Social media has ruined my concentration and changed my personality.

[ADHD89]

To think that social media, Instagram, Tiktok, YouTube, Facebook ,Mumsnet , Reddit , Chatgpt, etc have totally ruined my concentration span and now make reading/concentrating on a book or a movie really unappealing and uninteresting ?
I am much more interested in watching 2 minute reels, then reading through comments, and basically finding out about all sorts of topics and going down rabbit holes etc. I also enjoy reading dilemmas on Facebook groups and on mumsnet and seeing what people say. I also use Chatgpt alot as like a regular counsellor.
It makes me sad as I used to be such a book lover when I was younger and I watched about 4 or 5 movies at the weekend when I was younger..its like I've completely changed involuntarily.
Anyone else feel the same?

I am close to doing this. It's crazy how addicted so many of us are.

I totally get this. Used to adore reading. Barely read or even watch tv programmes. Ironically asked GPT for a plan to cut down on mindless scrolling ..it's definitely a dopamine hit. Found it impossible to implenent plan. Am bookmarking for later as I am trying to limit my time on SM! 🤣🤣

I completely feel this thread and I'm also struggling to break the addiction. It's so hard as there are lots of useful things I do on my phone too. I have an AppBlock subscription and I find it helps at times to break the mindless scrolling cycle, but I can pause the block, which I'm doing more frequently. I'm holding out on a block that I can't pause as inevitably I need to look up a recipe or some info on a site that's blocked. But I need to do something drastic as it's consuming me.

Wanted to add that your brain is like a muscle and you can definitely change the patterns it follows, but like any muscle it needs to be worked on over time.

I'm exactly the same. I feel like it's completely fucked my creativity as well which is very sad to think about. I used to draw and paint constantly but now I just reach for my phone when I'm bored. I have a horrible habbit of scrolling in bed when I should be sleeping. I feel like I'm setting a really bad example for my kids too. I really need to stop, I have thought of getting a "dumb' phone but not sure how that will work as I use my phone for banking, paying bills, checking my work rota etc. It's a trap really.

This is why smart phones for kids are such a dreadful idea. We are old enough to know better but it still can be hard to self regulate. Asking teenagers to get a grip is pretty hypocritical when middle aged sensible adults can’t do it either! Just downloaded Amol Rajan episode…..

For reading, I set myself a NY resolution to read 52 books in a year (and kept a running list in a journal) - this was the only NY resolution I ever kept up all year! Have since used the same pattern to watch 52 films, eat a salad every day etc. This year I’m trying films AND books which may be a bit exciteable!

At the start of the year I came off all social media platforms, the endless scrolling and the constant comparing myself to others (I hate this about myself) and it has honestly for me done me the world of good.
I feel I have been more present, especially with my children and just enjoying life more rather than constantly checking what others are doing.
I’ve had the best Easter holidays with the kids and enjoyed what we have done as I often worry I’m not doing enough as others plaster all their grand plans all over social media and I always compare.
I have also started reading again, I got myself a library card last week and I’m on my second book this week. I thought I’d struggle as I haven’t read a book since pre-kids (14 years ago) and I’ve realised how much I’ve missed reading and getting lost in a book.
I keep thinking I may log back onto to FB and then another day goes by and I don’t and honestly I really don’t miss it one bit and don’t know when I’ll bother again.
Cold turkey is really the best way, social media really is the thief of joy!

Yes, I'm at my computer now at the table, I find that actively having to sit there and do stuff is much less intrusive to other stuff, bit like we did in the 90s/early00s. I do most things on my computer and put my phone away at home. I now just mainly use the iPad on holiday.

I’m reading (well listening to) Stolen Focus at the moment and it’s interesting, and has made me more conscious of my phone usage.

One thing I’ve been noticing recently is how everyone gets their phone out rather than tolerate even a small moment with nothing to do, eg queuing in a shop. People scroll through endless inane reels in the sauna at my gym!

I think YABU, because this is a problem that is so easily remedied, and you know it. I read less than I used to, partly because of the availability of social media, but I still read and enjoy it. Your ability to concentrate hasn't departed for ever. If you work, for instance, you presumably manage to concentrate there.

Ha, going on Mumsnet to discuss your social media addiction. That's like holding an AA meeting down the pub.

I’m banned from fb at the moment through no fault of my own and awaiting an appeal. Whilst it’s inconvenient for work and a hobby group I run, I’ve read 6 books in 4 weeks. More than I read in a year.

