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Taking a break from social media makes you happier and less anxious

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Re: Taking a break from social media makes you happier and less anxious

#221

Post by env123 »

unixhero wrote: post #67

Does Reddit and Hacker News count?

Yes, I only visit reddit when I have only have something curious about, I don't actively scroll through it, maybe a few minutes when I'm on it. That's healthy boundary.

As for Hacker News, there is https://hackernewsletter.com/ that sends you mail of the best articles on startups, technology, programming, and more. All links are curated by hand from Hacker News. Join 60,000+ other subscribers and don't miss another week.

They also offer daily mails, but I'd say avoid it.

Re: Taking a break from social media makes you happier and less anxious

#222

Post by bennyp101 »

laputan_machine wrote: post #214
bennyp101 wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An actual friend then sure, but most people I know have like 500+ “friends” so I think people are less likely to have that reaction to everyone in the timeline.

Oh I see yeah we're couched in the language of FB. I meant real friends, I noped out of most social media (ex. HN) in 2017. I don't miss it!

Same (apart from a fake FB profile so I know what's happening in the local village groups).

I never really had a problem with FB, just the constant cringy posts made me leave!

But dumping Twitter a couple of years ago was the best thing I ever did - it was just making me angry every time I started browsing it!

Re: Taking a break from social media makes you happier and less anxious

#223

Post by emteycz »

k_sze wrote: post #216
emteycz wrote: post #207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps, but then why blame social media and not these disorders?

I believe the argument would be that social media exacerbates the problem.

But does it exacerbate the problem more than other ways of social interaction?

As opposed to a real life social interaction, I can simply hit Unfollow on Facebook (so we stay Friends but I don't see your posts unless I look for them)...

Re: Taking a break from social media makes you happier and less anxious

#224

Post by jgrahamc »

Long ago I deleted my Facebook and Reddit, I have an Instagram account with just a few close people and barely use it, I recently switched to using Twitter in "reply-only mode" (i.e. I don't post anything other than a reply to something someone posted and, in general, that's work-related only).

Re: Taking a break from social media makes you happier and less anxious

#225

Post by k_sze »

emteycz wrote: post #223
k_sze wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe the argument would be that social media exacerbates the problem.

But does it exacerbate the problem more than other ways of social interaction? As opposed to a real life social interaction, I can simply hit Unfollow on Facebook (so we stay Friends but I don't see your posts unless I look for them)...

Maybe social media gives you a much more concentrated feed of things that can trigger your inferiority complex, compared to normal, real-life social interactions?

And if you have to resort to unfollowing, you’re basically agreeing that it’s a problem.

Re: Taking a break from social media makes you happier and less anxious

#226

Post by coldtea »

emteycz wrote: post #210
coldtea wrote: post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Social status and the satisfaction (or lack thereof) derived from it are relative. This has been studied and hammered on again and again, not to mention the entirety of human history (and tons of lucrative rackets) attest to it. And being "the lord of your destiny" is already not applicable to most people, except in an abstract, meaningless sense that a person can always decide for themselves. That doesn't mean they…

If these people think they're the only ones with problems and other people's lives are problem-free, well that's the issue. Not even the most accomplished person has a smooth ride.

That's kind of the whole point: social media presents you with a highlight of the smooth ride scenarios in people's lives (and even those, made to appear even fancier with all kinds of tricks and cutting out of "behind the scenes" context).

And rationally being aware of this doesn't help either: you still get the raw first experience at an emotional level.

Re: Taking a break from social media makes you happier and less anxious

#227

Post by RMPR »

lexx wrote: post #166
impjohn wrote: post #141

I've been away from facebook and instagram for about 4 years. Never caught the tik-tok or snapchat train, so the only consumption i do is light reddit and hackernews. The weirdest thing for others is that I can sit indefinitely without having to look at my phone and actually get lost in thoughts or even get bored. The downside is that it can isolate you. Where I live, if you're not on instagram you don't exist. My gi…

I am in the exact same situation for the past 2 years. My mood is vastly improved. The social media isolation aspect is as important as the social media socialization aspect to me. Not important. The people I want to talk to are on discord or signal, and we do actual activities together

> and we do actual activities together

This! I have a good friend of mine who is very active on Instagram and tiktok, where I don't have an account. But the fact that we are doing activities together makes us close. Real life exists, and it's infinitely better than whatever the social app of the moment is.

Re: Taking a break from social media makes you happier and less anxious

#228

Post by coffeeblack »

Gigachad wrote: post #218
coffeeblack wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Simply mute people who post the crap. Or use more localized social media.

Part of the problem is I do get sucked in to the drama really. There is nothing really of value on twitter other than drama.

Twitter is great if you are interested in breaking news on specific topics. Most people aren’t though.

Twitter is terrible for discussions, so there I agree with Joe Rogan: “never look at the comments”.

Re: Taking a break from social media makes you happier and less anxious

#229

Post by amelius »

laputan_machine wrote: post #213
k_sze wrote: post #201

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One could be “happy”* for a friend and also feel shitty about themself. “Damn. Matthew has changed jobs 3 times in the past 5 years already, each time to a better paying job. Look at you. You’re still stuck in this shitty job because you suck.” This is literally the kind of thought I have had in the past. [*] Are you “happy” in a polite way? Or are you genuinely happy?

Genuinely happy, of course! I want to see my friends and family succeed in life and enjoy it. I don't feel like a lesser person in any way, I feel proud of them.

What kind of therapy is recommended to get into this state of being?

Re: Taking a break from social media makes you happier and less anxious

#230

Post by arky527 »

impjohn wrote: post #141

I've been away from facebook and instagram for about 4 years. Never caught the tik-tok or snapchat train, so the only consumption i do is light reddit and hackernews. The weirdest thing for others is that I can sit indefinitely without having to look at my phone and actually get lost in thoughts or even get bored. The downside is that it can isolate you. Where I live, if you're not on instagram you don't exist. My gi…

I find this to be a good motivator to make better interactions with co-workers & friends. Since giving up FB/Instagram I've found conversations with friends to be much more engaging and fulfilling
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