I’m reading Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation at the moment. It’s extremely convincing (and alarming) in its thesis that we are overprotecting children in the real world and underprotecting them online. The negative impact of social media and gaming on children and adolescents’ mental health is really very difficult to deny, and he has workable solutions. I strongly urge anyone who has a young one to read it.

It does not only have good advice for parents, however. I recognise the connection between my use of Twitter and my own episodes of depression. I mostly notice this when I stop using it. It’s very difficult at first and I typically fail to keep my commitment to stay off it in the first 24 hours, but if I get past 48 hours, I start to feel clear & strong benefits. I’ve been unwell this week but have still been so much more positive and productive than when I am using Twitter daily and checking notifications multiple times a day. I have published two pieces on Substack, & am halfway through two more for other outlets. I’ve moved two consulting projects on substantially, been Spring cleaning my house & have planned & cooked three healthy meals a day as well as read two novels and two non-fiction books and even engaged in some crafts. I’ve not become noticeably more sociable in the real world, but we can’t expect miracles.

My resting heart rate has dropped, my VO2 max and heart rate variability have risen, I feel more energetic and positive about each day and I am losing about half a pound a day (which is not excessive at my degree of overweight) as a result of the increased movement and greater attention to diet.

I have observed all these things happen before when I avoid social media but I never seem to manage to stay off it even though returning to it brings a return of grumpiness, lack of motivation and productivity and general despair of humanity. I think Jon Haidt may have inspired me to make it stick, though.

A friend has control of my Twitter account under strict instructions not to give it back to me for at least three weeks. I think I will then ask her to manage it and post my writing and podcasts etc to it and maybe give it back to me on Sundays for a couple of hours so I can check in on some of my favourite people.

Life is better without Twitter.