Social media feels, unfortunately, like an extension of ourselves in many cases. For example: instead of asking for numbers when making friends, many people now ask for Instagram handles. I’ve been trying to go on Instagram less and less — sometimes it works, usually it doesn’t 💀 I have gradually stopped posting on my feed (except for once or twice a year), which has definitely taken a lot of stress off my shoulders when it comes to opening the app. I use it mainly to talk with friends in dms and spam nonsense on my spam story that I find funny or interesting. I often ask “then what’s the purpose of keeping a ‘main account’?” and I find myself at a loss of what to say even to myself. I’m slowly working up the courage to at least deactivate the account 🧘♀️
Great piece, Mia! Very insightful and encouraging. I’ve been thinking a lot about third places and the lack of them, and social media definitely plays a role in that. I’ve heard many people say it’s become a substitute for third places, especially during and after COVID, and I couldn’t agree more :’)
Ahh! I relate. I also deleted the app but can’t bring myself to delete my profile. It’s like I’m holding onto some sort of social marker or proof of life or coolness. I wonder how it might feel different to completely delete it.. 👀🌼🌈
Social media is so odd and it is true, the feeling of deleting it entirely is the possibility that you'll be forgotten. Once a friend said to me she didn't say Happy Birthday as I wasn't using facebook anymore so she didn't know when it was - so sad!
Used in a moderated manner it can be positive, in some ways, I have also deleted it from my phone, as it is a time waster and I could be looking at real things happening rather than a screen in the in between moments.
We are being left with less of a choice or it feels like it, as everything seems to exist so much online, and I don't just mean people curating their lives, it feels like we're being pushed as a society to operate entirely virtually by banks, customer service issues, train networks and the list goes on (but that's for another post).
Your post is great, it's always excellent to read others people's views of it too!
Social media feels, unfortunately, like an extension of ourselves in many cases. For example: instead of asking for numbers when making friends, many people now ask for Instagram handles. I’ve been trying to go on Instagram less and less — sometimes it works, usually it doesn’t 💀 I have gradually stopped posting on my feed (except for once or twice a year), which has definitely taken a lot of stress off my shoulders when it comes to opening the app. I use it mainly to talk with friends in dms and spam nonsense on my spam story that I find funny or interesting. I often ask “then what’s the purpose of keeping a ‘main account’?” and I find myself at a loss of what to say even to myself. I’m slowly working up the courage to at least deactivate the account 🧘♀️
Great piece, Mia! Very insightful and encouraging. I’ve been thinking a lot about third places and the lack of them, and social media definitely plays a role in that. I’ve heard many people say it’s become a substitute for third places, especially during and after COVID, and I couldn’t agree more :’)
Ahh! I relate. I also deleted the app but can’t bring myself to delete my profile. It’s like I’m holding onto some sort of social marker or proof of life or coolness. I wonder how it might feel different to completely delete it.. 👀🌼🌈
Enjoyed this and related so much, wrote something about the topic recently too -
https://radiaterepeat.substack.com/p/digital-distraction-and-doom-scrolling
Social media is so odd and it is true, the feeling of deleting it entirely is the possibility that you'll be forgotten. Once a friend said to me she didn't say Happy Birthday as I wasn't using facebook anymore so she didn't know when it was - so sad!
Used in a moderated manner it can be positive, in some ways, I have also deleted it from my phone, as it is a time waster and I could be looking at real things happening rather than a screen in the in between moments.
We are being left with less of a choice or it feels like it, as everything seems to exist so much online, and I don't just mean people curating their lives, it feels like we're being pushed as a society to operate entirely virtually by banks, customer service issues, train networks and the list goes on (but that's for another post).
Your post is great, it's always excellent to read others people's views of it too!
I haven;t even read this but the title and visual alone are speaking to me! :)
Amazing post! 👍🌻
really eloquently balanced the desire to be seen + connected with acquaintances and friends with the negatives <3