Social & sensible: Due to the lockdown, time spent on social media grew exponentially for everyone. So is a break the need of the hour?

The lockdown left us to the mercy of social media to ensure physical distancing even while keeping one emotionally connected. But the over-dependence, lack of other channels to keep engaged to routines going haywire, led to excessive time being spent on social media. Is it time for a digital detox? Celebs share their take.

Use it right

In order to ensure that you are giving yourself and your loved ones time and energy, you have to not only switch off from social media but also put your devices away. Right now, I am not on a digital detox, but, yes, I am actively putting my phone away throughout the day. Social media can be a positive space, only if you do not get bogged down by the negativity. - Asis Sethi, filmmaker-director

Habitual behaviour

I am not dependent on social media, but, yes, I am hooked onto it! That is true because checking your social media handles every few minutes has become a habit with everybody. I have never taken a break from it because my work is related to it and I need to spread the word about it. But if I am not working for a few days, I might just take a break.

- Tarun Khanna, Raja Krishnadevaraya in Tenali Rama

No dependence

During the lockdown, I was never totally dependent on social media. I rather gave time to my family and to my own self. I started playing the casio; I was doing workouts at home and started cooking with my mother. I am still not dependent, but I love being on social media; I love interacting with my fans. I learn a lot from them; but no dependence, either during or after the lockdown. - Ansh Sinha, Rishabh Bansal in Tera Yaar Hoon Main

Set your limits

One should know how much time to invest in social media; you must set your own boundaries. The best way to detox is to keep your phone away from your reach and engage in an activity that you love. I like being connected to my close ones; it gives me positive energy. - Paritosh Tripathi, actor

Books beckon

I love interacting with people, but not completely on social media. If you focus on negative things you will have negative vibes, but if you see the talent on social media you will be happy and positive. Whenever I use social media too much, I detox by picking books.

- Jyoti Sharma, Dulari in Ram Pyaare Sirf Humare

Mental cleansing

The lockdown made me dependent on social media, but, thankfully, I realised that and also eventually got bored of it. It is depressive at times with the fake news doing the rounds. I went for a 15-day social media detox during this time. It was great, as I could give more time to reading, painting and yoga. Also my sleep pattern improved. It was like mental cleansing for me. - Shamin Mannan, Koel in Ram Pyaare Sirf Humare

Limit yourself

Taking a detox during the lockdown didn’t occur to me. However, right now I am on a break from social media and not planning to make a comeback anytime soon. We all live in a world where we have this constant urge to keep ourselves updated. And this urge is both a blessing and a curse at the same time. Little do we realise that most times it grows to a certain level of toxicity. The idea is to cut-off when you require to or at least limit yourself. - Karan Jotwani, Neel in Qurbaan Hua

Only saviour

Social media was the only platform on which we were connected. I am a social being and would have died without it! So yes, it was a saviour, but anything in excess is always harmful. So, I did give it a break. The detox experience has been like meditation. There was no competition, no updates. - Liza Malik, actor-singer

– As told to Mona