Delete social media. I'm begging you.

I know what you're thinking. "But I need Facebook to check in on the family!" or "How else will I keep up with the news?" or "I only check it during my commute!"

Stop. Just stop.

I've been diving deep into Cal Newport's work lately (Deep Work and Digital Minimalism) and one insight hit me like a freight train. It's not about whether social media provides some benefit. Of course it does. The question Newport forces us to confront is whether it's the best way to get that benefit, and whether those minor conveniences justify the massive costs we're paying.

The "Any Benefit" Trap

Here's what we tell ourselves: Twitter keeps me informed. Instagram inspires my creativity. LinkedIn advances my career. Facebook maintains my relationships. TikTok entertains me. Reddit helps me learn.

Newport calls this the "any-benefit mindset". It's the idea that if a technology offers any positive benefit at all, it deserves a place in our lives. It's the digital equivalent of keeping every kitchen gadget that might theoretically be useful someday. Sure, that avocado slicer works, but so does a knife, and the knife doesn't demand counter space, cleaning time, and mental energy remembering it exists.

The question isn't "Does social media provide some value?" The question is: "Is endlessly scrolling the best way to get that value?"

Spoiler alert: It's not even close.

Let's Talk About What You're Really Doing on There

You open Facebook to "stay connected." Two hours later, you've scrolled through 200 posts, watched three recipe videos you'll never make, gotten irritated at political arguments between people you haven't seen in years, and felt vaguely depressed comparing your life to everyone's curated highlights.

You check Instagram for "inspiration." Instead, you've compared your real life to everyone's highlight reel, felt vaguely inadequate, and saved 30 posts you'll never look at again.

You browse LinkedIn to "network." But you're really just scrolling through humblebrags and corporate platitudes, feeling simultaneously unsuccessful and disgusted.

This isn't productivity. This isn't connection. This is digital junk food, engineered to be irresistible while leaving you malnourished.

Meanwhile, when was the last time you read a book? Had an uninterrupted conversation? Did focused work for two straight hours? Pursued a hobby without documenting it? Went to a family event without letting the whole world know? Let your child receive an award without announcing it to the entire Internet?

The Attention Residue Is Killing Your Brain

Every time you "quickly check" Facebook, you're not just losing those five minutes (which, let's be honest, is actually 20). You're fragmenting your attention for the next half hour. Newport's research on "attention residue" shows that when you switch from a task to check social media, part of your attention stays stuck on that feed even after you return to work.

You know that foggy, scattered feeling you have most days? That sense that you can't quite focus deeply on anything? That's not modern life. That's your brain on social media.

"But I Need It For..."

No, you don't.

• News? Subscribe directly to quality journalism. Read actual articles, not hot takes.

• Professional networking? Attend industry events. Send direct emails. Build real relationships.

• Inspiration? Visit museums. Read books. Take walks. Create instead of consuming.

• Entertainment? Remember books? Movies? Hobbies? Conversations?

• Keeping in touch? Text. Call. Email. Meet in person. Write letters.

• Community? Join clubs. Volunteer. Attend local events. Find dedicated forums for your interests.

  
  

Every single "benefit" of social media can be achieved through other means. Ones that don't algorithmically hijack your attention, harvest your data, and leave you feeling anxious and inadequate.

Let's Be Real

I know you're reading this and thinking, "Good points, but I'm different. I have self-control. I need it for my job/family/hobby."

You're not different. You don't have that much self-control. Nobody does against these algorithms. And you don't need it.

This isn't about being a luddite. This isn't about rejecting technology. This is about reclaiming your capacity for deep thought, genuine connection, and authentic experience.

Cal Newport's insight changed my life: Just because something offers some benefit doesn't mean it belongs in your life. The question is whether it's the best way to get that benefit, and whether the true cost is worth it.

For social media, the answer is devastatingly clear.

Delete it all. Today. Right now. Before you talk yourself out of it.