Is social media really worth your time? Likely not.

In the world of the internet, we are told that we must all have a “presence” online. Each and every social media platform in existence begs for our attention. Claiming to help spread our message and grow our following. “Connecting” us to countless others who wish to hear what we have to say.

Do your followers/friends/connections really care about what you have to say? Or are they too just looking for the same attention that social media promises? I’ll follow you if you follow me! But don’t expect me to interact with anything you have to say because, lets be honest here, we’ve both automated our social media accounts as much as possible by now.

Where social media once promised human interaction across the internet, now only delivers distraction, chaotic news feeds, and the shallowest of human connection. Not that social media can’t be used to great benefit, because it can and has been by many. The question is: are you getting any real benefit?

You came to social media for the promise of building a following. But why do countless people follow most large successful accounts? More times than not, because these accounts represent people or brands who have created amazing works worthy of recognition. Not because they successfully followed through on a mass follow for follow campaign.

Social media has become no more than a time sink for many of us, whether we choose to admit it or not. Our minds, eager to feel connected and avoid boredom use social media as a way to constantly feel important or busy. When instead, this time could have been spent creating amazing work worthy of the recognition you crave.

Take some time to ask yourself: What am I really getting out of social media? Is it integral to your success? Are you just falling into another wonderful distraction? What better things could you be doing with your time?

This stream of thought brought to you by Cal Newport’s book Deep Work.