I’m falling out of love with social media, hard and fast and quickly, almost as fast as I fell into it.
Not so long ago, I spent a lot of my time scrolling and posting, then scrolling some more.
I used my instagram account like the equivalent of a visual diary, except it was public. If I wrote something I was kinda happy with — up it went. Along with photos of my outfits of the day (#ootd), snapshots of autumn (#melbourneautumn), things I was crafting with (#craftaddict) and quotes I found inspiring (#positiveaffirmations).
I was also putting up snippets of my YA novel and clips of my experiments with singing. In other words, I was sharing ALOT. And it felt good at the time. I was into it.
But then one day I just — stopped. For no real reason, either. I just didn’t feel like it. Social media felt like a job — tedious and annoying. And it wasn’t the kind of job I wanted.
Maybe I’m suffering from a case of over-sharing. Or maybe I’m just tired of spending all that time scrolling through other people’s content. Either way, right now I’m just a bit over it.
I used to care about my follower count. I used to believe I could launch my entire career as a writer through my net reach. I believed in some weird, subconscious way that if I just continued posting consistently the right contacts and career would magically fall into my lap.
I find myself scrolling less these days. Much less, in fact. When I’m bored, I still find myself opening those familiar apps, but I exit them just as quickly. Like jumping on a bus heading in the wrong direction, my social media visits are short, and often end in disappointment or frustration.
What am I really looking for? Do I really believe someone’s post can alter the course of my day? Maybe.
Since I stopped posting as much, I find less and less value in it all. What was once of genuine interest to me has completely dissolved.
The connections I formed with my online friends have dried up too. And while it was heartening at the time to develop online connections with like-minded people, I don’t miss it that much either.
So, yes, I’m definitely falling out of love with social media.
Maybe one day I’ll get back into it. But for now I’m taking a break, a social media hiatus.
Who knows — maybe this will allow room for something more meaningful to take place? And if it does, I hope it involves real people in real time. Actual connections, not just online ones.
I’ve also been toying with the idea of creating my own newsletter. Something more personal that can be sent out every once in a while. Longer form writing that takes time, instead of quick and instantaneous posting and that all too familiar rush of dopamine.
But in the meantime, what are your thoughts? Do you love or hate social media? Or do you fall in and out of love with it depending on your mood? I’d love to hear!