Santana White
Jean Akers
English 102: Lesson 11
Quitting Social Media Draft
I want to touch on topics such as Quitting social media, homelessness and the American Dream. Research shows quitting social media can improve mental health and increase productivity, while excessive use is linked to anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Homelessness in America is at an all-time high, especially in Arizona. Homelessness comes from unaffordable housing, low paying wages and no help for the millions of people who suffer from mental illness. The American Dream expounds on the notion of hark work in this country and succeeding middle class and poverty status in America. A lot of urban youth feel like this dream is out of reach from the low wages and the rise in spending cost to have the necessities like food, clothes, shelter, gas etc. I'm not sure if these are related in nature, but these topics are very important to consider living in a world with so many stigmas. Out of these topics, I would say the most interesting topic to me is Quitting social media. I can say that by listening to Cal Newport's Tedtalk on YouTube really opened my eyes to the suggestion and it's something that I question daily, why am I on social media, can I quit cold turkey? I think focusing on life without social media can help with better choices in life to not be homeless or to even care about an American Dream of living it up big or keeping up with the jones sort of speak. It seems everyone these days wants to look happy instead of really being happy. Beginning with Quitting social media, studies show that the rise of social media platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat to name a few. These social media platforms have increased dramatically within the last few years and have led to concerns like depression, anxiety, mental health, and privacy along with productivity. These platforms are mainly used for competition to increase screen time. The developers make it hard to limit use or delete these accounts. It's flat-out addiction and phycological the way developers design algorithms for user engagement. This issue is very serious to the human race, it affects your well being, self esteem, productivity and lively hood and this goes for all ages. There is so much misinformation out there that it can be damaging to our youth and future generations to come. People tend to say that not being logged into their favorite social media platform, they feel like their missing out like their losing connectivity to the world. I think educators should make some type warnings of awareness similar to how they do when your gambling and placing bets. Perhaps a social media detox practice, where you stay off for a period of time to do normal social activities. Encouraging people to quit or even limit use will create a stronger and healthier real world connection, no one will think of life as one big competition or to feel like they belong Homelessness is the lack of having a roof over your head, somewhere safe and stable. Economic hardships, unemployment, drug addiction and limited resources can lead to being homeless. The homelessness crisis is mind blowing in the US, but seeing it with my own eyes living in Arizona 8years is mind blowing. I've lived in over 7 states in the US but seeing the crisis first hand in Arizona is alarming. There is no interventions for the homeless so it just gets bigger as the economy and cost of living goes up. Local governments should create more affordable housing for ones who have low income and have more mental health resources. Local governments could create job training and transitional housing programs. Arizona should explore rent control, but it's definitely going to require both prevention and rehabilitation. The Covid 19 pandemic really put a damper on Phoenix and Maricopa county with a big job loss and eviction surges. The American Dream is the idea of success, hard work or just achieving and living a life of luxury. With student debt, high housing cost it makes it harder for American's to achieve this Dream. It's very traditional to think of the American dream as hope as a way to escape poverty, but how can we escape poverty when jobs shut down and our education system is failing our youth and cost of living goes up. There is no encouraging entrepreneurship, reducing student debt or creating a fair system of economic for American's to achieve the American dream of having wealth and making it work for you for generations to pass down to. Back in the days the American dream was owning a big home and having status or high ranking job that paid $50-$60k a year, but now today's economy $50-$60k a year you can barely afford to eat a decent meal twice a week living on that type o budget. A 2023 study found that 75% of American's believe that the American dream has faded due to the housing crisis. Homelessness is the very example of why the American dream is just a facade. No matter how hard you work, it's likely that you will never achieve this Luxury lifestyle or living the American dream. Social media can shape the way the American dream is perceived and can promote alternative ways to be successful. Benefits of quitting social media can lead to healthier relationships, improve better mental health and reduce depression. Disconnecting from social media can promote better face to face interactions between people with deeper and meaningful interactions. Limiting social media use can give better sleep and limits the blue light strain on your eyes. This will put a stop to the FOMO mentality which is fear of missing out and getting anxiety. People who use social media for connecting with others will actually cause loneliness. Some people even go to the extent as to believing if they are not using social media they will get sick, it's just addicting to them. Homelessness is a complex topic but what are the solutions? In 2024 , the number of homeless people that was reported homeless in the US reached a record high of 771,480 representing an 18% increase over the