As a social media marketing consultant, you’d think I live and breathe screen time. After all, I help brands grow online, optimize content for algorithms, and make people stop scrolling. But here’s a confession: I’m deeply invested in digital minimalism—and I think you should be too.

It may sound contradictory. Why would someone who builds their career on digital platforms advocate for using them less?

Because no one understands how exhausting it is to be constantly online quite like those of us who work there.

The Algorithm Isn’t Your Friend—It’s a Business Strategy

Ever noticed how your feed always seems to show the most controversial, sensational, or emotionally charged content? That’s not a bug—it’s a feature.

The truth is, social media algorithms are designed to hijack your attention. The more time you spend scrolling, the more ads you see. The more emotional reactions you have—whether outrage, fear, or anxiety—the more likely you are to engage. And that engagement fuels the platforms’ business model.

Engagement pays, even if it’s negative. If you’ve been on Facebook recently, you’ve probably born witness to some seriously messed up AI slop. These photos run the gamut, from the funny, if uncanny, bizarre shrimp Jesus monstrosities, to the genuinely disturbing images of starving, sick, or dying children. In a recent deep dive by 404 Media, these images were revealed to be rooted in Facebook’s Performance bonus system.

It’s a digital arms race, and you’re the product. “If it bleeds, it leads” and all that. It’s the core logic of how your feed is curated.

Of course, there are settings to “personalize” what you see—parental controls, content filters, hashtag blockers—but let’s be honest: trying to outsmart the algorithm as an individual is like bringing a bucket to the Titanic. You can try to bail, but this thing is going down spectacularly whether you like it or not.

What Is Digital Minimalism?

Digital Minimalism, popularized by author Cal Newport, is about being intentional with technology use. It’s not anti-tech—it’s pro-control. At its core, it’s about asking: Does this tool serve me, or am I serving it?

Digital minimalists aim to strip away the noise. That might mean:

Replacing smartphones with “dumbphones” (a.k.a feature phones) that have capabilities limited by their software or hardware
Using dedicated devices like mp3 players, radios, or digital cameras instead of a phone with apps that do everything
Disabling notifications or deleting apps entirely
Curating your online experience to minimize distraction and maximize meaning, be it through parental controls, “dumb-ifying” apps, or literally incarcerating your phone

And yes, it’s inconvenient. QR codes don’t scan on a flip phone. Two-factor authentication might require workarounds. You might not be able to read every update from your bestie group chat. But compromise is the price of intentionality.

Work-Life Balance in an Always-On World

In our line of work, the boundary between personal and professional screen time is nearly invisible. It’s easy to justify 12-hour days online when your job depends on “staying current” or “engaging with trends.”

But here’s the kicker: the most connected among us often need the most boundaries.

If you’re a social media manager, content creator, or anyone who earns a living online, your brain never gets to rest unless you deliberately disconnect. That doesn’t make you lazy or out of touch—it makes you human.

Digital minimalism helps reestablish that balance. It reminds us that just because something is possible—being always reachable, always informed, always reactive—doesn’t mean it’s healthy.

How Social Media Marketers Can Embrace Digital Minimalism

You don’t have to burn your smartphone in a bonfire to reclaim your sanity. Here are realistic ways to integrate digital minimalism without quitting your job:

Separate work from personal devices. Use a dedicated phone or browser profile for work accounts only.
Schedule screen-free hours. Protect your evenings, weekends, or mornings from digital interruptions.
Use tools with intention. Just because a platform exists doesn’t mean your brand needs to be on it.
Audit your apps monthly. If it doesn’t serve a clear purpose, ditch it.
Experiment with minimal tech. Check out the Dumbphone subreddit, Dumbphone Finder, or follow creators like Spencer’s Adventures on YouTube who explore alternative tech lifestyles.

The Future of Social Media Is Human

Ironically, the better you understand the digital world, the more you realize the importance of stepping back from it. Social media should be a tool—not a trap. And the best marketers aren’t the ones who shout the loudest, but the ones who create with empathy, strategy, and restraint.

By adopting elements of digital minimalism, you don’t weaken your work—you strengthen your focus. You return to the core of what makes social media powerful: real stories, real people, real connection.

So no, I’m not giving up on the internet. (Fat chance! I was born in 1997!)

But I am choosing to use it with purpose—and I think you should too.

Ready to build a smarter, more sustainable online presence?

Let’s talk strategy—and maybe also screen time boundaries.
Far Fetched Marketing is here to craft a digital marketing plan that works with your values, not against them.

It’s Cause You’re Always on That Damn Phone: How social media marketing made me obsessed with digital minimalism