I definitely relate to all three of these reasons to avoid social media. I have a complex relationship with it because it's my job, which means I'm forced to know what's going on and trending, but I think it also gives me a layer of media literacy and mental separation, a protection that some users don't have.
I'm a firm believer that social media can be a force for good, but like you write about here, there is no space for nuance. There's a lot of discussion of right vs. wrong, healthy vs. toxic, and conflicts that are complex by nature get dumbed down to a hero and a villain (the Bad Art Friend discourse on Twitter comes to mind).
Social media *can be* a tool for community and connection, but you have to force it to be so. Using passively can lead to many negative outcomes.
When I stopped working for a while last year, I took the opportunity to be offline for a couple months and it was really restorative. Even after I got back online, I was able to do so with renewed intention and boundaries. So whatever you decide, I think you'll find the break to be very worth it.
Hey Rachel! It's great to read this (I finally got around to it as I cancelled my home internet!) I read Pt. 2 as well.
We spoke before through Instagram about it's detriment to our mental health. It's interesting as I've popped in a couple of times to promote a music video I made and the fact that I started a Patreon as a way to share my work and also hopefully support myself along the way. Of course through doing this nothing much came of it and it reminded me of the passivity of apps like Instagram. When I do engage with creative folks through different means we end up getting into some pretty deep discussions about topics we really care about but these are of course spaces that encourage that type of discussion. Spaces where you're not necessarily scrolling but reading and thinking, message boards really.
I hope the break is treating you well. Some things I've noticed since getting away from Instagram and also the internet in general is that I'm getting my senses back about the world, I feel more and think more deeply when experiencing life. I don't think about my movement through the world as being shareable, I'm just living. I have also read so many books and I write a lot more for myself! I hope you're finding good in it too!
Hi Rachel, I think it's thoughtful and insightful for you to take a hiatus like this. Participating in social media is a dilemma, I feel it very much as well. I'd be curious to hear how the hiatus experience is for you after a little while! thanks for writing about this.
I definitely relate to all three of these reasons to avoid social media. I have a complex relationship with it because it's my job, which means I'm forced to know what's going on and trending, but I think it also gives me a layer of media literacy and mental separation, a protection that some users don't have.
I'm a firm believer that social media can be a force for good, but like you write about here, there is no space for nuance. There's a lot of discussion of right vs. wrong, healthy vs. toxic, and conflicts that are complex by nature get dumbed down to a hero and a villain (the Bad Art Friend discourse on Twitter comes to mind).
Social media *can be* a tool for community and connection, but you have to force it to be so. Using passively can lead to many negative outcomes.
When I stopped working for a while last year, I took the opportunity to be offline for a couple months and it was really restorative. Even after I got back online, I was able to do so with renewed intention and boundaries. So whatever you decide, I think you'll find the break to be very worth it.
Hey Rachel! It's great to read this (I finally got around to it as I cancelled my home internet!) I read Pt. 2 as well.
We spoke before through Instagram about it's detriment to our mental health. It's interesting as I've popped in a couple of times to promote a music video I made and the fact that I started a Patreon as a way to share my work and also hopefully support myself along the way. Of course through doing this nothing much came of it and it reminded me of the passivity of apps like Instagram. When I do engage with creative folks through different means we end up getting into some pretty deep discussions about topics we really care about but these are of course spaces that encourage that type of discussion. Spaces where you're not necessarily scrolling but reading and thinking, message boards really.
I hope the break is treating you well. Some things I've noticed since getting away from Instagram and also the internet in general is that I'm getting my senses back about the world, I feel more and think more deeply when experiencing life. I don't think about my movement through the world as being shareable, I'm just living. I have also read so many books and I write a lot more for myself! I hope you're finding good in it too!
Hi Rachel, I think it's thoughtful and insightful for you to take a hiatus like this. Participating in social media is a dilemma, I feel it very much as well. I'd be curious to hear how the hiatus experience is for you after a little while! thanks for writing about this.