previous year. In may areas in the US people have to work two and three jobs just to maintain two bedroom apartment. Layoffs, low paying jobs all contribute to the housing situation. Mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence and not many health resources create barriers to maintain stability housing. I feel that quitting social media will give you the focus to perform better in life as a human being. It will give you more drive more focus instead of looking for fake validation from people who don't know on social media. If quitting social media can help my mental my health my drive why would I need it? I used to think that I had to have a social media presence but in actuality it stopped me from getting out into the real world and networking and connecting with people. It's super hard to feel or sense someone's intentions behind a keyboard so it's not always a good ting for sure. I actually stopped all social media but YouTube and that's only because I get a check from creating content on the platform. In my eyes if it doesn't make dollars then it definitely doesn't make sense to be using it. Quitting social media I focus more on the important things in life, work, school, relationships, family and my mental health. I love driving up to the mountains to go hiking or just relax the by the lake and feel the breeze and listen to the wind, the birds, the insects no cell phones or technology whatsoever. Some people don't want much in life so social media maybe just right for them, but for those who want more in life, you don't have time to be on social media looking at what everyone else is doing or saying or getting the wrong information about something. Most of the time social media is garbage, it has become notorious for gossip drama and disturbing graphics not suitable for children. Now if you can monetize off of social media that's fine, but even when money is involved I believe limited use should still be in effect. Social media and the new AI technology has really taken the pretty filters for women to the extreme. On social media you can be whomever you wish to be behind the keyboard. It's a fantasy world, it's make believe, you can barely believe anything these days on social media when people post click bait content for likes and clicks. I have more free time for myself to think about the future and the simple things in life. I get plenty of rest and relaxation, I don't worry about who said and did what, which has nothing to do with my life. Even using social media for business purposes, it's ok to have but not a necessity. Between work and school full time there's not much social media that catches my attention, it's all dramatized and to a degree inappropriate. For me using social media it was the FOMO mentality like I was missing out on something new, hearing of good and bad news. Sometimes you find out who passed away, who was cheating with who, what's the latest dance blah blah blah, but again all pointless and bad news. I used to try and also keep in touch with friends and family but no one barely calls my phone anymore, it's just a quick waving hand emoji or heart emoji, it's the way people communicate now. I stopped watching Television, I can stop using social media, just that simple. Similar to a bad relationship, you have to learn when to let it go and move on to what's real and not forget that simple things in life to enjoy. I can tell anybody what works for them, but I believe you are what you consume. If you consume a lot of negative stuff on TV the radio or with anything, that will take a negative effect on you mentally and physically. I don't say quit social media just because for the sake of it or because I believe it's of no real use but for those who want to become more self aware and conscience of what they want to achieve in life, social media is not that place for it. If you can quit for 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks), you must believe that you can do it for good. I say try it like I did and see if there's a difference in your life as an experiment. If you can quit or stop for a bit then maybe you need an intervention or some type of help with addiction. I believe that everything doesn't have to be on camera, just live in the moment enjoy quality time with loved ones, exhale and inhale the positive vibrations from some soft music, read a book, plant a garden. There are so many things to do besides being on social media all day looking for the latest trend. I just have peace of mind knowing I don't fell like I have to prove something got somebody or share my thoughts with strangers like who cares. It's only 1% of users using social media and the 99% of users are just scrolling through, so literally who cares what you post on social media. When I look at how much time people waste on social media, it's no wonder we all feel so drained. It's like everyone is chasing attention that doesn't even matter at the end of the day. I came across a study from the American Psychological Association that said heavy social media users are more likely to feel anxious, lonely, and distracted, and I believe it 100%. It's a constant battle for validation. People don't even realize how deep the addiction runs because it's built into the design of the apps. Every scroll, every like, every notification gives a little hit of dopamine that keeps you coming back. That's why it's so hard to quit. When I stepped away from it all, I noticed how peaceful the world really is when you're not plugged into everybody else's problems and opinions all the time. It's also crazy how social media ties into the way people see success and the so-called American Dream. It used to mean working hard, buying a home, raising a family, and having a decent life. Now it seems like it's about who can flex the most online, who's traveling, or who has the best body or car. The dream has come about showing off instead of actually living it. A lot of people my age and younger don't even believe the dream is real anymore. I read that 75% of Americans said