Poll: Many young Americans ditching social media

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - For many of us, scrolling or posting on social media is part of our daily routine. But social media's immersive presence and impact on our lives are leading many young users to seek relief and hit delete.

Social media expert Chris Dessi isn't surprised by the trend.

"They realize that it might hinder them and that their peers are living within their devices," Dessi, a VP at PerformLine. "So I don't think that this is a shocker and, frankly, I'm kind of thrilled by it."

Back in December, Hill Holliday's research group Origin conducted the survey of more than 1,000 young people across the United States. The key findings: 64 percent of users between the ages of 18 and 24 said they have taken a temporary social media break and 34 percent of them deleted their accounts entirely.

Why? 41 percent of the Gen Zers in the poll said they waste too much time on those apps. Nearly half said social media makes them feel sad, depressed, or anxious.

"I have heard more than ever all the people that realize they haven't even gotten out of bed yet and they've already scrolled through Facebook are admitting, 'Hey, I think I need a social cleanse,'" said Chelsea Krost, a millennial expert and marketing strategist. She added that there is always room to unplug when it comes to the true social use of it all.

"We all need to get clear on what our happy medium is with social media and what's healthy for us," Krost said.