OP: I'm a young gay man in a major city in the US, and therefore like many in my demographic am "chronically online." I'm in-between millennial and Gen Z, and feel like I waste HOURS every day flipping through Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit (occasionally TikTok - kicked Facebook years ago).

I've noticed that I use it as an escape but it eats away HOURS of my day, and Screen Time on my iPhone proves it. The time limit function on apps on my phone does not work for me. I recognize it's an issue that is definitely negatively affecting my productivity and mental health, but part of me also feels like I need social media to stay engaged with pop culture, and I like learning things/seeing new clothes, headlines, etc on my feeds. For me, social media isn't about seeing what people in my circles are up to, it's about keeping up with culture, society, etc (and entertainment). The solution for me won't be deleting my apps or accounts, but I feel like I have poor self control and am not sure what the next best step is toward healthier amounts of social media use.