I have been browsing the depths of the internet since the age of 6. I've seen it evolve and become a treasure trove of concepts and musings, much like this blog, or what I like to call my social media outlets collectively, my corners of the internet. I have never really taken a break from scrolling until March 2022, when I was in absolute shambles over my life (some of that explained here). I also took a break because I did not like what I was seeing, to which it took me long enough to figure out the perfect solution for that problem: simply unfollowing.
Since then, I've been developing my own social media manifesto, a guide for assisting myself, and hopefully you as well, to making the experience of being on social media, or just online in general, "better."
Naomi's after-thoughts (08/17/2022, 17:15): A lot of the concepts I have in here are open to nuance, especially when extremist beliefs and conspiracy theories take over social media, and could lead to harm. As I said, be aware of what you're seeing, mix your feed with different sources that will stretch your beliefs which will help you learn how to discern if that piece of content has the ability to cause harm or misinformation. Your social media experience is still up to you.
YOU CURATE WHAT YOU SEE.
Be unapologetic about who you do and don’t follow. I constantly follow and unfollow accounts. If I find it cool and mind bending, I will follow it. If I don’t find any excitement following an account, I will unfollow it. The number fluctuates weekly.
Even when it comes to "personal relationship" followings, ie someone from high school, I unfollow them too! Especially if I haven't talked to the individual in a year, or never talked to them at all and simply follow them because we lived in the same town. My unfollowings are not meant to put down a person nor have any malintent. I just don’t see the point in keeping a false sense of connection with people from my past with whom I may have never connected with in the first place. Before social media, nobody found an issue with not being in contact with certain people from their hometown, nor naturally losing contact with someone that was a former close connection. Why do we make unfollowing someone such a big deal?
In general, why do we make unfollowing personal? If it does feel personal, consider having a chat with the person you're going to be unfollowing, perhaps let them know you're curating what you see, if that makes you feel at ease. But also, you don't owe anyone an explanation behind why you're curating what you see on social media!
SOCIAL MEDIA AS A TREASURE TROVE
Going along with curating what you see, frame social media as a TOOL for inspiration, for connectivity, and for stretching your beliefs. The internet is a trove of concepts and musings that you get the opportunity to pick and choose. Even the algorithm (most of the time) will adapt to things that you personally like to see. However, try not to get sucked into a vacuum of only your likes and leave opinions that stretch your beliefs open to enter. Following news outlets with varying views usually does the trick.
Here is a list of my favorites on social media.
LET SOCIAL MEDIA STRETCH YOUR MIND
Too often what people see on social media, they will take verbatim. If you see a headline, a fact, something that piques your interest, consider diving deeper and doing research. You don’t necessarily have to be an expert, but it is more satisfactory to know a little more behind something than taking it for what it is. It can also help you tell whether or not something is true or could be disinformation.
As I said, try not to get sucked into a vacuum of only what resonates with you. Resonance feels like the truth, but sometimes it may not be. Also, look into accounts that challenge you, that stimulates your mind into thinking of another view. I like to follow news outlets from all over the world to see different perspectives on one topic.
TAKE EMOTION OUT OF CRITICISM
When presented with criticism on the internet, a way to not feel hurt or offended is by taking emotion out of it. Criticism is another perspective, another person's thought on your thought. You can choose to view criticism as an attack, which may make you feel hurt and as such the emotion is in your review of the criticism, as some silly string of words someone made, or another perspective that challenges and stretches your own.
That's all I can think of for now. I will update this as my relationship with social media evolves. I hope these concepts can help you have a better relationship with social media. Frame it as a tool, an outlet of joy, as opposed to something else. All in all, be aware of what you're seeing.
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