The Best of Both Worlds: Growing Up Without Social Media and Thriving in a Digital Age

There’s a certain privilege in having grown up in a time before the internet and social media. A time when childhood wasn’t documented online, when friendships were built in person, and when the news cycle wasn’t an endless, anxiety-inducing scroll. Looking back, I appreciate the slow, analogue simplicity of that era. It instilled in me a sense of presence, an ability to be comfortable in my own company, and a resilience that has shaped my approach to social media today.

This is not to say that I reject the digital world. Far from it. I run businesses that rely on social media, I connect with like-minded individuals online, and I recognise the immense opportunities it provides. But because I knew life before it, I have a healthier relationship with it. I can step away when I need to. I understand that the curated perfection on my screen isn’t real life. And most importantly, I don’t need social media to validate my existence.

Yet, as much as I appreciate the benefits, I also see the damage that social media can cause—especially for those who have never known a world without it. It is a double-edged sword, capable of both enriching and eroding our mental and emotional well-being. And so, in a time where digital connection is inescapable, I find myself grateful for the perspective that growing up without it has given me.

From an unplugged past to a digital present—how do you find balance? 🤔✨ #SocialMediaBalance

The Gift of Presence

One of the biggest blessings of growing up in a pre-social media world was the ability to be fully present. When I was younger, there were no smartphones to pull out at the dinner table, no notifications disrupting conversations, and no pressure to document every moment of my life. If we wanted to capture a memory, we took photographs—printed, tangible ones that lived in albums, not on a screen.

Without the distraction of social media, I learnt how to sit with my thoughts. I learnt how to be bored, and in that boredom, creativity flourished. I wasn’t constantly consuming content; I was creating my own. I wrote, I explored, I played outside. I built real-world experiences that didn’t need an audience to feel meaningful.

Now, I see how social media has eroded that presence for so many. We attend events but watch them through our phone screens. We go to concerts but spend half the time recording rather than experiencing the music. We have dinner with friends but scroll absentmindedly through feeds instead of being engaged in the moment. Growing up without social media has meant that I can recognise when it starts to take me out of the present—and crucially, I know how to put it down.

Real Connections Before Digital Validation

Friendship, before the internet, was a deeply personal and intentional thing. We made plans in advance and stuck to them. There was no instant messaging to send a last-minute excuse, no social media to passively keep up with people’s lives without actually speaking to them. If we wanted to maintain friendships, we had to make an effort.

I remember calling friends’ landlines, not knowing who might pick up. I remember knocking on doors to see if someone could come out to play. These small acts required a level of confidence, patience, and social skill that I worry some of today’s young people don’t get to develop in the same way.

Now, social media gives us the illusion of connection, but often without depth. We "like" posts instead of checking in. We see people’s highlight reels and assume they’re doing fine. We accumulate followers but can still feel deeply alone. Because I experienced life before this, I make an effort to nurture real relationships. I don’t rely solely on digital interactions to maintain friendships—I pick up the phone, I meet in person, and I understand that a true connection is not measured by engagement metrics.

A Healthy Detachment from the Digital World

Because I didn’t grow up relying on social media for entertainment, validation, or connection, I have always been able to take a step back from it when I need to. There’s a lot to be said for knowing when social media is serving you and when it’s harming you. Many people feel tethered to their screens, unable to log off because their sense of self-worth has become entangled with their online presence.

Social media thrives on validation. The likes, comments, and shares can create an addictive feedback loop, where self-esteem rises and falls based on engagement. But when you’ve grown up without needing that kind of digital reinforcement, it’s easier to separate online perception from personal reality.

I have seen firsthand how damaging social media can be for mental and emotional health. The comparison trap is real—people are constantly bombarded with curated versions of success, beauty, and happiness, making their own lives seem insufficient in comparison. It’s a cycle that can breed insecurity, anxiety, and even depression.

But I also know that stepping away doesn’t mean missing out. I can delete an app and still feel connected. I can disengage from digital noise without feeling disconnected from the world. And that, I believe, is one of the greatest gifts of growing up without social media—I control my relationship with it, not the other way around.

The Power of Privacy

One of the most overlooked aspects of a pre-social media childhood is the gift of privacy. When I was growing up, mistakes were made and lessons were learnt without an audience. There were no permanent digital footprints, no screenshots, no viral shaming. Embarrassing moments stayed between friends, not broadcast to the world.

Now, young people are growing up in an environment where everything is documented. A thoughtless tweet, a regrettable post, or a bad decision can live online indefinitely. The ability to make mistakes in private is disappearing, and with it, the freedom to grow without the fear of public scrutiny.

Having experienced life without this, I am hyper-aware of what I share and what I keep private. I understand that not everything needs to be public, and I don’t feel the pressure to disclose every aspect of my life online. This ability to maintain boundaries has been crucial in protecting my well-being, and it’s something I encourage others to cultivate as well.

Navigating the Digital Age with Perspective

Despite the many challenges that social media brings, I am not anti-social media. I recognise its immense value. It has given voices to the marginalised, built communities, created opportunities, and connected people in ways that were once unimaginable. But because I knew life before it, I approach it with balance and intention.

I use social media as a tool—not as a measure of my worth. I engage with it on my terms, not out of compulsion. I take breaks when I need to, knowing that the world beyond the screen is just as fulfilling—if not more so.

For those who have never known a world without social media, I would encourage them to cultivate a relationship with it that is intentional rather than instinctual. Ask yourself: Is this serving me? Is this making me feel better or worse? Am I in control, or is this controlling me?

Social media will continue to evolve, but one thing remains certain—it is not a replacement for real life. And for that reason, I am endlessly grateful that I got to experience life before it, because it has made my experience of it now all the more meaningful.