Hi, I'm Shingo Suzuki, also known as Suzushin.
Do you use social media? If you're reading this, you probably do—and perhaps you're tired of it too.
I know that feeling. Open a feed and there are success stories and perfect-looking lives everywhere. It can lead to self-criticism, jealousy, and discouragement. It's exhausting.
Some time ago, I took the plunge and deleted my X, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. Somehow, I felt much lighter afterward. That's what I'd like to talk about today.
Other people's polished lives kept catching my eye
On social media, you naturally encounter other people's highlights: how much they earn, what they bought, how happily they're living.
There's nothing wrong with that. Happiness and success are things to celebrate.
But seeing those lives was hard for me. I compared them with my own and felt miserable. It would have been nice if I'd been successful too, but reality hasn't been so easy. Finding my way through life is difficult.
I decided to leave social media
Then I thought: why not simply stop? If I left, I wouldn't have to keep looking at everyone else's polished lives.
No time like the present. That same day, I deleted all three accounts: X, Instagram, and TikTok.
When “Are you sure you want to delete your account?” appeared, I hesitated for a moment, then tapped. I felt a strange release, as though the air in the room had quietly settled.
The benefits of leaving social media
These are the main benefits of taking that break.
Less comparing my life with others
As I've said, seeing other people's highlights made me compare myself, criticize myself, and feel low. Leaving meant I no longer needed to look, which felt mentally easier.
The time spent scrolling becomes free time
Once you start scrolling, time disappears quickly. At one point, I spent three hours a day on social media.
That's actually a frightening amount. Without it, those three hours become free. There's plenty you can do in that time, especially if you use it for your own growth.
How much time do you spend on social media? Wouldn't you like to put all of it toward something else?
Fewer distractions from likes and notifications
It's natural to wonder how people react to your posts. Likes and comments feel good, and a notification makes you curious.
But those interruptions are troublesome. Each one pulls attention away from what you're doing.
Without social media, those notifications stop. I can focus on what's in front of me and get more done.
I want to make my offline life richer
I'd like to use the time I've gained to improve my real life: read books I've wanted to read, create things, and enjoy my hobbies.
It's time to step out of the audience watching other people's lives and become a player in my own again!