they don't think the American Dream is achievable today because of inflation and the housing market. And honestly, I don't blame them. The cost of living keeps rising while wages stay the same. People are working two or three jobs just to survive, not even to get ahead. The gap between what's real and what's portrayed online is huge. Everyone's smiling at the camera, but nobody's really happy. When you compare that to what's happening with homelessness, it's heartbreaking. It feels like people have forgotten how bad the crisis really is. The last report I saw said over 770,000 people in the U.S. were homeless in 2024, the highest it's been in decades. I've seen it up close here in Arizona, and it's not just a statistic it's real human beings struggling every single day. They are mothers, fathers, veterans, and kids. A lot of them have jobs, too. They just can't afford to rent or keep up with bills because everything costs so much. Phoenix has seen a major spike. The tents downtown, the people sleeping at bus stops, it's impossible to ignore it unless you really just don't care. The government talks about affordable housing but rent keeps going up while mental health programs keep getting cut. It feels like a cycle nobody wants to fix for real. Sometimes I think if people spent less time online pretending and more time looking around, they'd see how bad it really is. Social media makes it too easy to scroll past the truth. Nobody wants to face it, but homelessness shows how broken the American system really is. And it's not just about money it's about priorities. We've created a world where everyone's fighting for attention online instead of fighting for solutions offline. If we took half the energy we waste on TikTok trends or Instagram drama and used it to build community programs or help people get back on their feet, we'd be living in a completely different world. For me, quitting social media gave me back that perspective. I started focusing on what matters peace of mind, purpose, and people who care. I realized that the likes and followers don't pay bills, don't fix homelessness, and don't give you happiness. Now I read more, spend time outdoors, and find ways to improve my skills. I have more real conversations, more focus on school, and I sleep better because I'm not scrolling late at night. It feels like I'm finally living in the moment again, not trapped in some fake highlight reel. The truth is, we've all been conditioned to think that life happens online. But the best parts of life don't need to be posted or shared. They're meant to be experienced. The world moves fast enough without all the noise. I'd rather be grounded, aware, and thankful for what I have instead of chasing what everyone else seems to want. The American Dream, homelessness, and social media might seem like separate topics, but they're all connected. They all reflect how lost we've become as a society chasing image instead of reality. But the beautiful thing is, we can change it. It starts with being honest about what's real, helping others when we can, and remembering that happiness isn't found on a screen. It's found in peace, purpose, and the people around us. Homelessness in Arizona has risen to 3-4% between 2023-2024; 14700 people were counted on a single night in 2024. Why is it so high in Arizona? Why does it even exist in the US? This is America and who's living the American dream, sure isn't me or anyone I know. If the American dream was to get a big house, then what is it called to have a big house with no food in the fridge? No American dream for me, no social media just wants to enjoy the precious moments worry free in life without other people's input or validation. I even got away from playing video games on my phone, I still play Call of duty but not as much as I used to. Some things in life are just going to fade away as we age for more I'd say, but for me I am seeing a new light staying away from what everyone else is doing. I will continue to work hard and have short term goals that work for me. I will continue my education and try to be the best version of myself that I can be for me and my children. Even though dreams do come true, I've learned to make the best of whatever I have big or small and be grateful to be alive. A lot of us Americans work all our lives to end up with nothing or die with nothing. Dying is almost more expensive than living these days it seems, so thinking of an American dream might really be a nightmare. All in all it seems that possibly achieving these goals of reform is hard to reach with the American Dream, helping homelessness and quitting social media but we have to access ourselves our lives to know what will work for us in society on earth. We take social media so seriously to the point that if we don't use it, we feel like we're not keeping up with worldly news, but 90% of the information online is not accurate. Some people recognize the truth with media, some don't and that's where we have to draw the fine line of self awareness. It seems that we have been fed the Amercian dream all our lives, homelessness didn't start yesrturday and social media is getting more and more dangerous day by day. AI technology creating false narratives and making videos that are super far fetch or unrealistic, but again some people cant tell the difference between the real and fake, so reality becomes tainted and even some people cant handle that. I know that quitting social media will help you focus more on yourself and your surroundings more rather than focusing on the in the moment tending topics that are displayed online. Quitting social media has allowed me to get more rest and not just the typical 6 hours that the average American gets. Quitting social media has also helped me stick to a strict workout regimen for myself. I noticed that my outlook on life itself has definitely changed quitting. I don't worry about the latest trends nor do I try to keep up with other peoples story. I have more time to read and research things for myself, the overall feeling