National Unfriend Day is today, and what better way to celebrate than by cutting out the digital clutter in your life? This day was created by Jimmy Kimmel in 2012 as a way for people to take a break from the digital clutter and focus on the people who add joy to their online experience.
A Brief History of Social Media
Social media has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the late 1990s. What started as a way for people to keep track of their friends online has morphed into a global phenomenon that connects billions of people around the world. Let’s take a look at how social media has evolved over the years.
1999: Livejournal launches
In 1999, Livejournal debuted as one of the first social media platforms on the internet. While it was primarily used by teenagers and young adults to document their lives online, it also allowed users to follow and unfollow their friends, much like today’s social media platforms.
2003: Myspace debuts
Myspace launched in 2003 and was one of the earliest predecessors of what we think of when we think of social networks today. Users could create profiles, add friends, and post updates about their lives. Myspace was also one of the first social media platforms to incorporate music, which made it hugely popular with teens and young adults.
2004: Facebook is invented
In 2004, Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook while he was a student at Harvard University. Originally known as “The Facebook,” it was designed as a way for students to connect with each other online. Within a few short years, Facebook exploded in popularity and is now used by people of all ages around the world.
2006: Twitter is created
In 2006, Jack Dorsey invented Twitter, a microblogging platform that allows users to share short updates with their followers. Twitter quickly gained popularity as a way for people to stay up-to-date on current events, share their thoughts on news stories, and connect with others who share their interests.
2010: Instagram launches
Instagram launched in 2010 as a mobile photo-sharing app. It didn’t take long for users to start following each other and sharing pictures of their daily lives. In 2012, Instagram was bought by Facebook for $1 billion, solidifying its place as one of the most popular social media platforms in the world.
Social media has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1999. What started as a way for people to keep track of their friends online has morphed into a global phenomenon that connects billions of people around the world. Thanks to significant inventions like Livejournal, Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, we now have an instant connection to our friends and family no matter where they are in the world.
National Unfriend Day Activities
It’s that time of year again—time to celebrate National Unfriend Day! This year, why not take the opportunity to clean up your social media accounts by unfriending some of the digital deadweights in your life? Here are a few suggestions to help you get started.
1. Find What Matters
Let’s face it—we all have friends on our social media accounts who we don’t really care about. Maybe you friended them in high school and haven’t talked to them since, or maybe you only keep them around because you’re afraid of what they’ll say if you unfriend them. Whatever the case may be, take this opportunity to go through your friends’ list one by one and figure out who really matters to you. If there’s someone on your list who you would never think to call or invite out for coffee, then chances are they’re not really a friend at all—they’re just taking up space on your account. So hit that unfriend button and don’t look back!
2. Connect with Your Friends in Real Life
Another great way to celebrate National Unfriend Day is by focusing on the friends you have in real life, rather than those who only exist in the digital world. Pick up the phone and call a friend you haven’t talked to in a while, or better yet, invite them out for coffee or lunch. You might be surprised at how good it feels to reconnect with someone in person, rather than just exchanging brief comments and “likes” online.
3. Move Them to LinkedIn
If you’re not comfortable with completely deleting your business connections, simply reestablish your friendship through a professional platform like LinkedIn. That way, you can still keep them as part of your network without having to see their posts clogging up your feed on a daily basis. Plus, LinkedIn is a great resource for networking and making new connections, so it’s always good to have a strong presence there anyway.
So go out there and celebrate National Unfriend Day the right way—by getting rid of some of those digital deadweights in your life! You’ll be happier and less stressed without them clogging up your social media feeds, trust us.
A Celebration of Social Media Sanity
According to a recent study, the average person spends nearly two and a half hours on social media each day. That’s a lot of time spent scrolling through posts, looking at pictures, and reading about other people’s lives. But what happens when you start to feel like your social media usage is out of control? That’s where National Unfriend Day comes in.
National Unfriend Day was created as a way to encourage people to take a step back and evaluate their social media usage. On this day, users are encouraged to unfriend anyone whom they haven’t talked to in the last year. This includes anyone that they don’t really know, as well as anyone that causes them anxiety or drama. The goal is to create a cleaner, simpler social media experience that is free from the negative aspects of online relationships.
The Benefits of National Unfriend Day
There are many benefits to celebrating National Unfriend Day. First and foremost, it’s a great way to declutter your friend list and start fresh. It’s also an opportunity to take a break from the constant drama that can often accompany online relationships. And finally, it can help reduce anxiety by creating a simpler social media experience.
- A Fresh Start: It is common for friend lists to grow out of control. We add people here and there without really thinking about it. And then, suddenly, we’re following hundreds of people that we don’t even know! National Unfriend Day is the perfect opportunity to start from scratch by deleting anyone that you haven’t talked to in the last year. This decluttering will help you focus on the friends that you actually care about—and it will make your newsfeed a lot less overwhelming.
- No More Drama: Do you have friends that overshare or air out their dirty laundry online? Do you really need to stay updated with this person’s daily affairs? If not, then it might be time to say goodbye. Life is too short to spend time reading about other people’s drama. Instead, use National Unfriend Day as an opportunity to cut ties with these negative influences and make room for more positive ones.
- Less Anxiety: It’s hard not to look at your phone without seeing a million notifications begging for your attention. But do you really need to answer every single one of those texts, emails, and calls? Of course not! By unfriending some of the people on your list, you can reduce the amount of time you need to spend checking apps and more time spent being in the moment—which will lead to less anxiety overall.
Social media can be a great way to stay connected with friends and family members, but it can also be a huge time suck. If you find yourself feeling like you’re spending too much time on social media, then consider celebrating National Unfriend Day. This holiday is all about taking a step back and simplifying your social media usage so that you can focus on the things that matter most. So go ahead and celebrate—your mental health will thank you for it!
De-stress with National Unfriend Day
National Unfriend Day is a great opportunity for people to take a step back from their social media accounts and assess how healthy their relationships are with friends and family. It can also be a time to reflect on the benefits of having fewer online connections. MyChesCo.com encourages you to participate in National Unfriend Day by unfriending anyone who you don’t feel brings value to your life, unsubscribing from any email lists that clutter up your inbox, and sharing this article with your friends and family so they can join in on the fun! If you haven’t already, sign up for our free newsletter to stay up-to-date on all things related to Chester County.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and Microsoft Start.
This article is intended for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only and should not be construed as advice, guidance or counsel. It is provided without warranty of any kind.