My Relationship With Social Media Is On Rocky Ground
๐๏ธ This note is in response to a writing prompt: What are your thoughts on the current state of social media?โฆ
I've become less and less enthused about social media. So much that I've deleted most of my accounts.
Many moons ago, I signed up on Facebook to keep in touch with family and friends. It was fun and I enjoyed seeing what people close to me were up to in their lives.
Almost 10 years ago, I moved into my van. Facebook was a great way to let people know where I was, share some of my experiences, and stay in touch with fellow Nomads I met along the way.
The past several years or so, something changed. Now, my desire to even open a social media app is dwindling fast.
On my personal Facebook account:
- A third of my friends list have passed away
- Half of who's left no longer get on Facebook
- Most of the remaining only post scads of political rants, religious memes, and self-induced drama
- A very few post stuff that's interesting to me - and I have to scroll past all the Facebook advertisements just to see those posts!
I'm drawn to writing and connecting with people who are more interested in real-life and real-thoughts than they are in getting the most likes or followers. I want a space where honest experiences are shared, ideas are talked about respectfully, and differences are appreciated - without the pressure of performance.
It feels like platforms built for genuine conversation - without endless scrolling - are becoming extinct.
I've been trying out Bluesky because it's been all the rage. Apparently it's like Twitter - which I was never a fan of.
I deactivated my Bluesky a couple times because it just doesn't feel like it's my thing. Sadly, I re-activated it thinking it may have changed. I think they call that insanity - doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Maybe my relationship with social media isnโt ending in a big dramatic breakup - itโs more like weโre just drifting apart. And Iโm okay with the distance.
Until next time,
Connie ๐ผ