Everybody scrolls endlessly through Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and X, absorbing highlights of people’s lives – often staged, filtered or exaggerated. They admire people they think they know, based on curated video clips and polished captions. They greet them in conversation as if they are close friends: ‘Did you see what she posted yesterday?’ Yet, in reality, they don’t know them at all. What they engage with is a digital persona, not the whole human being.
Meanwhile, content creators chase likes, comments and shares – and the more shocking, dramatic or sensational the content, the more attention it draws. Clicks and views have become currency, but many of the things people are consuming add very little real value to their lives. Instead, they are left overstimulated, emotionally reactive and mentally drained – becoming digital brain zombies, without realising it.
Were you ever ready for this?
Social media didn’t arrive with a warning label. There was no guidebook on how to process news from five continents in one day, or how to protect your identity while being constantly compared to others. No one taught you how to discern truth from performance, or how to guard your attention in a world designed to steal it.
And now, here you are – plugged in, overloaded, often disconnected from yourself.
So, what now? It’s time to reclaim your focus, your truth and your peace.
Five ways to take back control in a loud, digital world
1. Stop worshipping the digital persona: Admire with caution. Just because someone appears wise, happy or successful online doesn’t mean their life mirrors what you see. Remember: You are watching an edited version of someone’s life, not the whole picture.
2. Ask yourself if this content is really useful. Every time you consume something, ask: ‘Is this nourishing me, challenging me, growing me – or simply numbing me?’ Viral videos are easy to watch, but are they adding depth or just noise?
3. Shrink your world to what you can control. It’s okay not to keep up with every crisis, trend or opinion. Focus on what’s within your reach – your home, your community, your relationships. When the digital world feels too heavy, zoom in on the real one.
4. Set boundaries to avoid digital burnout: You weren’t designed to be available 24/7, so take control of your time.
- Put your phone down during meals.
- Schedule tech-free evenings.
- Let your brain rest. Stillness is not laziness – it’s survival.
5. Choose connection over consumption. People crave connection, not just content.
- Reach out to someone for a real conversation.
- Go for a walk with a friend.
- Ask meaningful questions.
- Online interaction can’t replace human presence.
Final reflection
- It’s easy to lose yourself in the noise. But you are not powerless. You have a choice every day to engage with intention, to pause, to protect your peace.
- Social media can be a tool for inspiration, learning and connection, but only if you are in control, not the algorithm. So, take a breath, take a step back and remember who you are when the screen goes dark.
- You are not a digital zombie. You are a thinking, feeling, present human being. Let’s live like it.
