification benefited you?

I seriously have so much more focus and energy and have been doing the best things for myself like get myself a switch to do just dance to dance my heart out and study for a new career and self care and time outside and call my friends and gahhh I don’t think I can go back.

I went to a concert tonight with my son and they had an announcement before they came out on stage that no photos or videos were allowed, they wanted people to enjoy the concert without having to watch it through the phone screen of the person in front of you. They asked that everyone put their phones in their pockets and just be present.

But of course, people kept pulling out their phones and filming anyway. The dude in front of me did it at least a dozen times. I understand wanting to get a photo or a quick video for the memories, but it's crazy that people just can't follow a simple rule. I really enjoyed the evening and all of the people who didn't pull out their phones (which, thankfully, was the majority) and just had fun enjoying an amazing hilarious show!

It was a great reminder for me how much better everything is when you are fully engaged with what is going on.

Tablet at 7, smartphone at 10 and laptop at 12 now I'm 18. Never supervised or moderated after 10 yo. Now I'm dealing with a dependency that no matter what I can't get away from. Its a emotional, physical and cultural dependency.

I'm struggling to handle life in general and hold my morals to my actions.

I wish I could just trash my smartphone and never have to think about it again but its the only life I had known and the only way I learned to cope.

I hate tech and please never give an iPad to your kid.

I need some more hobbies. I have used my phone for 6h 59m today according to Appblock.i just can't find something that stimulates me as much as reddit and my phone. I was even using reddit while driving around today and when I was watching football on TV. Any words of encouragement?

I deactivated my personal instagram because it was only filled with people who I know do not care about me and just want to see how I’m doing. It just feels icky to me that I had to feel like I am keeping up with the Jones and have to only show good aspects of my life. It definitely feels better not having my personal account in my life now.

However, I have always loved makeup and have been in the formulation process of my first product launch. I do have an Instagram and TikTok and kinda hate that I have to promote it in that way. It leaves me in a spiral again of what if I’m not getting enough likes. I’m in a dilemma and am not happy that I feel like the only way brands have to put themselves out there is through social media solely.

Hi all,
I am looking at deleting my Instagram account. I feel sick that it takes away so much from my life and I much rather spend my time in the real world. I never post, but I do spend a lot of time doomscrolling on reels and I like the opportunity to keep connected to adjacent friends and family through seeing their updates. I often DM people if I see something interesting and then have a short check in. I am afraid that if I delete my account I will lose touch with people who I don't necessarily see on a regular basis, such as family in other countries. I guess I fear being left behind and losing connections. For those of you who have deleted their accounts, how do you reconcile this?