When I meet new people. Here is how the conversation goes:
Person 1: What's your ig handle?
Me: I don't have an Instagram account.
Person 2: Can I add you on snap then?
Me: Don't use it either
Person 2: Okay, can I have your whatsapp number?
Me: Sure, but I'm mostly inactive,
Person 1 & 2: Okay, chill! What social media platform do you use?
Me: Quora, and twitter mostly.
Person 2: And what if one needs to reach you quickly?
Me: Just call me. Unlike a lot of people, I prefer phone calls.
It always comes as a surprise to a lot of people when they find out that I do not have an Instagram account, never signed up on TikTok, deactivated my Facebook account a long time ago and i do not use snapchat (Not a weirdo!) I am sure there are a lot more people like me.
When did I begin to lose interest in Social Media?
Honestly! I don’t know. I can’t give a particular date. It was not a sudden realization one morning that "Hey! Not a social media person"
It was gradual, and it's been years.
Why ?
There is the big question right there... Why?
Firstly, twitter is the only social media platform I use. Oh! I almost forgot that I was forced into signing up on Linkedin for professional/career reasons. However, till date, I am yet to set the account up properly, talk more of optimising it.
I have been with people that wake up in the morning, and the first thing they do is camp on TikTok. I have been around people who, at the slightest free moment of their time; they are surfing through twitter and Instagram, and I am very convinced that is not how I want to live my life.
Besides pretending to be too serious in life, call me a weirdo, but social media barely interest me (I make an exception for twitter which has served as my personal blog over the years) I use my twitter to check out trending news, so I am not totally shut out of the world socially.
I would have been very conversant on WhatsApp, being an instant messaging platform. However, I find the status update feature very distracting. Therefore, more often than not, I leave my WhatsApp dormant for days/weeks depending on my mood or boredom, until I am ready to chat with someone who I can only reach on WhatsApp, or check an important group message. As for pending/unread chats in my dm, I have to respect you a lot, or have a thing for you (perhaps I'm in love with you) before I respond.
It is often mistaken for pride, but in all honestly, I believe it’s laziness, and my inclination to getting bored easily. Hear me out. I am not a fan of small talks, unfortunately, not everybody understands that, and I don’t blame them or try to explain myself (except you are worth the explanation)
I also avoid social media because I understand how addicting it can be, I do not ever want to get to that point. It is quite irritating to watch in other people.
In addition, though there are a lot of motivating contents on the internet,on the other hand, there are a lot of fake lifestyle, fake news, false projections, oppressions, e.t.c that can directly or indirectly affect us and our beliefs.
And because I am an anxious person, these elements are things I can live without to ease myself of unnecessary thoughts. I should also add that most of these activities puts off the realist in me (I don't know how best to explain that).
Is there any disadvantage to this?
Of course there is! I suck at communication,networking, and I am not exaggerating, even virtual interactions (If it’s not physical, it didn’t happen).
People bore me easily (not everybody though). I have met really interesting people.
I am quite sure there are other disadvantages, but this right here is the only one that sort of bothers me. I am fine with every other disadvantage.
Is there anything I want to do differently?
Honestly?? For now? I am good!
So, what do I do in my free time?
There is barely free time for me because , there is school, in between academic activities, there is career and personal development.
Free time?
Yeah... I code, pick up a book (definitely not self help), sometimes binge watch a new series (I know this sounds boring ÅF, but I swear it's quite fun 😀😂)
In conclusion
I can't say if social media has done more harm than good, or otherwise. In all honesty, to me, it proves the yin-yang theory.
What is your social media life like?
Are you worse than I am or you are a better person?
Did you ever become addicted to any social media platform?
How did you fight through? Or you are still stuck?
Tell me all about it.
Thanks for reading.