Social Media Cleanse

by Catherine Zhang '26

I Tried to Go on a Social Media Detox for a Month. Here’s What Happened.

Since coming back to school, I often find myself scrolling on my phone nonstop. Despite my screen time giving me a momentary “heart attack,” it hasn’t stopped me from hopping between social media apps. With my impending college application deadlines, I deleted Instagram on September 15th. The return date? TBD. To be fair, I’ve done something similar before, back in May — but that time, I had an anticipated return date. This time, I told myself I’d re-download it when I felt like it.

I’ve realized a pattern of doomscrolling: after school, before or after dinner, and before bed. These times combined could have been such great opportunities to hang out with friends, spark genuine human interactions, and recharge. I guess the thief behind that quality time isn’t simply my reliance on social media, but my fear of being disconnected from others — better known as FOMO. So the coping mechanism is rather straightforward: grounding myself in the present through real interaction with people, not in the virtual space.

There are several phases to a social media detox. The first couple of days are always the hardest. I constantly opened my phone, trying to find the familiar colorful photo-frame icon — but it wasn’t there. This time, I also blocked Instagram and TikTok on my laptop, aiming to fully disconnect. To distract myself from longing for these apps, I turned to reading or watching a movie. Once the withdrawal stage passed, I started to disassociate my phone from social functions and instead saw it simply as a tool — for calendar reminders, texting people who matter, and listening to music. There were still momentary impulses to log back into Instagram on my laptop, which I had to fight off.

Instead of strictly banning myself from any form of social media, I see this approach as more of a gradual limiting process. It’s about the mindset and determination behind the intention, rather than an exhaustive, complete break. The detox, tailored to each individual’s needs and preferences, can be extremely beneficial for mental health, physical health, and overall well-being. Throughout this process, I’ve re-established my reading habits, picked up new hobbies, and discovered new artists. Most importantly, this practice has helped me stay connected to the present and aware of what I have in the moment, instead of losing myself to the overwhelming noise of virtual reality.

Even if it’s not a month-long detox, a quick break from social media can do the same job. Undeniably, social media has become an indispensable part of our lives — but we always have the power to step back from it. Start with a day, a week, or even a month; I can’t guarantee that your life will change dramatically, but it’s been a genuinely helpful practice for me, especially during busy times.

I still haven’t decided when to return to social media, but one thing I know for sure is that I’ll always have the choice to press pause when I need to. Whether it’s a day, a week, or another month, I now know that disconnecting isn’t losing out — it’s tuning back into what actually matters. And I’ll always have the space to detox, to detach, and to stay present.

Where the Creature Awakens

by Lily Oh '27

Lightning flashes. Heartbeat echoes. The creature opens its eyes for the very first time. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has terrified and fascinated readers for over two centuries — and this fall, St. Mark’s is bringing that world to life on stage. Yes, you read that right: the fall play this year is Frankenstein, and it’s unlike anything we’ve done in a long time.

The fall play is one of the most awaited traditions of the year, and this production feels especially exciting. Instead of magic and comedy, we’re diving into something darker, more emotional — a story about loneliness, responsibility, and the ultimate moral question: what makes someone a monster?

So why Frankenstein? Director Mr. Kent explains: “Frankenstein was one of the first books I had to teach when I came to St. Mark’s. I honestly didn’t like it at first — confusing language and switching narrators. But I remember a student coming into class early after she read the first chapters where the creature takes over the narration, and she couldn’t stop talking about it. She had so much to say about the creature’s story, how cruel Victor seemed, then how cruel the creature seemed — questions, concerns, opinions — she couldn’t stop herself from letting it all out. She kept talking to everyone who came to class about everything she felt and understood. I had a whole lesson plan that I had to drop, and instead, I just let her run the class.” That moment didn’t leave him. Later, during COVID, when he watched the National Theatre Live stage version starring Benedict Cumberbatch, he fell in love with the play all over again.“I fell in love with the stage play version after watching it a half dozen times. I love how Nick Dear’s adaptation centers around the creature’s story and pushes the audience to see the world through his perspective. It limits the scope of the story for the audience but illuminates some of the most important moments. It’s also full of challenging roles for actors. The dialogue is dense (like Mary Shelley’s original text), and it forces everyone to be really clear about their actions and objectives.”

Rehearsals, as always, have been full of surprises. “Every day is a bit of a surprise,” Mr. Kent laughs. “I change my mind constantly — the shop is full of abandoned fireplaces and revolving stages. But the best moment is when actors finally put their scripts down and become their characters. There’s a pretty awesome sense of accomplishment that creeps across their faces — it’s awesome to see!” And what does he want the audience to feel when they leave? “My hope for every show is that the audience feels something. Sometimes it’s joy and laughter; other times it’s confusion or anger. It’s been a little while since we’ve performed a big-time dramatic play, so I’m excited for folks to push themselves to think deeply and have lots of questions and strong feelings when they leave the theater!”

So get ready! This won’t be a lighthearted fantasy. It will be raw. emotional. intense. And unforgettable. If you think you know the story of Frankenstein — you don’t. Not like this. Don’t just hear about it afterward. Be in the room. Come to the Black Box on November 12th to 15th to support your fellow St. Markers and experience this powerful production live!