Why I Dislike Social Media (And Why I’m Using It Again Anyway)

1 day ago
3 min read

I’m going to say something that most people in business won’t admit:

I don’t like social media.

In fact, I stopped using it a few years ago.

No daily scrolling. No posting. No chasing likes. No pretending to be constantly “on”.

And honestly - it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

But now, as I build my business and grow my brand, I’ve found myself in a position where I have to reintroduce it.

Not because I want to. Because I need to.

And I think it’s important to be honest about that.

Why I Walked Away & Why I Dislike Social Media

1. It Drains Your Time Without You Realising

Social media is designed to keep you there.

You don’t go on for five minutes. You go on… and suddenly an hour has disappeared.

It’s not productive time. It’s not intentional time. It’s just consumption.

When I stopped using it, I got that time back instantly.

More focus. More clarity. More actual work getting done.

2. It Encourages Comparison (Whether You Like It or Not)

Even if you think you’re immune to it - you’re not.

You see people “winning”. You see polished success. You see highlight reels.

What you don’t see is the reality behind it.

Social media quietly shifts your mindset from:

“I’m doing well” to“ I should be doing more”

And that’s a dangerous place to operate from.

3. It’s Full of Noise, Not Value

There’s a difference between content and noise.

A lot of what’s on social media falls into:

Recycled advice
Surface-level tips
“Look at me” posts
Trends with no substance

When you’re trying to build something real, that kind of environment isn’t helpful.

It distracts more than it supports.

4. It Can Be a Negative Space

This is something people don’t talk about enough.

Social media can bring:

Criticism from people who don’t understand your work
Unwanted attention
Toxic behaviour
Pressure to engage when you don’t want to

I’ve experienced enough of that to know it’s not a space I naturally enjoy being in.

5. It Pulls You Away From Real Work

This is the biggest one for me.

Building a business requires:

Focus
Deep thinking
Strategy
Consistency

Social media pushes you towards:

Quick wins
Short attention spans
Constant posting
Chasing engagement

Those two things don’t always align.

These are the reasons why I dislike Social Media.

So Why Am I Using It Again?

Because whether we like it or not, social media is part of modern business.

It’s where people:

Discover you
Check your credibility
Decide whether to trust you
Engage with your content

If you’re building a brand, ignoring it completely can hold you back.

So I’m approaching it differently this time.

How I’m Using Social Media Now (Without Letting It Take Over)

I’m not going back to mindless scrolling.

Instead, I’m using it with intention:

I create content that actually helps people
I show what I do, not just talk about it
I keep boundaries around when I use it
I don’t engage with negativity
I treat it as a tool - not a lifestyle

That’s the key difference.

The Reality No One Talks About

You don’t have to love social media to use it effectively.

You just have to understand it.

For me, it’s not about: “Building a following”

It’s about:

Building credibility
Building visibility
Building trust

And if social media helps support that - then it has a place.

Final Thoughts

If you feel like social media isn’t for you, you’re not alone.

There’s a growing number of business owners who feel exactly the same.

The difference is:

Some avoid it completely.
Others learn how to use it on their own terms.

I’ve chosen the second option.

Not because I love it.

But because I understand how it fits into the bigger picture.

If you’re trying to grow your business and feel like you’re being pulled in too many directions online, you’re probably not the problem.

The system is!

And sometimes, the smartest thing you can do is step back, reset, and use the tools in a way that actually works for you.

Nicola Lonie