I became inactive on social media about eight years ago. I deleted all accounts except Facebook because all of those “friends” I had. After four years, Facebook was gone too. It wasn’t easy. Those things are made to be highly addictive, offering continual hits of dopamine. While Facebook was disabled, but not yet deleted, I received multiple emails per day teasing me to go see what so-and-so had posted. I had to mark them as spam to avoid the temptation.
Like someone quitting any other bad habit, I tried and failed multiple times before it stuck. Recently a fellow blogger posted about how using a dumb phone can help curb social media addition. That reminded me of how I finally found success.
I studied psychology in college and, while that was an ignorant and regrettable decision, it taught me a lot about human motivation and methods of manipulation. I knew how and why I felt drawn to check social media several times per day. I thus figured out how to break the algorithm to my advantage.
A Tip For Quitting Social Media
- Unfollow (or whatever it may be called nowadays) all brands and influencers. Everything.
- Unfriend all acquaintances, so the only connections left are a handful of your family and close friends. Watch as your curated news feed become boring. With a dozen connections, there’s nothing interesting to see. Little changes on a daily basis.
- See the ad algorithm break in front of your eyes. Without following brands and topics, the platform will have no idea what you’re interested in. Ads for sexy clubbing dresses will transform into ads for frumpy muumuus. Ads for enticing personal development courses will be replaced by ads for cloth diapers. At least this was the case in 2014.
- Delete you account, or disable the account to test the waters before deletion. If the platform taunts you with emails, mark them as spam.
Within two weeks of taking the above steps, I went from mildly addicted to Facebook to completely disinterested. And I haven’t been back since.
Things have probably changed in the last eight years, but it may be worth a shot if you’re trying and struggling to break free.
existential ergonomics 
My Al Gore Rhythm seems to thinks I’m British. I’ve been called worse. This blog is more or less “my” only social media left. Everything else is done through my wife who has had more trouble getting off the tit.
It’s understandable, that some relapse. Becoming aware of things hasn’t been easy on her. She’s lost a world, albeit one with poisoned seas, and she’s had trouble with helping me give her another one.
Anyway.
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I haven’t heard “Al Gore Rhythm” before, but I quite like it. I’m right there with you–this blog is the closest thing I have to social media; I’ve tried to remain pseudonymous, but have admittedly shared more than I had initially intended. Alas, I know so few open-minded folks that shouting into the bottomless pit of the internet and hoping for a response seems almost reasonable.
I can empathize with your wife. I was exceptionally naive before my boyfriend, very gradually, red pilled me. I don’t regret learning the things that I have, but it has been hard. A decade ago I believed wholeheartedly that all people are inherently good; I can’t say that anymore. Breaking from the herd and choosing the path of truth and consciousness can be a lonely journey. I wish I could offer something to help her, and to help you help her. Maybe this: For me, freedom finally overshadowed fear when I considered “the bad things,” identified responses within my control, and took action to preemptively address those fears (i.e., financial collapse is possible; I can control home-ownership, savings/tangible goods, and homesteading/survival skills, and; I feel confident knowing I’ve done what I can to prepare for a possible collapse scenario). It took many years, but the sense of helplessness was eventually replaced with a sense of empowerment when I took ownership of my life and my future in the context of those poisoned seas.
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The CoVid was a wakeup call. She’s recently chosen to break with the church, which is big for her. We’ve made plans and such, which is helpful. All we need now is a year or two for her to settle in her new reality.
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A willingness to reassess and adapt to a changing world is one of the most important and valuable traits in this day and age. Good luck to her in adjusting to her new reality–I hope it’s one that, given a few years time–is a better fit.
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Yes….yes…yes…no looking back for me, either, re: paring down social media. I have no regrets about walking away from FB and your comment about screwing up the algorithm – “Ads for sexy clubbing dresses will transform into ads for frumpy muumuus” is hilariously accurate. 😉
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I’m glad you enjoyed that! The broken algorithm was a really fascinating and shocking discovery, largely by accident. Paring back social media truly is life-changing!
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Reblogged this on Calculus of Decay .
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It’s quite sad, really, how social media is completely dumbing us down. Not to mention the total time drain – and waste of resources. As a society (for the most part), people are no longer doing “real” things – volunteering, writing, learning, etc. Rather, well, you get the point. Obviously, since this is your post. I got so carried away that I forgot that for a minute! 😂 Basically, I guess I’m trying to give a resounding amen to everything you said! 😃
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Yes, social media really has been terrible for society. You’re absolutely right–all the wonderful things people did with their time in the past have been replaced by selfies and mindless scrolling. It’s truly unfortunate, and it seems that children are sucked in at earlier and earlier ages, which can’t be good for brain development, social skills, or self-image.
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