of being disconnected from what everyone else is doing is the main goal for me. I've never been one to follow trends more like I'm the one setting the trend. I generally have more time on my hands to do whatever I want creatively and that to me means everything. Between getting proper rest, family time and me being creative and having extra time to do whatever I wish to me is the American Dream. Your version of the American Dream may be different but at eats for me it's freedom from what the word is doing and believing. Thinking back on my life, I have been homeless nowhere to go nowhere to turn for help. It was my self determination to change my situation and I did. Losing work, my home, car, wife etc. Was devastating but I persevered through because I understand everyone in life sometimes struggle and that trouble doesn't last forever. I could have easily had my hand out for help, but I didn't give up, I didn't lose hope. Despite the fear of missing out or losing touch, quitting social media has proven to be a transformative decision. It's not just about disconnecting from an app it's about reconnecting with reality. The thesis of this exploration is simple but powerful; quitting social media can lead to stronger real-world connections and improve mental health for sure. This process is not about condemning technology today, but to reclaim control over how we connect, communicate, and care for ourselves. Imagine living in a world without social media, people would spend more time outdoors. Remember playing board games with family, and face-to-face conversations before caller ID? Offline time becomes part of daily routine, supporting mental health and emotional well-being. Real connections will take over digital ones. This vision isn't about going backward it's about moving forward with intention. By prioritizing in-person interaction, we can build a society that values authenticity over appearance, depth over distraction. "Creating clear limits around social media use is essential for maintaining digital well-being. Boundaries protect your time, attention, and mental space from the constant pull of notifications and endless content feeds" (Socio.Health). All in all, it seems that possibly achieving these goals of reform is hard to reach with the American Dream, helping homelessness, and quitting social media, but we have to assess ourselves and our lives to know what will work for us in society on earth. Quitting social media has opened my eyes to how much peace and focus I was missing before. It has allowed me to get more rest, spend more time with family, and focus on what really matters like work, school, and my mental health. I've noticed that my outlook on life itself has definitely changed since quitting. I don't worry about the latest trends or what other people are doing online. I have more time to read and research things for myself, and the overall feeling of being disconnected from what everyone else is doing has been the biggest blessing. I've never been one to follow trends anyway; I'd rather set them. Between getting proper rest, family time, and having space to be creative, that to me is the real American Dream. Everyone's version might be different, but for me, it's freedom from what the world is doing and believing. Thinking back on my life, I've been through homelessness and hardship, and I know what it's like to lose everything and start over. But I also learned that trouble doesn't last forever. My self-determination changed my situation, and it showed me that giving up isn't an option. Despite the fear of missing out or losing touch, quitting social media has proven to be a transformative decision. It's not just about disconnecting from an app it's about reconnecting with reality. The thesis of this journey is simple but powerful: quitting social media can lead to stronger real-world connections and improve mental health. It's not about condemning technology but reclaiming control over how we connect, communicate, and care for ourselves. Life offline brings more awareness, focus, and peace. It reminds me of a time before constant notifications and distractions, when people talked face to face and enjoyed the moment. If more people limited their use, maybe we'd see less competition and more compassion in the world. We'd see people building communities again instead of comparing their lives online. Real connections would take over digital ones, and people might finally understand that happiness isn't something you post it's something you live on. By prioritizing in-person interaction, we can build a society that values authenticity over appearance, and depth over distraction. The world moves fast enough without all the noise. I'd rather stay grounded, aware, and thankful for what I have instead of chasing what everyone else seems to want. The American Dream, homelessness, and social media might seem like separate topics, but they are all connected. They all reflect how lost we've become chasing images instead of reality. The beautiful thing is that we can change it. It starts with being honest about what's real, helping others when we can, and remembering that happiness isn't found on a screen. It's found in peace, purpose, and the people around us. Personally, I've taken a step back from social media to focus on my own goals and peace of mind. I noticed that when I stopped comparing my journey to others online, I started seeing progress in my real life whether in school, business, or relationships. It gave me time to think about what truly matters, including how society treats those who don't fit the "perfect" image of success. We live in a country that tells us everyone can make it if they just work hard, but that's not always true. Some people are fighting battles that can't be captured in a motivational post or a viral video. Maybe if more of us disconnected from the noise online and paid attention to what's happening around us, we could start rebuilding that American Dream not through likes or follows, but through empathy, community, and action.
