Why are youth, celebs turning away from social media?

So, what kind of person is Prasannan? In the movie Android Kunjappan, Bhaskara Podhuval asks his robot this question. The robot’s reply, “He has no Facebook, Instagram, or email. So, Prasannan does not exist”, drew laughter from most among us. Yet beneath the humour lies a more profound truth. Unless there is an active social media presence, even visa processing can get affected these days. However, recently, Malayalam actress Aishwarya Lakshmi said she has decided to step away from social media. Similarly, many deliberately step out of the labyrinth of social media and declare their freedom today. 

Why youth don't like personal interactions
Earlier, human interaction was a core strength of our society. Today, however, people aged 15 to 30 are increasingly confining themselves to digital interactions. They often give excuses such as `Not wanting to hear the conversations of uncles' to skip family events like weddings or funerals. However, experts say the real reason is a growing reluctance to interact with people in person.

No feelings
This shift has created a situation where even close personal grief is often experienced at a distance. While many are quick to post a status or story upon hearing of someone’s death, few visit the bereaved home or extend direct assistance. This hesitation, whether in sitting as a standby to a patient in a hospital or simply being physically present, stems from a growing dependence on digital interaction.

A trendy term for this one-way mode of decision-making is `one mind'. From travel plans and movie outings to proposals and life decisions, young people increasingly stick to a single choice, rarely considering a plan B.

The sleepless nights
There is no room for compromise when it comes to lifestyle, and yet, a significant compromise is happening unknowingly in sleep. Studies reveal that people aged 18 to 35 often fall asleep only between 3 am and 5 am, with social media and gaming replacing rest during midnight hours. Still, work and classes demand early hours, reducing their sleep to less than four hours a day. The consequences of forsaking sleep for screens are that anger, memory loss and impatience are becoming part of our character without much awareness.

Patience is losing to speed
For many, entertainment comes in bite-sized doses such as reels that convey stories at lightning speed or high-speed games. Another tendency is to accelerate the pace of audio clips, regardless of their content. Some even listen to YouTube at 2x speed, consistently. Digital interaction has trained us to crave speed, eroding our patience and making us less inclined to take the time for anything.

This rush extends to decision-making and learning. Even when time is available, there is often little capacity to study a subject in depth. Reading newspapers or books is on the decline, mainly because sustained attention on a single topic has become increasingly rare.

The clock on the screen addiction
Experts recommend that even older adults limit their screen time to two hours a day. For those whose work requires more screen time, social media use should be limited to under two hours. Yet, the reality is stark. Studies estimate that the average daily Instagram use among youth is around 8.18 hours. This excessive screen time persists in stark contrast to voices like Apple CEO Tim Cook, who openly states that his own usage is much lower.

Virtual life
Today, a prevailing myth suggests that life is defined by what is seen on social media. This illusion has brought tensions into many families. Post-COVID, more households are producing and sharing videos with their family, which turns their personal moments into public content. While some earn from this, viewers often compare these curated portrayals with their own lives, and this practice may even lead to depression. Even children are now actively creating and sharing videos, embedding virtual life into reality. Commenting on this trend, Dr Arun B Nair, a mental health expert at the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram, emphasises the importance of real-world social interaction. “Maintaining relationships with neighbours and friends is vital. Using social media is fine, but it should be done while keeping a certain distance,” he says.

Focusing solely on videos, without spending time playing with friends or reading, also affects children’s conversational skills. The habit of speaking in the voices of their favourite characters is another warning sign. In such situations, doctors often prescribe a simpler, rural lifestyle — living in a peaceful setting for six months — to help restore balance. Writer and columnist Ram Mohan Paliath argues that, instead of Karl Marx’s famous quote that “Religion is the opium of the people,” it should be said that “Reel-gion is the opium of the people today.”

Why are celebs signing out?
The primary reason for many celebrities withdrawing from social media is a disinterest in hate campaigns. Many express concern that the uproar surrounding a failed movie could negatively affect their professional image in the future. At the same time, many of them still view social media as a source of income, with some earning substantial revenue from their posts.

Most celebrities no longer manage their social media accounts directly. Instead, they either hire individuals or engage agencies to handle them. For instance, a social media agency run by a leading media organisation in the country manages as many as 2.5 lakh accounts. However, many high-profile personalities have chosen to remain inactive on social media, including prominent actors such as Aamir Khan, Ajith and Fahadh Faasil.