My addiction is social media.
Like other addicts, I’m quick to say, “Well, I’m not as bad as other people.” But “bad” isn’t a continuum. At least for me.
I could also say, “Well, there are circumstances.” My old laptop isn’t serving me well anymore, and now I do everything on my phone. I’m typing this with one finger.
Social media exists to create user engagement. The more time you spend on it, the more the algorithm tweaks your content. You like cats? A million cute kitten videos are at your command. You want to end the oligarchy? You’ll find your people, thanks to the oligarchs themselves. They put up with radical left wingers the way the tobacco companies offered low tar cigarettes.
I feel very fortunate that I never engaged with X or TikTok. But it’s so easy to spend 45 minutes scrolling Facebook. I’m going to see New Jersey sea glass and stunning photos of turkey vultures. I’m going to smack down anti-union propaganda and discover that my friend the Monkey Man has been hit by a car. On Instagram I am going to see my daughter The Fair’s personal and professional content. It’s so hard to back away.
The precipitating factor in my decision to curb my impulses is the decision by that mutant Zuckerberg to curtail fact checking. If we are in a car accelerating on Hitler Highway, I suddenly don’t want to take in the scenery. Who wants to gawk at a hellscape?
So I am back here on “The Gods Are Bored,” punching the air for no one in particular. Like so many sensible people, I feel defeated and anxious. That mindset doesn’t lend itself to engaging content, but I’ll try. My broken brain needs the re-set.
I have content moderation on this blog now, so your communication may not get seen right away. But I will get to it.
It took me 25 minutes to type this, and that’s 25 minutes I spent somewhere other than the toxic platforms.
One day at a time.
4 comments:
Thanks, Anne, this is my new image for our current times -- we're all in "a car accelerating on Hitler Highway."
I quit FB back in the first go around with the Orange Menace. I just couldn't take the rancor anymore. I switched to IG which was subsequently purchased by Meta. I like the people I follow there and the crap served up by the algorithm but... I can't support that tool any longer so it will have to go. I'm thinking about using Blue Sky but pretty sure it will just turn into the same shitshow. Maybe I can do without social media at all.
I agree with Debra - 'a car accelerating on Hitler Highway' sums it up.
Welcome back to Blogland!
I quit Xitter when Musk bought it. I've been on BlueSky for a few weeks and found what I first joined Xitter for - a lot of intelligent, well-connected people who understand what's happening and have good ideas about how to deal with it. I'm weaning myself off FB, but it's difficult because I use it to keep in touch with far-flung friends and family. Anyway, BlueSky has given me a small sense of hope that we might be able to deal with the current orange menace apocalypse and have something left to rebuild on.
It is so easy to feel hopeless right now but as counter intuitive as it may be - we need to have faith in our institutions. There are tens of thousands of brave, intelligent, and devoted people working everyday to mitigate the damage being done. Beyond that, we should all take some personal responsibility and get involved at the local level, even if it’s “just” making donations or canvassing. Midterms will be here before we know it and we can make this administration a lame duck! Regarding social media: deactivate your FB and IG. You don’t need it. If you’re afraid of losing contact with people, well, social media is not a substitute for human connection. Send someone a postcard! Call a friend! There are so many betters ways to spend our time. Speaking as a young person who has grown up with the internet. A better life is out there, off line! Keep the faith!
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