Why quitting social media is not the solution
This article talks about how the solution for the problems of consuming social media is not quitting and getting off of them. It’s a matter of realizing what kind of content we consume and realizing what is actually improving our lives and getting us closer to our goals. We are in control of what we consume.
Whenever I read self help books, podcasts, YouTube videos and any other information related to self development some of them talk the idea of quiting social media. The whole quitting social media began with the idea of digital minimalism, a book from Cal Newport a computer science professor of the University of Georgetown. The whole idea from this book is reducing the aumount of technology we consume to live a more focused life. The problem with this is that Newport defends the idea of being selected and optimized with the information we consume but some redefined the idea of digital minimalism as the idea of quitting technology in our lives.
And I’ve seen a lot of content creators promote the idea of quitting social media and how it has benefited they’re personal life. They are more focused, reduces anxiety, more confidence and some more benefits these people present in their lifes. But what I’ve noticed a lot in those people is that they feel left out with their friends and comunities they’re interested in. Some of them say that it’s not a big deal and they can always just text their friends but the feeling of being left out it’s still present.
What is the actual problem of social media?
Besides the fact that there are minors (that shouldn’t be allowed to be on social media at all) that have access to information and content inapropiate for the age, I want to talk deeper into the kind of content that is frecuently circulating online. What is usually the kind of content people consume in social media? A study from Kepios reports that active users in Instagram look mostly for funny or entertaining content. Being the second most popular activity with 64.8% of users engaging it. This is also a reason why brands start making this kind of content for their custumers.
How does social media algorithm works?
Has it happened to you that you maybe thinking on buying something and then getting an add about the product? Social media algorithms are designed with personalized content that is made by the study of your data, your behavior in the app, your research history and interactions with other users. No, these apps don’t steal your personal information nor your bank accounts or anything. You give the permission to use your data to show you more content you might be interested in. That’s it no need to demonize technology. But the need to understand how it works it can lead for us to have the power of what kind of contenent is displayed on our for you page.
Why quitting doesn’t work?
A research from GWI says that the typical user of social media spends an average of 2 hours and 31 minutes per day in these platforms. I’ve been doing some research that could tell me if there are long-term benefits from quitting social media but there all very various, there is people that do feel like quitting was a way to be more present but there are others that presented less positive psycological effects. What it was interesting to find out is that the porcentage of individuals that quitted social media eventually went back to them with a various of reasoning such as feeling left out, wanting interesting or useful information or social pressure. At it seems in the studies, people do try to quit social media but don’t feel an actual long term effect that is actually percibable.
So, what should we do then?
Be concious. Once you understand how the algorithm works then that’s how you change it into valuable information and content. Imagine how your life could change if instead of consuming funny videos that are made from people that want to keep on scrolling into unvaluable and plane content into rich content that motivate you and gives your spending time on social media a value. Think of what kind of content you can consider relevant in your life and why. If your goal is to loose weight, follow creators that share their rutines, healthy habits, their favorite gym clothes, their personal struggle. Follow financial advisors, professionals from your work area, interesting hobbies, valuable business. Focus your time on the value it really has, no one can give us back the time we spend so we need to make the most out of it.
And you, what kind of content do you consume? Do you think the content you consume is beneficial? Let me know in the coments