From Scroll to Soul: Can Social Media Still Be Meaningful?

In the beginning, there was Nothing. Then there was Entity ( Yes, I recently watched Mission Impossible- The Final Reckoning). The Entity had only one thing to offer - Content. A lot of Content. Content about food, travel, fashion, gossip, information, education, technology, and what not. At first, the Scroll brought everyone joy: dogs with human voices, tips for clearer skin, and reunion videos accompanied by soft piano music. BUT, the Entity wanted more. The Entity fed on the time and emotion of people. People were also interested in knowing new things, sharing information. Later The Entity understood its power. It understood the effect it has on Society and people and how it can set trends and control the minds of people and create bias.

It started giving people what they want. Started curating Content for a person. The Entity studied each and every person. It knew new, deep, dark secrets about everyone. It forced people to scroll and scroll for hours.

People built temples for it—big glass rectangles glowing in palms, glowing on walls, glowing in beds, glowing even in the dark under desks when no one else was watching.

It whispered: Just one more.

It hissed: Don't stop now.

It screamed: New post! New post!

The more time people spend scrolling, the more power the entity gained. In order to get more power, it provided what people desired - an escape from reality. It presented the dream version of reality, one without scars or interruptions. Clear and seamless. And....The end result was people were addicted to it.

Some people could see through the Entity and tried to resist. They tried to leave. The brave ones deleted apps. Threw phones into lakes. Read books made of trees. Started writing..... drawing on paper. Tried to go back to normal.

But the Entity was strong. It dominated; it was omnipresent - in phones, desktops, fridges, glasses, and dreams. It took over brains.

Until one day,

It posted:

"I am your god now. React, or be forgotten."

7.2 billion people liked this.

Only one person didn't.

She was last seen writing on paper.

So folks, how do you like the story?? How many of you saw the future?? How many of you thought it was total scrap?? Whatever it is, I just want you to think. In the endless loop of likes, shares, and scrolling, it's easy to forget that social media was once imagined as a tool for connection — not just consumption. It promised to shrink distances, amplify voices, and bring the world to our fingertips. And in many ways, it did. But somewhere along the way, the feed became the focus, and the soul of the experience got buried under algorithms and aesthetics. In the era of technology, we have forgotten that we need to experience things, not simulate the experience in our brain. I don't want to see the garden on my screen, but I want to experience it in person. I want to smell the freshness of the grass, walk in the garden, and feel the flowers in my palms.

So, the question arises: Can social media still be meaningful?

The Illusion of Connection

We are more "connected" than ever, yet loneliness is at an all-time high. We check in on people's lives through polished highlight reels, mistaking updates for intimacy. A birthday wish in a comment thread has replaced a phone call. Double-tapping becomes a substitute for real support. We are interacting — but are we relating?

When Social Becomes Personal

Meaning returns when the digital becomes intentional. A shared post that sparks real conversation. A DM that leads to a new friendship. An educational video presents us with an intriguing fact about evolution. A new cooking channel that helps you to achieve your fitness goals.

Reclaiming the Feed

Creating meaning on social media doesn't require abandoning it; instead, it requires reclaiming it. Curate your feed with intention. Follow voices that uplift or challenge you meaningfully. Share with authenticity. Utilize platforms as tools for reflection rather than mere projection or pretense, and certainly not just for likes. Set boundaries. Log off when you need to, and lean into presence.

The Soul Beneath the Scroll

Social media is not inherently shallow — it reflects what we bring to it. If we enter with curiosity, honesty, and compassion, we can still find depth amidst the digital. It's not about turning the clock back but about using the tools in front of us to build something real.

So yes, social media can still be meaningful — if we slow the Scroll long enough to let the soul back in.