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Giving up social media for Lent - "Sweating & hallucinating already"

A recent report showed that the average person spent 8 hours on Facebook per week - that’s ...
Newstalk
Newstalk

20.03 13 Feb 2013


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Giving up social media for Len...

Giving up social media for Lent - "Sweating & hallucinating already"

Newstalk
Newstalk

20.03 13 Feb 2013


Share this article


A recent report showed that the average person spent 8 hours on Facebook per week - that’s 416 hours a year or the equivilant of 17.3 days. Imagine what you could achieve with this extra time each year.

Yesterday afternoon, it emerged that social media addiction has been recognised as an official condition.

London clinics have revealed they are treating hundreds of patients a year.

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Facebook and Twitter are the primary perpetrators that users have become infatuated with. 

The University of Chicago found last year that social media can be more addictive than cigarettes and alcohol. 

With this in mind, three generous people have offered to give up all social media for the Lenten period and agreed to have their progress tracked along their individual journeys.

The first is Newstalk’s own Maura Fay, researcher for the Breakfast show.

We began by asking her ten short questions:

What are your reasons for giving up social media this Lent?

The funniest quote I’ve seen recently is “The biggest challenge modern relationships face is being more interesting than your partner’s smartphone”. I’m embarrassed at the amount of times when in mid-conversation I’ve picked up my phone to have a quick flick through Facebook or Twitter and half-listened to what the person is saying. Also I recently read an article in which a Professor at the London School of Economics claimed that “people would be more content if they turned off their mobile phones and spent time concentrating on their friends and family”. I want to test his theory out!

How much time per day would you spend on social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, LinkedIn, YouTube)

If you asked me if I was a Facebook or Twitter addict I say “no way!” but my computers search engine tells me that they are the websites I visit the most. When I wake up in the morning I flick through Facebook and Twitter almost as second nature and I probably check them both at least 20 more times during the day.

What do you intend on doing with all the extra time you’ll have while not on social media? Before social media existed, can you recall what you did in your spare time?

Hopefully I’ll be more productive at work (I need to say this in case the boss is reading this). Before social media, I actually called people and had a conversation with this- retro, I know!

Do you think you will last the 40 days and 40 nights and why?

No I will fail miserably. I know at least one friend will post some horrendous/funny/embarrassing photos of another friend on Facebook. It will take all my willpower and then some to resist.

What precautions will you take to prevent you from breaking the time out?

Leaving my phone in my bag instead of taking it out and putting it on the table when having my dinner or meeting someone for a coffee. Other than that it’s sheer willpower.

Have you given up social media for a time previously? Why?

I gave up Facebook for a time in college but when I left college it was the best way of keeping tabs on your college mates and seeing who’s doing better than you. Pathetic, I know.

How difficult do you think it will be for you to give it up?

I would find it easier to abstain from chocolate or sex.

What do you use social media for?

Mainly I use Facebook to keep in touch with my sister Claire and brother Larry who are both in Australia. Twitter I use to keep up with breaking news and find links to interesting articles. 

Do you think it will free up your life and make you realise how much time you are spending on social media/cut back when you resurface after Lent?

I hope so. Ask me again in 40 days.

Will you feel out of the loop/cut off while you abstain from social media?

Absolutely. I think a lot of conversations with friends will involve them saying to me “Did you not see that on Facebook? The state of ya one”.

Do you think you will suffer from withdrawal symptoms?

I’m sweating and hallucinating already. 


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