Jean Akers
English 102: Lesson 11
Quitting Social Media Draft
I want to touch on topics such as Quitting social media, homelessness and the American Dream. Research shows quitting social media can improve mental health and increase productivity, while excessive use is linked to anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Homelessness in America is at an all-time high, especially in Arizona. Homelessness comes from unaffordable housing, low paying wages and no help for the millions of people who suffer from mental illness. The American Dream expounds on the notion of hark work in this country and succeeding middle class and poverty status in America. A lot of urban youth feel like this dream is out of reach from the low wages and the rise in spending cost to have the necessities like food, clothes, shelter, gas etc. I'm not sure if these are related in nature, but these topics are very important to consider living in a world with so many stigmas. Out of these topics, I would say the most interesting topic to me is Quitting social media. I can say that by listening to Cal Newport's Tedtalk on YouTube really opened my eyes to the suggestion and it's something that I question daily, why am I on social media, can I quit cold turkey? I think focusing on life without social media can help with better choices in life to not be homeless or to even care about an American Dream of living it up big or keeping up with the jones sort of speak. It seems everyone these days wants to look happy instead of really being happy. Beginning with Quitting social media, studies show that the rise of social media platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat to name a few. These social media platforms have increased dramatically within the last few years and have led to concerns like depression, anxiety, mental health, and privacy along with productivity. These platforms are mainly used for competition to increase screen time. The developers make it hard to limit use or delete these accounts. It's flat-out addiction and phycological the way developers design algorithms for user engagement. This issue is very serious to the human race, it affects your well being, self esteem, productivity and lively hood and this goes for all ages. There is so much misinformation out there that it can be damaging to our youth and future generations to come. People tend to say that not being logged into their favorite social media platform, they feel like their missing out like their losing connectivity to the world. I think educators should make some type warnings of awareness similar to how they do when your gambling and placing bets. Perhaps a social media detox practice, where you stay off for a period of time to do normal social activities. Encouraging people to quit or even limit use will create a stronger and healthier real world connection, no one will think of life as one big competition or to feel like they belong Homelessness is the lack of having a roof over your head, somewhere safe and stable. Economic hardships, unemployment, drug addiction and limited resources can lead to being homeless. The homelessness crisis is mind blowing in the US, but seeing it with my own eyes living in Arizona 8years is mind blowing. I've lived in over 7 states in the US but seeing the crisis first hand in Arizona is alarming. There is no interventions for the homeless so it just gets bigger as the economy and cost of living goes up. Local governments should create more affordable housing for ones who have low income and have more mental health resources. Local governments could create job training and transitional housing programs. Arizona should explore rent control, but it's definitely going to require both prevention and rehabilitation. The Covid 19 pandemic really put a damper on Phoenix and Maricopa county with a big job loss and eviction surges. The American Dream is the idea of success, hard work or just achieving and living a life of luxury. With student debt, high housing cost it makes it harder for American's to achieve this Dream. It's very traditional to think of the American dream as hope as a way to escape poverty, but how can we escape poverty when jobs shut down and our education system is failing our youth and cost of living goes up. There is no encouraging entrepreneurship, reducing student debt or creating a fair system of economic for American's to achieve the American dream of having wealth and making it work for you for generations to pass down to. Back in the days the American dream was owning a big home and having status or high ranking job that paid $50-$60k a year, but now today's economy $50-$60k a year you can barely afford to eat a decent meal twice a week living on that type o budget. A 2023 study found that 75% of American's believe that the American dream has faded due to the housing crisis. Homelessness is the very example of why the American dream is just a facade. No matter how hard you work, it's likely that you will never achieve this Luxury lifestyle or living the American dream. Social media can shape the way the American dream is perceived and can promote alternative ways to be successful. Benefits of quitting social media can lead to healthier relationships, improve better mental health and reduce depression. Disconnecting from social media can promote better face to face interactions between people with deeper and meaningful interactions. Limiting social media use can give better sleep and limits the blue light strain on your eyes. This will put a stop to the FOMO mentality which is fear of missing out and getting anxiety. People who use social media for connecting with others will actually cause loneliness. Some people even go to the extent as to believing if they are not using social media they will get sick, it's just addicting to them. Homelessness is a complex topic but what are the solutions? In 2024 , the number of homeless people that was reported homeless in the US reached a record high of 771,480 representing an 18% increase over the previous