It's not likes giving people anxiety, it's the gaze of the panopticon.
Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure
51–60 of 224 posts
Re: Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure
#52What I really need is a way to lock myself out of the account, especially Twitter, without suspending it. Like, disable the login for a day, but I am still on the platform. The electric fences I put up myself never work.
Have you tried just not using it?? Or developing self control?? Surely it's like saying bottles need to be harder to get into because I like drinking alcohol too much... Or cars need to accelerate slower because I love speeding and can't resist permanently holding down the accelerator pedal, even at risk to my own health and wellbeing
Ease of access to the thing you're addicted to is a big factor for relapse probability. That's one reason why it's so hard for people with food addiction to lose weight. Developing self control is a lot harder than you make it seem.
Re: Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure
#53Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'll give it another 5 years before social media is viewed on the same level as cigarettes. The best thing I've ever done for my mental health was deleting social media. I realize I'm not significant enough to argue of other people about my own life. As long as you're not harming anyone else you're free to do whatever you want. Social media says no you have to shape your entire life around what people you'll never me…
And now you hang out at HN which is totally different from social media. Where people never seek approval from the masses. Chastising other people as a concept does not exist on HN. HN, the not-social media, does not even have a concept of likes.
I realize you’re being sarcastic and that hacker news is a social media, however there is a difference in degree and what behaviors the site encourages. For me, personally, using HN and a very limited set of subreddits is an enjoyable waste of time, and doesn’t feel like an addiction. I would also credit HN as exposing me to technologies I might otherwise not have seen, and enriching my life in some small way.
As for other social media, I deleted my Facebook and Twitter and feel like a mentally healthier person for it, and I think it’s a choice everyone has to make for themselves, but we should be providing information and support to people who quit. I would liken it more to alcohol use: many enjoy it in moderation, it’s an addictive problem for some. I strongly dislike the semi-compulsory nature of Facebook groups for activities that only organize on Facebook.
Re: Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure
#54We should probably go the opposite way and increase it to absurd like don't stop running or don't eat until you get enough likes... /s
Re: Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure
#55If they truly cared about users mental health FB/IG and Twitter would also add a switch in the options to hide all political discussion.
Re: Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure
#56Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'll give it another 5 years before social media is viewed on the same level as cigarettes. The best thing I've ever done for my mental health was deleting social media. I realize I'm not significant enough to argue of other people about my own life. As long as you're not harming anyone else you're free to do whatever you want. Social media says no you have to shape your entire life around what people you'll never me…
And now you hang out at HN which is totally different from social media. Where people never seek approval from the masses. Chastising other people as a concept does not exist on HN. HN, the not-social media, does not even have a concept of likes.
But you're not chastising me, or my physical appearance. Having people call you ugly all day is probably one of the worst parts of Instagram.
You're merely chastising a few of my opinions. There's so much detachment from the rest of me.
In the early days of Facebook I actually screwed up a relationship as I was worried my first girlfriend would post the wrong thing on my wall, and oh no all my friends would see.
Hacker News isn't really a social media site since there's no concept of followers or friends here.
If in any case you decide to go through my post history to make fun of me, I can just create a new handle. I can do this without even adding an email address.
Re: Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's the BBC that is getting dumber, not you my friend. I check in with the headlines every now and then and every time it's either government propaganda or bullshit Love Island celebrity nonsense.
Also, why are we being forced to subsidize EastEnders? Whats the public benefit from that rubbish? CBeebies, CBBC - cool. Public benefit makes sense. BBC Science and Documentaries - Public benefit. Fully justifiable. EastEnders - Pay money to make other people less intelligent or we’ll fine you.
You're not forced to subsidize it. If you don't watch live TV or iPlayer you don't have to pay.
They'll send you threatening letters every 2 years or so saying they're going to come round your house but you just have to go on the website again and tell them you still don't watch live TV.
Re: Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure
#58If they truly cared about users mental health FB/IG and Twitter would also add a switch in the options to hide all political discussion.
It's third party but I did almost exactly this with Tweetbot's mute feature. A lot of political topics can be summarized in a few buzzwords. Twitter tends to be much more focused on positivity and work topics since I've made this change.
Re: Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure
#59It seems silly, but I think this could actually be helpful for some people. I have my upvotes hidden on reddit because I found myself regularly checking the site after I would post, just to see if the number of upvotes I received had increased. It's not like it was making me feel pressure or depressed if a post didn't get votes, but it felt the same way video games feel when you try to get a high score. Hiding the vote count made it so I don't get distracted by the feeling of wanting to see if my "score" is going up.
Re: Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure
#60Or.. and hear me out here.. Just close your account completely? We’ve seen a great many of the people that built these systems come forward to explain that not only do they regret their role but that the harm being caused is worse than most people believe. I’ve also not seen or heard anyone (even people that currently work there) argue that these networks are in any way a net positive for society or the vast majority…
As a counterpoint I use Instagram maybe 2 hours a week total and get some minor value at little cost. I dont really see a benefit in closing my account.
Like anything, if you know how to moderate your experience and balance your time and energy, you can derive something positive getting it. Speaking from personal experience, my Twitter experience got much much better once I got diligent about adding muted words for anything political or the outrage du jour.
The problem is that not everybody does, or want to do that. Teenagers, for example, are highly influenceable (sp?) but their peers, so they get controlled by social media rather than the other way around. Same with people following celebrities/influencers. It's easy to build a collective consciousness that people compare themselves too, to their loss.