In a powerful personal account, a long-term user of the platform formerly known as Twitter has revealed why he finally deactivated his account and has experienced no regret since walking away.
From Early Adopter to Dopamine Chaser
Sam Nair from Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, first joined the service in 2007 after reading a Guardian article predicting the 'next hit websites'. He recalls the early days when the global feed moved slowly enough to have sustained conversations, like one with an American cat-lover where no other tweets would appear between their replies.
Over nearly two decades, he meticulously curated his following list. He used the platform as a professional tool, sharing policy blogs and academic articles which aided his career, and for personal updates like football goals and train delays. For years, he convinced himself it was an invaluable resource.
The Spiral of Doom-Scrolling and a Final Straw
However, Nair's perspective shifted. He found himself, as columnist Marie Le Conte (the 'Young Vulgarian') described, in a 'spiral of dopamine-chasing doom-scrolling'. The platform's evolution under its new ownership and the introduction of features like Grok AI, which he says enabled abuse of women and girls, became a significant concern.
His partner had questioned his usage for years, and a friend recently challenged him on why he remained. His standard excuse – 'for work, football and train updates' – began to sound hollow even to himself.
The Liberation of Deactivation
Last Wednesday, Nair took the decisive step. 'I deactivated my account. It felt like a moment. I was dreading how I would feel the next day,' he admitted. After announcing his decision to friends and his partner and receiving praise and assurances it would benefit his health, his apprehension faded.
The result was a surprise even to him. 'Now I don't even miss it and it's as if it never happened,' he states. He now views his extensive time on the platform as 'a very strange dream that, on reflection, became a nightmare.'
His story adds to a growing conversation about the mental health costs of social media engagement and the specific ethical concerns surrounding content moderation and AI tools on the X platform.
