How Social Media Has Destroyed My Ability to Create

I can’t pinpoint exactly when I was swallowed by the beast of social media, but after finally pausing to reflect on its impact, I’ve reached a conclusion that has left me urgently clawing my way out.

Between work, social events, family life, and exercise, my creative time has shrunk to almost nothing. Creativity needs space—breathing room away from an endless to-do list. For a long time, I blamed my schedule, not realizing that wasn’t the full story.

Like most people, I’ve been aware that I probably spend too much time on social media. I’ve tried setting limits, taking breaks. But only now do I fully understand how much it has eroded something I deeply value—my ability to create.

Everything Looks the Same

I’ve fallen into an algorithm where everyone’s life is a replica of the next. The same home decor, same clothing, same routines, same ideas. It pulls you in, subtly convincing you to fall in line without even realizing you have a choice.

But when I step back and ask myself what I truly want, my vision looks different from what I see online. Still, I get caught in the trap—feeling behind, feeling like I don’t have or feel enough.

Social Media as a Numbing Tool

I’m grateful I grew up without social media, and I often think back to life before we were glued to our screens.

As a therapist, I see teens and adults alike reaching for their phones the moment they feel discomfort—scrolling as a way to “self-regulate.” But is it really self-regulation if we’re just numbing? I do it too. And when I ask myself what I used to do before scrolling was an option, the answer is clear: I created.

I would spend hours painting, writing, listening to music, singing. That’s how I processed big emotions. Now, I scroll until I feel nothing.

The Inspiration Trap

We’ve all heard it: “I’ve saved a hundred recipes on TikTok I’ll never make.”

Social media can be a source of inspiration, sure. But at what point does “inspiration” become just another endless stream of content—something we consume rather than act on?

This realization has been a long time coming. I’ve struggled to articulate why I’ve felt the urge to distance myself from social media. But recognizing that it’s been suffocating my creativity has finally given me the motivation to walk away.