What app eats up most of your screen time… and do you even feel bad about it?
By SHIVASHRI GUPTAA
SHREEBIRD
There was a time when people asked,
“Which book are you reading these days?”
Today, the question has quietly changed to,
“Which app is stealing most of your screen time?”
Most people hesitate before answering.
Some say Instagram. Some say YouTube. Some secretly know it’s Netflix.
And then there are people like me…
Without a second thought, my answer is Pratilipi.
Not because it’s addictive in the usual sense.
But because every time I open it, I enter someone else’s world—and sometimes, I discover a forgotten part of my own.
Love Stories That Feel Like Home
People often assume love stories are only about romance.
They’re wrong.
The best love stories are actually about hope.
About waiting.
About healing.
About people who choose each other despite life’s chaos.
Sometimes a fictional character understands your heart better than real people ever could.
You laugh with them.
Cry with them.
Miss them after the story ends.
And then… you search for another story.
Not because you’re escaping reality.
Because stories remind us that emotions are universal.
Kuku FM: When Learning Sounds Like a Conversation
Whenever my eyes get tired, my ears take over.
That’s when Kuku FM becomes my companion.
Books become voices.
Ideas become conversations.
Long walks become classrooms.
Cooking becomes productive.
Even boring traffic suddenly feels meaningful.
Some people listen to songs.
I often listen to stories, biographies, psychology, spirituality, and self-growth.
It’s amazing how a simple voice in your headphones can completely change your mood.
Instagram: The Guilty Pleasure That Isn’t Always Guilty
Let’s be honest.
Instagram is complicated.
Sometimes it’s endless scrolling.
Sometimes it’s wasted time.
But sometimes…
One travel reel inspires your next journey.
One book recommendation changes your reading list.
One motivational video gives you the push you needed.
One beautiful sunset reminds you to look outside your own window.
Social media isn’t the villain.
Mindless scrolling is.
Screen Time Isn’t Always Wasted Time
We often hear people say,
“Reduce your screen time.”
Maybe.
But perhaps the better question is…
What are you doing during that screen time?
Reading?
Learning?
Creating?
Growing?
Or simply escaping?
The same phone can either distract you…
…or transform you.
It all depends on what you choose to open.
My Screen Time Is Actually My Reading Time
If someone checks my weekly screen report, they’ll probably think,
“She spends too much time on her phone.”
What they won’t see is…
The novels that made me smile.
The audiobooks that taught me patience.
The travel videos that inspired my next destination.
The spiritual talks that brought peace on difficult days.
The blogs I wrote because one tiny idea refused to leave my mind.
Not every glowing screen is a waste of life.
Sometimes it’s where dreams quietly begin.
A Small Reminder
Don’t feel guilty for every minute spent on your phone.
Feel responsible instead.
Choose apps that leave you wiser than they found you.
Choose stories that stay with you.
Choose ideas that make you kinder.
Choose voices that help you grow.
Because in the end…
We don’t become what we watch.
We become what we repeatedly consume.
So yes…
My screen time belongs to Pratilipi, Kuku FM, and occasionally Instagram.
And honestly?
I don’t feel bad about it.
Because every story I read, every audiobook I hear, and every meaningful idea I discover becomes a small part of who I am.
Maybe that’s not wasted time.
Maybe that’s life—one story at a time.
✨ Over to You…
Which app quietly owns your screen time?
And when you really think about it…
Does it take something away from you?
Or does it give you something you’ll carry forever?
Tell me in the comments. I’d genuinely love to know.
Thank you for reading!
Written by: SHIVASHRI GUPTAA
Website: shreebird.wordpress.com
“Every screen tells a story. Choose the ones worth remembering.” 🕊️
What app eats up most of your screen time — and do you even feel bad about it?
टिप्पणी करे