year. In may areas in the US people have to work two and three jobs just to maintain two bedroom apartment. Layoffs, low paying jobs all contribute to the housing situation. Mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence and not many health resources create barriers to maintain stability housing. I feel that quitting social media will give you the focus to perform better in life as a human being. It will give you more drive more focus instead of looking for fake validation from people who don't know on social media. If quitting social media can help my mental my health my drive why would I need it? I used to think that I had to have a social media presence but in actuality it stopped me from getting out into the real world and networking and connecting with people. It's super hard to feel or sense someone's intentions behind a keyboard so it's not always a good ting for sure. I actually stopped all social media but YouTube and that's only because I get a check from creating content on the platform. In my eyes if it doesn't make dollars then it definitely doesn't make sense to be using it. Quitting social media I focus more on the important things in life, work, school, relationships, family and my mental health. I love driving up to the mountains to go hiking or just relax the by the lake and feel the breeze and listen to the wind, the birds, the insects no cell phones or technology whatsoever. Some people don't want much in life so social media maybe just right for them, but for those who want more in life, you don't have time to be on social media looking at what everyone else is doing or saying or getting the wrong information about something. Most of the time social media is garbage, it has become notorious for gossip drama and disturbing graphics not suitable for children. Now if you can monetize off of social media that's fine, but even when money is involved I believe limited use should still be in effect. Social media and the new AI technology has really taken the pretty filters for women to the extreme. On social media you can be whomever you wish to be behind the keyboard. It's a fantasy world, it's make believe, you can barely believe anything these days on social media when people post click bait content for likes and clicks. I have more free time for myself to think about the future and the simple things in life. I get plenty of rest and relaxation, I don't worry about who said and did what, which has nothing to do with my life. Even using social media for business purposes, it's ok to have but not a necessity. Between work and school full time there's not much social media that catches my attention, it's all dramatized and to a degree inappropriate. For me using social media it was the FOMO mentality like I was missing out on something new, hearing of good and bad news. Sometimes you find out who passed away, who was cheating with who, what's the latest dance blah blah blah, but again all pointless and bad news. I used to try and also keep in touch with friends and family but no one barely calls my phone anymore, it's just a quick waving hand emoji or heart emoji, it's the way people communicate now. I stopped watching Television, I can stop using social media, just that simple. Similar to a bad relationship, you have to learn when to let it go and move on to what's real and not forget that simple things in life to enjoy. I can tell anybody what works for them, but I believe you are what you consume. If you consume a lot of negative stuff on TV the radio or with anything, that will take a negative effect on you mentally and physically. I don't say quit social media just because for the sake of it or because I believe it's of no real use but for those who want to become more self aware and conscience of what they want to achieve in life, social media is not that place for it. If you can quit for 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks), you must believe that you can do it for good. I say try it like I did and see if there's a difference in your life as an experiment. If you can quit or stop for a bit then maybe you need an intervention or some type of help with addiction. I believe that everything doesn't have to be on camera, just live in the moment enjoy quality time with loved ones, exhale and inhale the positive vibrations from some soft music, read a book, plant a garden. There are so many things to do besides being on social media all day looking for the latest trend. I just have peace of mind knowing I don't fell like I have to prove something got somebody or share my thoughts with strangers like who cares. It's only 1% of users using social media and the 99% of users are just scrolling through, so literally who cares what you post on social media. When I look at how much time people waste on social media, it's no wonder we all feel so drained. It's like everyone is chasing attention that doesn't even matter at the end of the day. I came across a study from the American Psychological Association that said heavy social media users are more likely to feel anxious, lonely, and distracted, and I believe it 100%. It's a constant battle for validation. People don't even realize how deep the addiction runs because it's built into the design of the apps. Every scroll, every like, every notification gives a little hit of dopamine that keeps you coming back. That's why it's so hard to quit. When I stepped away from it all, I noticed how peaceful the world really is when you're not plugged into everybody else's problems and opinions all the time. It's also crazy how social media ties into the way people see success and the so-called American Dream. It used to mean working hard, buying a home, raising a family, and having a decent life. Now it seems like it's about who can flex the most online, who's traveling, or who has the best body or car. The dream has come about showing off instead of actually living it. A lot of people my age and younger don't even believe the dream is real anymore. I read that 75% of Americans said they don't