Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

'It's so liberating': The people quitting social media

bbc.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 147 posts

Re: 'It's so liberating': The people quitting social media

#61

Post by [deleted] »

msravi wrote: post #53
ThePhysicist wrote: post #21

I effectively shut down my Twitter account a while ago, best thing I did for my mental health in the past year. There are interesting people on Twitter but the algorithm just works like a slot machine that tries to keep you on the site no matter the cost, it's not optimized to serve you but to make you view more ads. In addition it's almost impossible to have a civilized discussion, it often feels more like two peopl…

> but the algorithm just works like a slot machine I'm always surprised that people, especially on HN, complain so much about twitter's algorithms that are so easy to bypass. I use Twidere as a client, and my feed doesn't have any of twitter's algorithms - it's simply a reverse chronological feed. Even the website and twitter's official app have a button right on the feed page that allows you to switch to a reverse c…

[deleted]

Re: 'It's so liberating': The people quitting social media

#64

Post by rrwo »

ThePhysicist wrote: post #21

I effectively shut down my Twitter account a while ago, best thing I did for my mental health in the past year. There are interesting people on Twitter but the algorithm just works like a slot machine that tries to keep you on the site no matter the cost, it's not optimized to serve you but to make you view more ads. In addition it's almost impossible to have a civilized discussion, it often feels more like two peopl…

> In addition it's almost impossible to have a civilized discussion, it often feels more like two people standing in different corners of a public space screaming insults at each other, and various crowds cheering them on.

It's depressing seeing friends fall down conspiracy theory rabbit holes, or publicly wallow in their racism.

Re: 'It's so liberating': The people quitting social media

#65

Post by yotamoron »

7 years ago I deleted my FB account. The mental relief was immediate.

Since then, I deleted all my social media accounts - LinkedIn (in some insanely magical way I'm still employed!) and twitter. Being the old fart I am, I had no other social media accounts.

Not taking any needless selfies, not posting crap, not waiting anxiously for likes or comments, not reading BS from people I don't know just because some algorithm decided that's a good content for me for reasons I have no control over.

Life is so much better.

Re: 'It's so liberating': The people quitting social media

#66

Post by Vespasian »

fullstackchris wrote: post #22

I disagree with this general sentiment. I don't think absolutely 0 social media is feasible or even wise this day in age. How are you going to keep up with family, friends, and so on? (In my case, family and friends span multiple states, countries, and continents!) You would at the very least need a phone - ok, that's maybe not "social media" in the sense this article talks about, but it's still tech at the end of th…

I self-moderate people on social media who go into politics too often. Luckily my family mostly moved to messenger and keeps the discussion to personal matters (kids, illnesses, activities etc)

The few times we talk about politics, are calm and measured discussions even though we disagree on many policy issues.

Re: 'It's so liberating': The people quitting social media

#67

Post by Lapsa »

rglullis wrote: post #39
fullstackchris wrote: post #22

I disagree with this general sentiment. I don't think absolutely 0 social media is feasible or even wise this day in age. How are you going to keep up with family, friends, and so on? (In my case, family and friends span multiple states, countries, and continents!) You would at the very least need a phone - ok, that's maybe not "social media" in the sense this article talks about, but it's still tech at the end of th…

That is like solving the opioid crisis by saying "you should use painkillers in moderation" or the obesity epidemic by saying "we all just need to be disciplined with what you eat." The issue is systemic. Most people's idea of "social Media" today is the algorithm-fueled, privacy-invading, advertising funded model which divorces the users from the curation of good content. We need social media platforms that are not…

pro tip: start liking underwear ads on Facebook. you will get to see good looking ladies instead of whatever bullshit you usually get

Re: 'It's so liberating': The people quitting social media

#68

Post by LordHeini »

fullstackchris wrote: post #22

I disagree with this general sentiment. I don't think absolutely 0 social media is feasible or even wise this day in age. How are you going to keep up with family, friends, and so on? (In my case, family and friends span multiple states, countries, and continents!) You would at the very least need a phone - ok, that's maybe not "social media" in the sense this article talks about, but it's still tech at the end of th…

It is totally feasible. I never had Facebook or Twitter and the likes and a know many people who stay away as well.

A friend of mine does not even have a phone, i meet him regularly, he has a job in IT and does just fine.

The Family has a Group on Signal, then there are a bunch of other groups on WhatsApp for friends and work.

Chat apps differ from social media in that they don't spam you with other peoples crap.

And i don't need lists of "friends" which i never see on whatever social media site.

Who cares about people you never see in person?

I have a contact list and just call or write if i want something.

The contact list is synced via CardDav to my calendar so i don't forget birthdays which is about the only useful thing social media provides.

Re: 'It's so liberating': The people quitting social media

#69

Post by birracerveza »

I don't have Facebook. I don't have Twitter. I don't even have Instagram, or TikTok. I stay away from all kinds of social media, aside from Telegram to chat with my friends, and it's been this way for the last 10 or so years... and boy do I get confirmation that I made a very good choice very, very often.

Re: 'It's so liberating': The people quitting social media

#70

Post by probably_wrong »

freedom2099 wrote: post #31

I never understood the charm of social media… why should I care about what people I couldn’t care less think about my life (hence share what I do) and conversely why should I follow people I couldn’t care less. With the people I care I usually have real conversations… no need for social media.

But... you are here in HN with the rest of us. Why are you reading the comments of people you couldn't care less about?

Of course, as someone who never uses Twitter and yet has been here since 2013 I have a good feeling of what your answer is likely to be. But my deeper point is: people get out of Twitter the same that I (and maybe you) get out of HN. Different strokes for different folks.

Post reply on HN