I recently came across a thought-provoking question on my Instagram feed: “Do you remember a time before the internet?” This prompted me to reflect and share my thoughts here. While I wasn’t alive before the internet’s inception in 1969, I can offer insights into a time before social media became ubiquitous.

The internet, although created in 1969, only became a household staple towards the end of the 20th century. Today, most of us can’t imagine going a day—or even an hour—without our devices. The first social media platform, Six Degrees, launched in 1997, allowed users to create profiles and connect with others. This was followed by MySpace in 2003 and Facebook in 2004. By April 2008, MySpace and Facebook collectively boasted 115 million monthly visitors. Fast forward 16 years, and we now have 4.83 billion active social media users globally.

As a child, I observed my mother frequently using Facebook on her desktop. However, it wasn’t until Instagram’s launch in 2010, when I was seven, that I started to grasp the concept of social media. By age twelve, I was eager to join Instagram, driven by a desire to fit in with my peers. Reflecting on this now, I wish I had waited longer to enter the world of social media.

Soon after, I joined Snapchat and Twitter (now X), and eventually set up a Facebook account just before starting university at eighteen. So, yes, I do remember a time before social media. As a child, I spent my time playing games like Plants vs. Zombies on my dad’s phone and engaging in outdoor activities with my siblings, from football and trampolining to Nerf gun battles and water balloon fights. Our early sleepovers were filled with baking and crafts rather than screen time. It wasn’t until the advent of Minecraft that our summer holidays started to involve more screen time.

This is how I will raise my future children, too – away from screens. Of course with children starting secondary school comes social media and the use of the internet for homework and so on. However, I want to educate my children on the harms of social media, allthewhile not being the strict mum!

Today’s generation seems to be perpetually glued to their screens—gaming, watching YouTube, or scrolling through TikTok. It saddens me to see toddlers with iPads, while their parents are engrossed in conversation, seemingly ignoring their children. Although it’s a reflection of the world we live in, I am determined that my future children will not touch an iPad for their early years. Who else agrees?

The younger generation’s addiction to social media is alarming. Personally, I grapple with this constantly, especially since my career revolves around social media, leaving me little respite. Families in restaurants often sit in silence, each member engrossed in their phones. What example are we setting for the next generation? Despite the well-documented negative effects of social media, we continue to scroll.

The fear of missing out (FOMO) exacerbates this issue, particularly among impressionable pre-teens and teenagers. No one wants to feel left out, which is why I understand the urge to join social media platforms. Despite the harm it has caused, I don’t regret my decision to join social media, as it helped me fit in during my formative years. It’s not a bad thing to want to fit in – that is how our society work, but we must ask ourselves: at what cost?

The purpose of this post is to encourage you to reflect on your social media habits. How much time do you spend online? Is it the first thing you check in the morning and the last thing before bed? Consider taking regular breaks from screens and social media. I recommend scheduling ‘digital detox days’ every few weeks to clear your mind, especially if you work in a digital environment. Additionally, carve out an hour each day away from screens—whether it’s reading, walking, exercising, catching up with a friend, or dining out. Prioritising time to focus on yourself and the world around you is crucial for maintaining a healthy mindset.

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