think the American Dream is achievable today because of inflation and the housing market. And honestly, I don't blame them. The cost of living keeps rising while wages stay the same. People are working two or three jobs just to survive, not even to get ahead. The gap between what's real and what's portrayed online is huge. Everyone's smiling at the camera, but nobody's really happy. When you compare that to what's happening with homelessness, it's heartbreaking. It feels like people have forgotten how bad the crisis really is. The last report I saw said over 770,000 people in the U.S. were homeless in 2024, the highest it's been in decades. I've seen it up close here in Arizona, and it's not just a statistic it's real human beings struggling every single day. They are mothers, fathers, veterans, and kids. A lot of them have jobs, too. They just can't afford to rent or keep up with bills because everything costs so much. Phoenix has seen a major spike. The tents downtown, the people sleeping at bus stops, it's impossible to ignore it unless you really just don't care. The government talks about affordable housing but rent keeps going up while mental health programs keep getting cut. It feels like a cycle nobody wants to fix for real. Sometimes I think if people spent less time online pretending and more time looking around, they'd see how bad it really is. Social media makes it too easy to scroll past the truth. Nobody wants to face it, but homelessness shows how broken the American system really is. And it's not just about money it's about priorities. We've created a world where everyone's fighting for attention online instead of fighting for solutions offline. If we took half the energy we waste on TikTok trends or Instagram drama and used it to build community programs or help people get back on their feet, we'd be living in a completely different world. For me, quitting social media gave me back that perspective. I started focusing on what matters peace of mind, purpose, and people who care. I realized that the likes and followers don't pay bills, don't fix homelessness, and don't give you happiness. Now I read more, spend time outdoors, and find ways to improve my skills. I have more real conversations, more focus on school, and I sleep better because I'm not scrolling late at night. It feels like I'm finally living in the moment again, not trapped in some fake highlight reel. The truth is, we've all been conditioned to think that life happens online. But the best parts of life don't need to be posted or shared. They're meant to be experienced. The world moves fast enough without all the noise. I'd rather be grounded, aware, and thankful for what I have instead of chasing what everyone else seems to want. The American Dream, homelessness, and social media might seem like separate topics, but they're all connected. They all reflect how lost we've become as a society chasing image instead of reality. But the beautiful thing is, we can change it. It starts with being honest about what's real, helping others when we can, and remembering that happiness isn't found on a screen. It's found in peace, purpose, and the people around us. Homelessness in Arizona has risen to 3-4% between 2023-2024; 14700 people were counted on a single night in 2024. Why is it so high in Arizona? Why does it even exist in the US? This is America and who's living the American dream, sure isn't me or anyone I know. If the American dream was to get a big house, then what is it called to have a big house with no food in the fridge? No American dream for me, no social media just wants to enjoy the precious moments worry free in life without other people's input or validation. I even got away from playing video games on my phone, I still play Call of duty but not as much as I used to. Some things in life are just going to fade away as we age for more I'd say, but for me I am seeing a new light staying away from what everyone else is doing. I will continue to work hard and have short term goals that work for me. I will continue my education and try to be the best version of myself that I can be for me and my children. Even though dreams do come true, I've learned to make the best of whatever I have big or small and be grateful to be alive. A lot of us Americans work all our lives to end up with nothing or die with nothing. Dying is almost more expensive than living these days it seems, so thinking of an American dream might really be a nightmare. All in all it seems that possibly achieving these goals of reform is hard to reach with the American Dream, helping homelessness and quitting social media but we have to access ourselves our lives to know what will work for us in society on earth. We take social media so seriously to the point that if we don't use it, we feel like we're not keeping up with worldly news, but 90% of the information online is not accurate. Some people recognize the truth with media, some don't and that's where we have to draw the fine line of self awareness. It seems that we have been fed the Amercian dream all our lives, homelessness didn't start yesrturday and social media is getting more and more dangerous day by day. AI technology creating false narratives and making videos that are super far fetch or unrealistic, but again some people cant tell the difference between the real and fake, so reality becomes tainted and even some people cant handle that. I know that quitting social media will help you focus more on yourself and your surroundings more rather than focusing on the in the moment tending topics that are displayed online. Quitting social media has allowed me to get more rest and not just the typical 6 hours that the average American gets. Quitting social media has also helped me stick to a strict workout regimen for myself. I noticed that my outlook on life itself has definitely changed quitting. I don't worry about the latest trends nor do I try to keep up with other peoples story. I have more time to read and research things for myself, the overall feeling of