I read something a while back- think it was in the Sunday Times magazine- that “being online” was literally changing the white/grey matter ratios in people’s brains.

We are not meant to be hyper stimulated all the time but social media/doom scrolling/gaming etc forces our brains to physically change to cope with the stimulation. It is very worrying - or maybe not as AI takes over our lives!

I get the bus to and from work and I was just saying to my DH a few weeks back that I’ve lost the ability to just stand and wait at the bus stop - it’s like I need to be looking at something in my phone whilst I wait.

I really think as a species, we are doomed.

Delete as many as you can. I haven’t used Instagram and TikTok for years. I feel better without it.
mumsnet is my guilty pleasure but I have learned lots on here

Yes. I also used to love a book and a film and just cba now. I’m usually ok once I start reading/watching, but it takes ages to psych myself up to starting it. I often read the film’s synopsis as I’m watching. Even things online like Reels, I watch at 2x speed. I constantly need entertained by my phone and have a game or scrolling while doing other things. I’m fine at work, it’s as soon as I stop, but the I don’t get much done around the house due to time wasting.

Do it!!!! I did this and it's been amazing. For the first week, I felt my brain had 'withdrawal symptoms', like it was lacking the constant 'hits' it used to get from opening my phone every five minutes. They'd gone by the second week. After a month, I feel completely different - calmer, less distracted, less upset by the news (I still read the news but I don't think it's healthy to be plugged in 24/7 to news events you can't influence). As someone who hasn't otherwise struggled too much with addictive substances, it's been really eye-opening to realise just how addicted I was. I waste so much less time too. Made me realise that basically anything you might do with a spare hour is better than scrolling - exercise, reading, chores, engaging in conversation, even just staring at a wall. Smartphone addiction is real but at the same time can be quite easily overcome.

Adding to that, I’m a teacher, and kids are the same. You can see them desperate to look at their phones, and I’m addicted myself so i understand why. They ask to go to the toilets all the time as they can sneak their phone out there. They’re no longer interested in things. A movie used to be a treat in school, and they don’t want that any more as they find it boring. It really is worrying for us all.

You can reverse all this !
Your choosing to scroll !
I chose to delete every platform (not Mumsnet)
I did it slowly and what a difference !
I feel like I have my life back and I wish more people chose to do this it's freeing in ways I can't even describe !
I enjoy sitting still with no distractions so much more I thought I'd find it scary and have fomo I have zero regrets !
Goodluck u can reverse this !! X

I still read books and watch longform material, but I do think social media etc has made my focus at work much worse. I find it too easy to start scrolling, but at the same time it's also not difficult to stop and I don't have any difficulty turning it off when it's time to go to bed, as I like my sleep.

It might help that I tend to look at it more on my laptop than my phone, I really can't stare at my phone all that long.

Read Stolen Focus by Johann Hari … he explains it well, and it’s not your fault!!!

Same. I have to be doing 3 things at once now, otherwise I can’t do anything. I hate it. I need to put this fecking phone down!

Terrifying really. Which explains why politicians who have one liner slogans do so well.
The populations brains have been fried.

Oh and the reason I did this !
I got fed up with the stupid shit I was seeing it wound me up I was letting these stupid things keep.me.addicted !
So I had an iPhone and I restricted my time on it to begin with then I looked into a brick phone but use email ect ect parking apps the like !
So I got rid of iPhone and now u a flip ultra razr it's super small and have it set on black and white I have zero socials on it !
I literally go on mumsnet Rightmove vinted and news when I feel like it and check weather app !! It feels.lime it used to a phone u use to phone people or text and I don't even use the camera it's shit but I don't need it now lol 🤣 x

I think one way to read is to set up a book club with friends/ colleagues etc. Choose readable books and make the meetings a social event and then you will be motivated to read as there is another goal other than just reading for yourself.

I read a lot (30 books read and listened to this year so far) and I’d say i sometimes struggle to concentrate. I read a book, can’t recall the title, about productivity and it suggested being meaningful about when you use social media. So for example, you decide right I’m going to sit for 20 mins and scroll on my phone with a cup of coffee but then I’ll stop. I find that quite helpful, if that’s a useful tip? Then go do some other task non-phone related!

Thank you. Your post made think of all the stuff I 'don't have time to do' and realise that I do have the time, I'm just wasting it on doomscrolling. Today is going to be the day that changes.