Anyone here subscribe to Substack? It is a cut above the other social media. However, I'm a bit nervous because lately there has been a lot of sarcasm & snark on it, which has been the death of the other social media like Twitter / X and Facebook. It doesn't have a "unlike" button, which would help a lot.

Social media is so toxic.

Will never allow my kids to have addictive TikTok, Snap, or the suicide-inducing Insta as long as they are under my roof (where I bought “their” phones and I pay the bills).

If they are “cut off” from the addicted kids on social, then so much the better; I don’t want my kids around social media / phone addicts.

I regret to inform you that DCUM is social media. Carry on.

- Sorry. Autocorrect.

I regret to inform you that DCUM I social media. Carry on.

Anonymous wrote:What made you choose not to?
Do you feel like an outsider/cut off socially?

I used to have Facebook and I quit a couple years ago. I deleted my personal account. I have an account that I only use for groups and Facebook marketplace. I don’t add friends or post anything.

I feel like ever since I deleted mine, I am happier but I do feel a little cut off socially. I believe social media is very bad for your mental health.

I feel like DC urban moms is technically social media. Perhaps I’m wrong. I say this, just to alert you that you are being social online.

Most people who don’t have Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or back in the day-my space, etc. are usually hiding something.

Same, in a world filled with devious ways to take advantage of the info you put out there, why would anyone do that? Privacy is of upmost importance.

No social media. No LinkedIn. I also don’t share my personal phone number or email. I don’t text.

Write me a letter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what you find difficult on social media, but on IG, I've taken about 8 art classes, joined a couple art communities, shared my work, learned how to repair a chair, engaged in history webinars, have a whole collection of recipes, and I can see pictures of my friend's trip to Morocco.

Virtue signaling? You mean my group that fights for gun legislation?

I think virtue signaling is when people announce that they are "leaving" social media, that they think they are so much more elevated, and then 100% of the time return within months. Yep- or still lurk. Lol

Difficult? You are right about you having no idea.

Start here:

https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/instagram-taking-its-toll-on-teen-girls-mental-health-report/2582713/?amp=1

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/01/business/instagram-suicide-ruling-britain.html

Next go here:

Why would you bring up what happens to teens as an example of how social media is evil? Yeah, they are kids. I was a teen once, too- with no phone, no computers, no social media. Drugs,suicide, anorexia, violence, depression- all there years ago, too. There was no social media when Columbine happened.

You obviously have not looked at the statistics. 1 in 3 teen girls considering suicide? 1 in 5 sexually assaulted?

I’d like to delete Facebook, but I buy and sell on Marketplace. Those who post on FB the most I’ve noticed are those who want to brag about their social gatherings and show who was and wasn’t invited, and what new thing they purchased. I have a particularly narcissistic neighbor who tags everyone he does everything with in photos that they aren’t even in so that everyone who wasn’t there is made well aware that they weren’t invited. It’s truly bizarre behavior for a 40 year old male.

You guys are my social media.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what you find difficult on social media, but on IG, I've taken about 8 art classes, joined a couple art communities, shared my work, learned how to repair a chair, engaged in history webinars, have a whole collection of recipes, and I can see pictures of my friend's trip to Morocco.

Virtue signaling? You mean my group that fights for gun legislation?

I think virtue signaling is when people announce that they are "leaving" social media, that they think they are so much more elevated, and then 100% of the time return within months. Yep- or still lurk. Lol

Difficult? You are right about you having no idea.

Start here:

https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/instagram-taking-its-toll-on-teen-girls-mental-health-report/2582713/?amp=1

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/01/business/instagram-suicide-ruling-britain.html

Next go here:

Why would you bring up what happens to teens as an example of how social media is evil? Yeah, they are kids. I was a teen once, too- with no phone, no computers, no social media. Drugs,suicide, anorexia, violence, depression- all there years ago, too. There was no social media when Columbine happened.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what you find difficult on social media, but on IG, I've taken about 8 art classes, joined a couple art communities, shared my work, learned how to repair a chair, engaged in history webinars, have a whole collection of recipes, and I can see pictures of my friend's trip to Morocco.

Virtue signaling? You mean my group that fights for gun legislation?

I think virtue signaling is when people announce that they are "leaving" social media, that they think they are so much more elevated, and then 100% of the time return within months. Yep- or still lurk. Lol

No I mean when people constantly post about their do-gooding and seek approval and validation for it. You can do these things like a normal person without live-blogging it or looking for likes for it or worse, using it for careerism and self-promotion.

But isn't that a personal preference for what you like and don't like? Why would you, or I, be off of all of social media because of braggy friends? They will still be braggy, on or off sm, but you will miss things that were worth knowing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea what you find difficult on social media, but on IG, I've taken about 8 art classes, joined a couple art communities, shared my work, learned how to repair a chair, engaged in history webinars, have a whole collection of recipes, and I can see pictures of my friend's trip to Morocco.

Virtue signaling? You mean my group that fights for gun legislation?

I think virtue signaling is when people announce that they are "leaving" social media, that they think they are so much more elevated, and then 100% of the time return within months. Yep- or still lurk. Lol

Difficult? You are right about you having no idea.

Start here:

https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/instagram-taking-its-toll-on-teen-girls-mental-health-report/2582713/?amp=1

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/01/business/instagram-suicide-ruling-britain.html

Next go here:

Yes, well I assume I'm talking to adults here. I'm at low risk
from being bullied into suicide ftom a group of mean Moms. Not interested in ordering opiods online, either.

Children and teenagers don't have the capacity to make good decisions which is why they can't drink, drive a car without oversight, have sex, or even make their own medical decisions. Heck, they can't own a bank acct. If teens have full , unfettered access to the internet, chat rooms, What's App, social media, the dark web, no one would be surprised at bad outcomes. But that doesn't mean we can't bit liquor or have cars or date or go online. There are things that exist that have harmful consequences to kids, social media is one. But, social media only amplifies what has always happened- insecurities about appearance to the point of eatung disorders, suicidal ideation from bullying, meeting bad actors.

Social media isn't a monolith and it isn't going away. Teens need to be taught about social media, how to use it in the same way everyonr learned about driving drunk. That part is missing. If a kid is harmed because of something he or she accessed on FB or any site, it doesn't stand to reason that there shouldn't be social media.

Now, since we are here, guns have killed far more teenagers than inappropriate use of social media. That being said, some kids are becoming also radicalized by various sites, social media as well as the dark web and engaging in violent acts. Yet, why is no one removing guns- at all? Instead, my access to my neighbor's toddler's birthday pictures should apparently stop.
Parent your kids. Monitor what they do. Follow up. Report. This is a parenting issue.

My most braggy cousin, who I see about once a year, always says, "I can't believe you're not on FB or Insta!". She has to get creative to cram in all her brags in one night.