Ivy Klee relied heavily upon virtual connection during the pandemic. Social distancing led to a digital dive of nonstop scrolling on Instagram and TikTok. Feeds filled with current events and unsolicited opinions dominated the hours of screen time.
"I remember feeling drained, sad, frustrated, and angry a lot of the time after being on my apps," Klee said. "They didn't make me feel good."
She eventually deleted apps like Instagram and set timers to pull herself from her screen's strong grip.
Years later, Klee said a similar pattern continued as the Israel-Hamas War coverage took over social media.
"I think everyone has a different opinion on the war, and that everyone has a different way of processing what is going on," Klee said. "Some days I want to watch coverage and talk to my family and friends about it, and other days I don't. And that's OK."
The same was true for Sylvie Siegel, a JUF employee, who found herself constantly consumed by war content. As she scrolled, she said misinformation was rampant and stress took over.
Siegel recently decided to step away from social media for a short time.
"I usually turn to social media to take my mind off of reality," she said. "I knew for the sake of my well-being I needed to have a break for a few days."
Siegel called the posts flooding her feeds "eye-opening" and "terrifying."
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Orli Firestein said Klee and Siegel are not alone. In her private practice, she has noticed a movement away from social media, especially post-pandemic. The issue is not just content surrounding major current events; it can also be lifestyle posts from peers.
"There is a tendency to compare oneself to the often times edited and cherry-picked images and narratives that are put out on social media," Firestein said.
She said the most common challenges of engaging online involve comparisons around physical appearance, wealth, and achieving various life milestones.
According to Firestein, Klee and Siegel had the right tactics to combat the negative feelings. As a social worker, Firestein emphasized the importance of "being intentional."
"Removing certain social media apps from your phone, or using features such as 'screentime' if you have a smartphone, can also help bring awareness to the amount of time spent consuming social media," she said.
Siegel said she saw the same benefit during her social media breaks.
"I felt a lot lighter and a lot less consumed with the news," she said. "It felt like I was putting myself first. It was very freeing."
Siegel said after a break, she wanted to return to different social media platforms and remain informed. She said she downloaded Instagram, but now monitors her mental health closely.
"I need to preserve my peace," she said.
Elyssa Kaufman is a Digital News Producer at CBS Chicago.
