The Quiet Side of Social Media

Maya spends two hours on social media every evening, yet she often feels lonely.

She scrolls through pictures of friends laughing at parties, and the more she looks, the worse she feels.

Although she has hundreds of online friends, she rarely talks to any of them about real problems.

Last month, she decided to change one small habit.

Instead of checking her phone after dinner, she called her cousin for a short chat.

At first, it felt strange to hear a voice rather than read a message.

After a few days, however, the calls became easier and more natural.

Maya still uses social media, but she now limits it to thirty minutes a day.

She also meets a classmate for coffee every Saturday, which gives her something to look forward to.

She has learned that being connected online is not the same as feeling close to someone.

Real conversations take time, but they are worth the effort.