Managing
The image contains six small circular drawings that illustrate a progression: why the author began using social media, how it became a struggle, and how they eventually found healthier ways to cope. Beneath the six images is a concluding statement.
- Text reads: “It began as an ESCAPE. The real world was painful to live in.” Illustration: a person sitting on a bench while someone directs a homophobic slur at them.
- Text reads: “Here I was safe. I spent more and more time on social media.” Illustration: a yellow-coloured phone displaying interesting videos.
- Text reads: “It’s all an attention trap. It hacked my brain with an endless feed of instant gratification.” Illustration: the phone, now red, with a claw reaching out of the screen.
- Text only: “If it began as an escape, I had to address the underlying issues. I stood up to people who judged me for existing.”
- Text reads: “I accommodated my autism.” Illustration: headphones, a clock, and a speech bubble saying “I need 10 mins to reset.” Followed by: “And when I sometimes still need an escape…”
- Text reads, in all caps: “I CAN MAKE MY OWN.” Illustration: a book, theatre masks, a person knitting, and a dragon, all overlaid with rainbow colours similar to the LGBTQ flag.
Addendum beneath the images: “Of course, I still use social media sometimes – but these days I can manage it.”