I'm really annoyed at how much time I spend on Instagram these days and how bad I feel afterwards. I want to read a book that deals with this topic - not some heavy academic textbook, but something I'll actually stick with. Does anyone have a recommendation?
That's a fair point, that books alone won't do anything if you just go right back to scrolling after. But I'd say "The Social Dilemma" is totally different from Newport - the thing reads like a thriller, not like self-help stuff, and it's specifically about how the apps are supposed to manipulate your brain. That actually triggered something in me because you realize you're not just being "weak," but that million-dollar teams are working against you.
Combined with an actual habit change (like a week without the app or moving it to some crappy folder) that could actually make a difference instead of just reassuring you.
Reading books only helps so much if you're just going straight back to Instagram afterward - it's more like slapping a band-aid on it.
That said: "Digital Minimalism" by Cal Newport is actually pretty good because he gives concrete stuff to try out instead of just complaining. "Stolen Focus" by Johann Hari is also quite useful if you're more interested in the psychological background of why the app pulls you in so much.
But honestly, my best experience wasn't really the book itself, but just forcing myself to delete the apps from my phone afterward - well, move them to a folder basically, so I don't keep falling back into them all the time.
i wouldn't recommend just passively reading a book and hoping it magically changes everything 😅 what helped me was "Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook" by Gary Vaynerchuk, because it's less preachy and explains more practically how social media manipulates you - it doesn't feel like a lecture.
but honestly: while you're reading, you should already be making small changes in parallel, otherwise you'll forget everything after two weeks.
for me it was more helpful to actually deactivate instagram for two weeks and see how that feels, rather than just reading 📚
What really helped me was deleting the app itself - not just using it less, but getting rid of it completely. Then I started grabbing a book whenever I felt bored, and that works better than any theoretical knowledge about digital alienation. "Digital Minimalism" by Cal Newport is still worth reading because he shows concrete strategies for getting out of it - but only if you actually implement it afterwards. My tip: find yourself a hobby that keeps your hands busy at the same time (playing guitar helps me incredibly), then you don't even notice that you're scrolling less.
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