In a powerful personal account, a long-term user has detailed his decision to permanently leave the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, revealing that the anticipated sense of loss never materialised.
From Early Adopter to Dopamine Chaser
Sam Nair from Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, joined the platform in 2007 after reading a Guardian article predicting the next big websites. Initially, the platform was a novel curiosity, where global feeds updated slowly enough to have genuine, uninterrupted conversations with strangers, like an American cat-lover.
Over nearly two decades, he meticulously curated his following list. It became a professional asset, allowing him to share policy blogs and academic articles which aided his career. It was also a source of instant football clips and crucial travel updates. He even took pride in tweets that prompted rapid customer service turnarounds.
The Spiral into Doom-Scrolling and a Final Straw
However, the platform's nature changed. Nair admits he entered a "spiral of dopamine-chasing doom-scrolling." The excuses for staying—work, football, train delays—began to sound hollow, even to himself. He faced years of questioning from his partner and more recent challenges from friends.
A pivotal moment came with the integration of Grok AI, which he states began enabling the abuse of women and girls. This, coupled with a column by writer Marie Le Conte on leaving the platform, prompted serious self-reflection. The tool that once felt invaluable had morphed into a source of negativity.
Life After Deactivation: A Strange Dream Faded
On a Wednesday in January, Sam Nair finally deactivated his account. He describes it as a significant moment, filled with dread about how he would feel the following day without his habitual scroll.
After announcing his decision to friends and his partner and receiving praise for the positive step for his mental health, his apprehension lifted. The result was not what he feared. "Now I don't even miss it and it's as if it never happened," he writes. He reflects on his 17-year journey on the platform as "a very strange dream that, on reflection, became a nightmare."
His experience adds to a growing conversation about the psychological impact of social media platforms and the tangible benefits users report after stepping away.
