Both the world and the internet are vastly changed since a decade ago. It's pretty evident to me that the main and only deeper purpose to me of it anymore, as it continues to degrade into self-referential AI bot wasteland pointlessness, is to use it as a way to get offline as quickly as possible, and serve as a pointer for real life connections and experiences, that's mostly it at this point. All signs point to analog. 3 cheers for the destruction of the fake internet!
“A gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you feel worthless without one, you’ll feel worthless with one.” This is such a powerful quote, and the parallel you draw to fame and fortune is one so many of us can resonate with. You've put into words something I've been thinking about but unable to articulate for quite some time. Nearly a. year ago I made a conscious decision to cease active engagement on social media, which meant no posting, commenting etc. For me, the only purpose it serves now is as a digital bill board where people can find my stuff, as a messaging service where I can communicate with other creatives and fans who engage with my work, and occasionally as a medium for discovery, where I passively (but mindfully) consume content and find new things that interest me. The key thing for me is to cease active engagement (for the time being and possibly the foreseeable future), and while this comes at a cost in terms of limited opportunities to promote my creative exploits, the benefits to my mental health and well being are immeasurable. When I think of the cost-benefit analysis this way, it's a no-brainer.
You are missing nothing by not checking social media.
It's all well and good having a big following on TikTok or Instagram, but those platforms will probably go the same way as MySpace... except MySpace was kind of fun.
Both the world and the internet are vastly changed since a decade ago. It's pretty evident to me that the main and only deeper purpose to me of it anymore, as it continues to degrade into self-referential AI bot wasteland pointlessness, is to use it as a way to get offline as quickly as possible, and serve as a pointer for real life connections and experiences, that's mostly it at this point. All signs point to analog. 3 cheers for the destruction of the fake internet!
“A gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you feel worthless without one, you’ll feel worthless with one.” This is such a powerful quote, and the parallel you draw to fame and fortune is one so many of us can resonate with. You've put into words something I've been thinking about but unable to articulate for quite some time. Nearly a. year ago I made a conscious decision to cease active engagement on social media, which meant no posting, commenting etc. For me, the only purpose it serves now is as a digital bill board where people can find my stuff, as a messaging service where I can communicate with other creatives and fans who engage with my work, and occasionally as a medium for discovery, where I passively (but mindfully) consume content and find new things that interest me. The key thing for me is to cease active engagement (for the time being and possibly the foreseeable future), and while this comes at a cost in terms of limited opportunities to promote my creative exploits, the benefits to my mental health and well being are immeasurable. When I think of the cost-benefit analysis this way, it's a no-brainer.
You are missing nothing by not checking social media.
It's all well and good having a big following on TikTok or Instagram, but those platforms will probably go the same way as MySpace... except MySpace was kind of fun.