So I’m ending my ‘social media fast’ a few days early. I’ve joined up with some friends to participate in the HelloMornings Challenge, which involves facebook to some degree so for better or worse I’m back.
This was totally harder than I thought it was going to be…
For the first week, maybe more, I caught myself crafting a facebook post in my head about almost everything I did! I didn’t know I did that but it became pretty clear when I was constantly reminding myself that I was not going to post! Yikes! So that said some things to me – 1) Ellie, what is it you want people to perceive you as that you are so caught up in posting about your life? 2) I complain A LOT! Half the time I wanted to post something it was a complaint – yuck! (So sorry to those of you that have to read my posts…feel free to hide me!)
I felt kind of disconnected to the world. I never knew what was going with people. And I missed that, but to be honest I didn’t miss it as much as I clearly missed me on facebook. Yes, it was not a pretty picture when I discovered mostly I missed talking about myself (says the girl writing a blog post about herself…hmmm). I read an article recently that I wish I could cite but I can’t find it. It said something about how the new generation is so self focused and one of the reasons is because of social media and how we think everything revolves around us and we share everything with everyone and people ‘like’ us and ‘friend’ us or whatever – not just the new generation. It’s attacked me as well!
Yuck. That’s how I feel. Because as I’m writing this I am seeing even more clearly my own sickness.
I’m not sure what I’m going to do about it. Because I don’t really want to get rid of facebook…I’m not there yet. I still enjoy it. I still want to share my life with people and I really do enjoying sharing other people’s lives with them through pictures and posts. But I feel like I need to follow up with something…Some ideas – a monthly 1 week social media time out (I’m not sure I like the word ‘fast’ for this), maybe some new boundaries like ‘no complaining’ or don’t be on your phone on facebook when you are with your kids or around people in general. I don’t know.
So I started writing this post with a couple of harmless observations but as I’ve written more I see I’m clearly in deeper than I thought that I was. What are your thoughts on the use of social media? How has it affected your life? I’m I the only crazy out there that loves to feel like I’m getting extra attention (even though I might not actually be)?
Oh, on a positive note. I pared down my blog reader and have continued reading blogs and have enjoyed it so much more. Fewer blogs but the ones I actually like. That was a good thing!
I know how you feel. I’ve been 99% off facebook for over a year, and I still catch myself composing status updates (in the third person, lol) in my head. And mine are mostly complaints, too. That’s one of the reasons I left – it should not be instinctual to mentally compose status updates throughout the day!
You are such a joy. I know so many women will enjoy your refreshing honesty.
I’m with you. I’ve backed off facebook quite a bit recently, although I seem to have days where I am on there all. the. time. I haven’t figured out what the boundaries need to be either.
Pingback: Hello Mornings | elliek