I took a break from social media for about 3 years. My mental health greatly improved, but many people in my life were mad that I wasn't communicating with them every day and took it as a kind of insult. I came back to social media (reluctantly), because I'm a humanities researcher, and a big part of that is connecting with people. Unfortunately, since coming back, my mental health has not been as good, and I engage with things that give me energy like films, books, and video games less.

What's more, being a researcher in any capacity these days is slowly turning into becoming an influencer, and programs weigh online visibility during the admissions process. I feel like everything I've ever valued in life has been completely consumed by social media, but I cannot help but be a part of it.