Can you be social without social media?
A 21st century dilemma
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Hi there,
I might take this back next week, next month, or maybe next year, but I’m really bored of the internet. At least, parts of the internet I frequent often; Reddit, Instagram, YouTube, you name it. I guess it’s time for me to get a life…
Below are five things I thought were worth sharing this week:
One of the dilemmas people face when considering quitting social media is the question how to stay connected with families, friends, and acquaintances without the convenient and instant access social media offers. I was off social media for three years, from mid-2017 to mid-2020. Here’s how I stayed connected with people without the aid of social media.
I recently finished A long way gone: memories of a boy soldier. Is all pain and suffering equal? I don’t have the answer to that. But, we musn’t take for granted the privilege most of us have living in countries where our 11-year-old sons, nephews, brothers, won’t be forced to kill just to survive. Not back in 1994. Not now. To all the children of Sierra Leone who were robbed of their childhood.
Don’t you just love it when you stumble upon actually quality content on YouTube, and it’s on why social media is addictive? In a nutshell, these three forces— the fame lottery, infinite feeds, and our beloved echo chambers, make social media very addictive, consuming a staggering amount of our time.
A quote I want to share:
“All good things must begin”
— Octavia Butler.Whether you want to write a book, exercise often, or put your phone down more, you must begin.
Top economists study what happens when you stop using Facebook, and the findings might surprise you!
People spend more time on social media than they realize, and stepping away frees up time for more rewarding offline activities, leading, in turn, to an increase in self-reported happiness and a decrease in self-reported anxiety.
That’s all for this week!
Thank you for reading, and please tell a few friends if you’d like.
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Until next time… :-)
Mehret
Links to my blog, Instagram, meetup group, etc.👇🏾
This was excellent. Thank you.
I've pondered that question often. Can you be social without social media? I left social media for five years and recently returned it's been a struggle for me. People say you can't be successful without it but I refuse to believe that. I'm considering taking another hiatus so that I can be more present and do more of the things I love, like reading books.