Teen Who Wrote the Book on Breaking Social Media Addiction "Wants to Be an Inspiration" (Exclusive)
North Carolina teen Keegan Lee, one of PEOPLE's Girls Changing the World in 2024, encourages others to log off for their mental health
Discovery Education
Keegan Lee was in 10th grade when she realized she was addicted to social media, spending about six hours a day checking her phone — even while running. "It was all consuming," says the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill sophomore. "I was on Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and I couldn't miss a notification, I had trouble separating myself from my phone."
She then did the unthinkable: She put down her phone. "I quit for a week and experienced a lot of beautiful things," says Lee, 19, of Burlington, N.C. and one of PEOPLE's Girls Changing the World in 2024. "I developed this higher tolerance for boredom. I could just sit and be still once I resisted the urge to go online."
Related: Celebrate International Day of the Girl with PEOPLE's Girls Changing the World in 2024 (Exclusive)
Lee turned to the slower-paced world of reading books, handwriting letters and connecting with people in real life, discovering, she says, that "it's a more long lasting feeling of fulfillment and abundance than what any TikTok video could provide."
It felt so great that she decided to stay offline for another 60 days, documenting her journey in a diary she shared with an Elon University psychologist, Bilal Ghandour, Ph.D., with whom she co-authored a book about the experience, 60 Days of Disconnect: A Personal Perspective of How Social Media Affects Mental Health.
In the years since, Lee has educated children and adults about the negatives (and positives) of social media as a youth council member of the nonprofit Mental Health America and director of wellbeing for the Log Off Movement, speaking to middle and high school students to raise awareness. She's even created a course for parents and educators to teach healthy habits to children.
"Although we can have meaningful relationships online, it is the in-person, physical and tangible interactions with others that bring about the most satisfaction," says Lee, who still uses social media, but selectively and in moderation.
"How can you describe the warmth of a hug from another human? How can you articulate a shared moment of vulnerable eye contact? How can you ever begin to communicate the essence of hearing the intonation in another's voice?" she continues. "All of these elements are brought upon by the beauty of face-to-face interactions. To not experience this because of digital dependence, is to not experience the sacredness of the human experience. I want to be an inspiration for others."
William Lee
Keegan Lee (right) with Dr. Bilal Ghandour.For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
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