It’s the time to love social media

I know we are all about digital detoxes at the end of year We want to disconnect disengage and spend time in the real world And if you can focus on spending time with your loved ones and stop looking at your phone itrsquos the best everBut for me social media is also a source of motivation that I need at the end of a terribly horribly disastrous year Itrsquos a year where people share the good the bad the ugly of the year gone by and hope for an amazing year ahead And I think itrsquos in these candid ruminations that I find reasons to continue following my dreams continue loving and continue being who I amPersonally itrsquos been a year where a parent has fallen sick where a friendship finally reached a point of no return in the worst way possible things sometimes only end when sh happens where I have to say goodbye to a few amazing colleagues where much time has been wasted and many tears have been wept I could say I have literally nothing to show for 2025 but that would be wrong because I have learned gratitude mdash for people who love me who show up every day and this column being one of those thingsBut where did the benefits of gratitude get drilled into my head Instagram Creator after creator has told me about the power of being grateful and I remember them when I feel low Social media has also taught me about manifestation mdash I will be starting on my vision board this Sunday It has taught me about following my dreams and how to reset my life It has taught me that anything is possible Anything Sometimes when I am low I am presented with a reel where someone reminds me ldquoDo you know who you are You are a goddess and a goddess doesnrsquot chaserdquoItrsquos strange but it works I start thinking about who I am and oh my god I am a goddess Thanks random influencer You helped me today more than you could imagineIt has also helped when people share the struggle they went through to be where they are become who they are The 60yearold who has abs the 50yearold who wrote a bestseller then the 48yearold who started a successful business mdash all so inspiring They make me believe itrsquos possible to start anew every day month and yearStudies show that of course social media affects you negatively and causes anxiety and depression and fatigue and disrupts your sleep patterns But they also say that it depends on how you use social media mdash posting commenting sharing could be inspiring while doomscrolling will be detrimentalI agree I have forced myself to stop before I enter the mindless loop of watching one video after another When I do that I can almost feel my brain cells dying But I use it to pick up my mood every day mdash by choosing to consume content that makes me feel good about myselfScreenwriter Dave Willis said this about social media ldquoDonrsquot use social media to impress people use it to impact peoplerdquo And that well is the clincher I love social media because I have found in it so many people who impact me mdash even if I never follow them or find that reel again but when they tell me to get over that bad thing that happened in my life and get on and do amazing things with my talent I believe itAnd so this December 31 I will spend time with people I love and people who love me and I will go on social media and look at all the happy people who are hoping 2026 to be great and I will join them and feel the same We will all be united in that wish And so it shall beHappy new year everyoneRanting and raving about all thatrsquos trending on social media Aastha Atray Banan is an author creator podcaster and the Editor of your favourite weekend read Sunday midday She posts at aasthaatray on InstagramSend your feedback to mailbagmiddaycomThe views expressed in this column are the individualrsquos and donrsquot represent those of the paper