It’s Only Been Three Days
I’m three days into The No Social Media Experiment, and I have to tell you, I think they’ve pulled a fast one on us. I absolutely love being off social media. I had totally forgotten what it’s like not to be subjected to a constant stream of everyone’s nonsense all day long. And the incessant advertising. Did you know you can avoid the majority of modern marketing simply by shutting off all your screens? No money down!
I suddenly have a lot more time, too. It isn’t simply that I’m not spending those same minutes on social media. I’m actually using the internet less in general. I mean, still probably too much, but far less than before. My concentration is improving rapidly. It’s only been three days. I’m reading books, getting things done, and living a life. There’s no way I’m ever going back.
You may be wondering how I’ll stay connected to people if I’m not reading every mundane complaint and reposted meme on Bluesky. Well, while my appreciation for solitude is admittedly higher than most can tolerate, I also think that connectivity is mostly an illusion.
Last Friday, I had dinner with family at a restaurant where you have to shout to be heard over the din of fellow diners. That hour and a half of yelling into my french fries was more worthwhile than years of Facebook posts despite my not being able to hear a word anyone said.
Frankly, I felt closer to the salesgirl at the camera shop after maybe 15 minutes of talking about lenses than I do with old high school pals on Instagram.
The Socials sell you on this idea of building and maintaining relationships, but I think, for the most part, that’s a bamboozle. You think you’re living a life, but actually you’re alone on the toilet passively consuming advertisements, alongside millions of other users doing the same, each on a lonely toilet of their own.