being disconnected from what everyone else is doing is the main goal for me. I've never been one to follow trends more like I'm the one setting the trend. I generally have more time on my hands to do whatever I want creatively and that to me means everything. Between getting proper rest, family time and me being creative and having extra time to do whatever I wish to me is the American Dream. Your version of the American Dream may be different but at eats for me it's freedom from what the word is doing and believing. Thinking back on my life, I have been homeless nowhere to go nowhere to turn for help. It was my self determination to change my situation and I did. Losing work, my home, car, wife etc. Was devastating but I persevered through because I understand everyone in life sometimes struggle and that trouble doesn't last forever. I could have easily had my hand out for help, but I didn't give up, I didn't lose hope. Despite the fear of missing out or losing touch, quitting social media has proven to be a transformative decision. It's not just about disconnecting from an app it's about reconnecting with reality. The thesis of this exploration is simple but powerful; quitting social media can lead to stronger real-world connections and improve mental health for sure. This process is not about condemning technology today, but to reclaim control over how we connect, communicate, and care for ourselves. Imagine living in a world without social media, people would spend more time outdoors. Remember playing board games with family, and face-to-face conversations before caller ID? Offline time becomes part of daily routine, supporting mental health and emotional well-being. Real connections will take over digital ones. This vision isn't about going backward it's about moving forward with intention. By prioritizing in-person interaction, we can build a society that values authenticity over appearance, depth over distraction. "Creating clear limits around social media use is essential for maintaining digital well-being. Boundaries protect your time, attention, and mental space from the constant pull of notifications and endless content feeds" (Socio.Health). All in all, it seems that possibly achieving these goals of reform is hard to reach with the American Dream, helping homelessness, and quitting social media, but we have to assess ourselves and our lives to know what will work for us in society on earth. Quitting social media has opened my eyes to how much peace and focus I was missing before. It has allowed me to get more rest, spend more time with family, and focus on what really matters like work, school, and my mental health. I've noticed that my outlook on life itself has definitely changed since quitting. I don't worry about the latest trends or what other people are doing online. I have more time to read and research things for myself, and the overall feeling of being disconnected from what everyone else is doing has been the biggest blessing. I've never been one to follow trends anyway; I'd rather set them. Between getting proper rest, family time, and having space to be creative, that to me is the real American Dream. Everyone's version might be different, but for me, it's freedom from what the world is doing and believing. Thinking back on my life, I've been through homelessness and hardship, and I know what it's like to lose everything and start over. But I also learned that trouble doesn't last forever. My self-determination changed my situation, and it showed me that giving up isn't an option. Despite the fear of missing out or losing touch, quitting social media has proven to be a transformative decision. It's not just about disconnecting from an app it's about reconnecting with reality. The thesis of this journey is simple but powerful: quitting social media can lead to stronger real-world connections and improve mental health. It's not about condemning technology but reclaiming control over how we connect, communicate, and care for ourselves. Life offline brings more awareness, focus, and peace. It reminds me of a time before constant notifications and distractions, when people talked face to face and enjoyed the moment. If more people limited their use, maybe we'd see less competition and more compassion in the world. We'd see people building communities again instead of comparing their lives online. Real connections would take over digital ones, and people might finally understand that happiness isn't something you post it's something you live on. By prioritizing in-person interaction, we can build a society that values authenticity over appearance, and depth over distraction. The world moves fast enough without all the noise. I'd rather stay grounded, aware, and thankful for what I have instead of chasing what everyone else seems to want. The American Dream, homelessness, and social media might seem like separate topics, but they are all connected. They all reflect how lost we've become chasing images instead of reality. The beautiful thing is that we can change it. It starts with being honest about what's real, helping others when we can, and remembering that happiness isn't found on a screen. It's found in peace, purpose, and the people around us. Personally, I've taken a step back from social media to focus on my own goals and peace of mind. I noticed that when I stopped comparing my journey to others online, I started seeing progress in my real life whether in school, business, or relationships. It gave me time to think about what truly matters, including how society treats those who don't fit the "perfect" image of success. We live in a country that tells us everyone can make it if they just work hard, but that's not always true. Some people are fighting battles that can't be captured in a motivational post or a viral video. Maybe if more of us disconnected from the noise online and paid attention to what's happening around us, we could start rebuilding that American Dream not through likes or follows, but through empathy, community, and action.
