Social media. We all love it, and we all spend a portion of each day scrolling through apps such as Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Reddit, and various others. They catch our attention with relatable content and posts regarding our interests, but do we know how much of our lives we truly waste scrolling through the endless stream of media?

According to Newport Academy, 92% of teenagers are online daily, while 24% claim they’re on some sort of social application “almost constantly.” Technological advances throughout the past few years have caused a majority of the population to rely on their mobile devices and various medias to maintain communication with the outside world. It has grown to the point of unhealthy, especially for the developing adolescent.

So how do we combat our insalubrious reliance on social media?

Perhaps spend some time away from your phone, instead, make plans with friends and family you would normally communicate with through your device. You could enroll in an extracurricular activity, such as a sport or a club that is hands on and allows you to connect with others. It’s also an option to take up a new hobby, try to paint or attempt to play an instrument you’ve been wanting to learn. There are many better things you could do in order to fill your time rather than spend your day behind a screen. With a bit of patience and time, you’ll learn to balance your online life with your everyday activities.