The author is playing the /r/mildlyinteresting card. /r/mildlyinteresting succeeded where /r/interesting did not because it tempered the expectations of visitors. People expecting a 10x productivity gain because they quit social media will surely be disappointed.
10x? Sure, no.
But 1.1x? That's possible and still quite substantial.
It’s magical only in contrast to the individual in the grips of a social media addiction. I’m about 30 and can remember a time before social media, so it feels more like a return to normal to me.