Earlier this year I gave up on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, opting instead for a micro.blog on the indie web. Prior to officially hitting the “cancel account” button, I wrote up a long post explaining why I am quitting. Many within my network reached out and said “you’ll be back!”, while others told me they’re thinking of doing the same. I remember thinking “this is what addicts tell other addicts when one of them announces that they’re quitting whatever it is they’re addicted to”.
Since quitting for-profit social media, I find myself staring less at my phone and instead being more engaged in the present. Upon quitting, my connections started feeling more genuine because they are more genuine. I’m calmer, happier, and overall less anxious. I’m able to actually focus on one thing at a time. This has been such a profound experience that I now find myself sick of text messages.
Texting works great for sharing information one would otherwise have to write down, coordinating a time to meet, or sharing a photo. Beyond that use case, texting is a bland communication medium, barely palatable for anyone craving the richness that comes from a conversation where you can hear the voice or see the facial expressions of the person you are engaging with. Habitual texters not only risk hurting their existing relationships, but also risk limiting their ability to form future ones since they don’t get to practice the art of nonverbal communication. In a world that seemingly lacks empathy, this scares me into not wanting to take the risk.
Moving away from technology and towards in-person or over-the-phone communication has made me feel more connected. Hopefully you’ll find it does the same for you if you’re willing to try it.
