most of this applies to any other addiction too...
Should you delete social media? That’s the wrong question.
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Re: Should you delete social media? That’s the wrong question.
#12I appreciate this essay and I think your observation is true, broadly speaking. However one thing I find consistently lacking from the “digital minimalism” space is recognition of the things that social media has eliminated or made harder. The pandemic has compounded this problem. It’s not just that using social media for relationships is individually easier—it’s that the network effects eventually make it so that so…
I really don't think this is true anymore at least in my generation. I'm in my late 20s and my family and friends really don't seem to post much content anymore on social media after graduating college. It's pretty much for consumption of memes and other internet content and could be cut out easily since its a time sink, vs years ago when people were much more active and no one ever followed commercial accounts or people they didn't personally know. These days I just call and text people, way less friction and I have everyone's number I care about.
Re: Should you delete social media? That’s the wrong question.
#13Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think its great that you did this and realized some benefit but isn't HN social media?
I wouldn't consider HN social media, but instead a news aggregator with a robust comment section. These things existed long before the emergence of social-media networks. Who am I? Who are you? We don't know. There are no friends, connections, or personal details shared. Interactions are fleeting and temporary.
And..having friends on here would be somehow bad?..
I like Clay Shirky's definition of social media, (something like) a website where the users create the content, where the thing wouldn't exist in the same way without the users. But the definition of the word doesn't really matter, I guess. I'm just not sure why not having friends here makes it "ok", and why if you made friends here you'd have to quit because of your policy/your identity as "someone who quit social media years ago".
Re: Should you delete social media? That’s the wrong question.
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
I wouldn't consider HN social media, but instead a news aggregator with a robust comment section. These things existed long before the emergence of social-media networks. Who am I? Who are you? We don't know. There are no friends, connections, or personal details shared. Interactions are fleeting and temporary.
And..having friends on here would be somehow bad?.. I like Clay Shirky's definition of social media, (something like) a website where the users create the content, where the thing wouldn't exist in the same way without the users. But the definition of the word doesn't really matter, I guess. I'm just not sure why not having friends here makes it "ok", and why if you made friends here you'd have to quit because of you…
Irrelevant definitions aside -- I think everyone can agree there is a dramatic difference between a website like Facebook and a website like HN.
The vast majority of the negative psychological triggers, for example, associated with a platform like Facebook, are missing from HN.
Re: Should you delete social media? That’s the wrong question.
#15You dont quit an addiction, you replace it with something else.
But social media is different. It's a reality show in which you re the unpaid actor, a replaceable lab rat. If you feel that, living your whole life oblivious under a painted dome (like in the Truman Show) by getting rewarded with likes is an OK life, then maybe you should grow up. In the end, Truman chose to get out.
Re: Should you delete social media? That’s the wrong question.
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think its great that you did this and realized some benefit but isn't HN social media?
I wouldn't consider HN social media, but instead a news aggregator with a robust comment section. These things existed long before the emergence of social-media networks. Who am I? Who are you? We don't know. There are no friends, connections, or personal details shared. Interactions are fleeting and temporary.
There's still the notion of karma points but if it doesn't suck you in then that's ok.
Re: Should you delete social media? That’s the wrong question.
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
And..having friends on here would be somehow bad?.. I like Clay Shirky's definition of social media, (something like) a website where the users create the content, where the thing wouldn't exist in the same way without the users. But the definition of the word doesn't really matter, I guess. I'm just not sure why not having friends here makes it "ok", and why if you made friends here you'd have to quit because of you…
Irrelevant definitions aside -- I think everyone can agree there is a dramatic difference between a website like Facebook and a website like HN. The vast majority of the negative psychological triggers, for example, associated with a platform like Facebook, are missing from HN.
For what it's worth, my experience is the opposite. The vast majority of negative psychological triggers I see in my online life are on HN, not facebook or twitter or reddit.
> I think everyone can agree there is a dramatic difference between a website like Facebook and a website like HN
No we cannot all agree on that! For one I completely disagree. Also I 100% consider HN social media. It checks all the boxes the way I see it.
Re: Should you delete social media? That’s the wrong question.
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
And..having friends on here would be somehow bad?.. I like Clay Shirky's definition of social media, (something like) a website where the users create the content, where the thing wouldn't exist in the same way without the users. But the definition of the word doesn't really matter, I guess. I'm just not sure why not having friends here makes it "ok", and why if you made friends here you'd have to quit because of you…
Irrelevant definitions aside -- I think everyone can agree there is a dramatic difference between a website like Facebook and a website like HN. The vast majority of the negative psychological triggers, for example, associated with a platform like Facebook, are missing from HN.
Well, I'm not the vast majority hehe. On FB I just chat with my friends around the world and sometimes while doing that, look at their pictures of what they've been up to. It's so nice. My friends are amazing. I've no idea why everyone acts like you are forced to look at your "news feed" on FB.
On here, it's all-too-frequent crazy/nasty/snarky/jerk comments. Yes, negative psychological triggers is a good way of putting it! Like the other day[0] I found the people from the US claiming Australians wouldn't have to put up with the lockdown if we only had guns, really disturbing. Then yesterday, the guy who's surprised when people move to Australia, because the people there are ok with censorship[1]. When I discovered !!Con after being on HN a lot it was like "OMG, there are places where programmers congregate and it's actually fun, joyous, positive and supportive!" haha.
[0] For reference. Actually reading all these comments is not recommended. What a shitfight. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28451066
Re: Should you delete social media? That’s the wrong question.
#19I was impressed recently, while waiting for DuoLingo to load. The load screen asked "What can 15 minutes of social media do for you?".
Oddly poignant.
Re: Should you delete social media? That’s the wrong question.
#20As someone who quit social media a couple of years ago, I would say, yes, you should quit social media (regardless of whether that's the question). It is wonderful for one's mental health. It's true that you will lose a lot of connections, but you will manage to stay in touch with the people that matter.
I’m the same.
I left Twitter and LinkedIn this year which were my main vices. Probably 70k reasonably organic connections down the drain.
However, I feel much happier and relaxed and have better relationships online and offline with a smaller group of people.
Would definetly recommend binning social media. It’s a toxic time sink.