The zombie apocalypse is happening right now.

I always thought it would be flesh-decaying people who died from an infection, but in reality, I am a zombie — wasting my time, chasing empty satisfaction and letting my brain decay.

Talking with my sister late into the night, bouncing from one topic to another, we came to a particular subject that changed how I viewed life. The way I used social media was turning me into a zombie.

I have struggled with social media since I was 13. I liked posts on Instagram, took photos for Snapchat and scrolled through TikTok. I found a satisfaction that fed my cravings.

“Everyone was on social media,” I thought as an older teen, “So there isn’t a problem to be on it.”

There wasn't a problem with social media, but there was a problem with how many hours I spent on it. When I was 16, I had over eight hours of screen time daily, and most of my time was spent on social media.

As I got older, I spent less time on my phone and more time on school, but devastatingly, when I had a moment to myself, I pulled out my phone and allowed the content to eat my brain.

I’ve tried stepping away from these platforms, but I had a digital addiction, relapsing into a zombified state. I found many videos and photos funny, but I still never truly felt happy. I couldn’t bring myself to stop.

In an article from the Pew Research Center, Emily A. Vogels and Risa Gelles-Watnick explained that teens usually don’t see the effect social media has on themselves. I fell into that category, even as an adult in my early twenties. I didn’t want to admit that I had a problem.

That late night, as I was talking with my sister, she said all of the brain rot videos are turning people into zombies. When I look around campus, I find many people with their faces attached to the glowing screen of endless entertainment.

After my sister shared this view, I was determined to cure myself and survive the apocalypse.

Since social media is an addiction, cold turkey isn’t the best answer. I deleted my social media apps but kept a few less interesting ones to help me ease off.

I am still a zombie, but I feel life entering my body again. I spend more time on hobbies I enjoy and with people I care about.

Life is too short to be a zombie. I am determined to survive.

Feature Photo: Sarah Cole. Photo Credit: Sarah Cole