Social media used to be a convenience; now it often feels like a default state of being. I’ve long admired minimalist principles — fewer possessions, clearer choices, less noise — and I kept wondering: why don’t those ideas apply to the way we use social media? Over the past two years I’ve been experimenting with a minimalist approach to my online life: not quitting cold turkey, but reshaping how I connect so that I keep the benefits (friends, information, inspiration) without the chronic anxiety and distraction.

Why I didn’t want to quit entirely

First, a confession: I’ve tried the full digital detox. It was eye-opening and strangely liberating, but it also meant missing out on invitations, niche communities, and useful links that made my projects better. For me, social media isn’t inherently bad; it’s the way most platforms are designed — optimized for attention, not well-being — that causes problems.

The minimalist approach is a compromise: intentionally limit where, when, and how I engage so the relationships and content I care about survive, and the rest evaporates. It’s about keeping connection without the anxiety.

Principles that guided my experiment

  • Clarity of purpose: Every account or app needed a clear, stated purpose. Is this for photography, local news, close friends, work, or inspiration?
  • Boundaries over willpower: I reorganised environments rather than relying on self-control — settings, notifications, and phone layouts do most of the heavy lifting.
  • Quality over quantity: I reduced my follows, not my friends. Better conversations and fewer feeds.
  • Slow consumption: Replacing endless scrolling with occasional, intentional visits.

    • Practical steps I took — and still use

    Here’s what I actually changed. Each step was small enough to try for a week and tweak.

  • Audit and assign purpose: I wrote a one-line purpose for every social account. Example: Instagram — "visual inspiration and local markets"; Twitter/X — "industry news and quick links"; Mastodon — "longer-form conversation with makers." If I couldn’t name a purpose, I deactivated the account.
  • Curate my follows deliberately: I went through my follow lists and asked: does this person or account add something I want in my life? If not, I muted or unfollowed. This reduced my feed volume by about 60% and immediately made scrolling less performative and more informative.
  • Set windows, not marathon sessions: I created fixed times for social media: a 20-minute morning check for essential updates and messages, a 15-minute mid-afternoon for inspiration, and a 20-minute evening window for cultural reading or light browsing. Outside those windows, apps are hidden.
  • Use app-granular blockers: I use iPhone Screen Time to hide apps outside allowed hours, and Freedom when I need strict blocks across devices. Layers of friction translate into fewer impulse sessions.
  • Turn off non-essential notifications: Only messages from people I care about and calendar events get push notifications. Everything else is delivered via a weekly digest email.
  • Design an “inbox” for social: For platforms where I get useful links (Twitter/X, Slack), I use a read-later system: Pocket or the Notes app. This helps me process content on my own terms.
  • Make interaction intentional: When I open an app I have a clear goal: respond to messages, post one meaningful update, or save five links. If none of those apply, I close the app.

    • Tools that helped (and which I recommend)

    Minimalism is about useful tools, not fancy tech. These are the ones that worked for me:

  • iPhone Screen Time / Android Digital Wellbeing: Hide apps outside chosen windows.
  • Freedom: Blocks apps and websites across devices. Great for deep work.
  • Pocket: Save articles and return later without keeping tabs open or scrolling.
  • Mastodon or private Discord servers: For slower, kinder conversations. I found that smaller, less commercial platforms encourage better interactions.
  • RSS + Feedly: Replace noisy timelines with curated feeds. It’s quieter and more focused.

    • How I manage relationships

    One of my biggest fears was losing friendships. Instead of mindlessly scrolling to keep up, I changed the way I stay connected:

  • Schedule real check-ins: Monthly messages, voice notes, or a 30-minute call. Quality beats rapid-fire reactions.
  • Use status and group lists: On platforms that allow it, I use close friends lists or custom groups to share personal updates. Public posts are for topics, not intimate life details.
  • Be explicit about boundaries: Friends know I don’t read everything in real time; if it’s urgent, call or text. Most people respect that when you’re clear.

    • A short table: quick platform trade-offs

    PlatformWhy I use itDrawback
    Instagram Visual inspiration, local makers Algorithmic feeds encourage doomscrolling
    Twitter/X Fast news, industry links High volume, reactive culture
    Mastodon / private servers Smaller communities, slower threads Smaller reach; needs discovery
    RSS (Feedly) Curated reading, no likes Requires setup and curation

    How this changed my brain (and my anxiety)

    Minimal social media didn’t make my life quieter overnight, but it did change how I feel about my attention. The morning windows let me find useful links without getting stuck. Turning off notifications removed the constant feeling of being “on.” By reducing the number of things competing for my attention, I found deeper focus for writing and the energy to meet friends in person.

    There were side effects: I sometimes felt out of the loop, and I had to be proactive about RSVPs or trending topics. But most of those anxieties faded when I realized that being slightly less informed is a fair trade for mental clarity.

    Practical comms templates I use

    When friends asked why I’m less responsive, I found simple messages reduce awkwardness:

  • “I’m on a tighter social schedule these days — I check apps at set times. If it’s urgent, please call.”
  • “I don’t see everything in real time; send me a DM or pick a time to chat.”

    • What I still struggle with

    Perfection isn’t the point. I still slip into endless scrolling when I’m tired. I occasionally over-curate and miss serendipity. And there are days when engagement feels performative because maintaining a public voice still matters for work. The key is to notice those regressions fast and reapply boundaries without guilt.

    If you’re curious, try my simplest test: pick one platform and apply just two rules for a week — define its purpose and set one time window for use. See what you miss and what you gain. For me, those small changes became a gateway to a calmer, more intentional online life — and a reminder that connection doesn’t require constant presence. It requires presence, sometimes, and absence, often.