About two weeks ago I "unfriended" and unfollowed several people and pages on Facebook. I don't spend more than 5 minutes a day there now because I can't take it. I've never had Instagram, am adamant about avoiding TikTok and I only accidentally started a YouTube channel when I went there to follow someone who does a podcast here on Substack that I like. I'm on LinkedIn more out of obligation (responsible, professional adults should be, shouldn't they?!)...
But the exchange you began this post with was perfect validation for my decision to cut ties with a lot of people on Facebook. The manner in which the woman you were confronted with "engaged" with you is a direct reflection of how I've seen "friends" there behaving and I find it atrocious.
Smart moves on your part, and so much of that behaviour is atrocious. I should've pointed out, perhaps, that I feel I have a healthy social media attitude - meaning, I spend little time there, and 90% of my time is on Substack, which as we all know, is ALWAYS time well spent!
I do feel like it's a necessary evil - such a harsh way of putting it, I know - if I want to make a living writing/teaching. We hear so much about multiple income streams and as an unemployed layabout (I checked with Berlitz, btw, no openings in Vienna at the moment), I'm thinking of ways to make this viable. I really have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm willing to give it a try. I can hardly believe I've started a TikTok, but there is a decent-sized language learning audience there (judging from the numbers of followers other language teachers have).
LinkedIn? I'm struggling to figure out how that place works, but then again, I'd hardly call myself responsible or professional! 🤣
I completely understand that it's necessary if you're looking to earn without being tied to an employer. Using it professionally is absolutely fine. It's the people that dwell and lurk there, picking fights, slinging insults, looking for any excuse to tear others down or (on the "flip side" as young people say), spend their days presenting their friends/followers with perfectly illustrated (orchestrated?!) updates on their perfectly polished lives on an hourly basis - I find both very annoying. I'm aware there's almost no way around it as a creative or someone wanting to establish independent income streams...
Most of the people on LinkedIn are not that responsible or professional either, but being there makes them appear that way 😁
Substack is the first social media I have allowed myself to communicate on in years. I removed myself from oter platforms to lessen the toxicity I see/deal with. The interactions displayed here reinforce my decision.
I am embarrassed to admit that I did not have much to do with politics until I turned 30, I just had no interest in it. That being said, I knew that I was not educated in any political topic, so I would keep any thoughts I had to myself when I was around a political conversation. That is something not many people are able to do. I see all too often people who shout out misinformation as facts because they do not research a topic before forming their opinion. I think that is the reason it is so difficult to have a political conversation when people have differing opinions.
Sorry for my short rant there... and sorry you had to deal with such idiocracy on social media, goes to show that 'common sense' is not very common these days.
No need to apologise for your rant, Cara, I always appreciate a good rant, and thanks for sharing your thoughts. I should've pointed out in my post that overall I have a healthy relationship with social media. Almost all my time is on Substack, which is such a pleasant place (and may it continue to be so).
Nothing embarrassing about admitting your lack of political engagement. It reminds me of a quotation, and I'm afraid I forget who said it: "It's no easy to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." All of these people spouting their opinions on FB and elsewhere should be adhering to that approach.
It was really just the news with Ukraine that prompted me to get involved. I hit that breaking point but it's not something I'll be repeating. I've written before about my dilemma - a lot of my readers/followers and potential audience is still active on FB, IG and TikTok and so it's really about doing the bare minimum there to attract people. Let's see how long it lasts. I know people say you need to engage on other platforms and it's a two-way thing, but I'm hoping to share my stuff, do my thing over there and hope I gain some followers.
About two weeks ago I "unfriended" and unfollowed several people and pages on Facebook. I don't spend more than 5 minutes a day there now because I can't take it. I've never had Instagram, am adamant about avoiding TikTok and I only accidentally started a YouTube channel when I went there to follow someone who does a podcast here on Substack that I like. I'm on LinkedIn more out of obligation (responsible, professional adults should be, shouldn't they?!)...
But the exchange you began this post with was perfect validation for my decision to cut ties with a lot of people on Facebook. The manner in which the woman you were confronted with "engaged" with you is a direct reflection of how I've seen "friends" there behaving and I find it atrocious.
Smart moves on your part, and so much of that behaviour is atrocious. I should've pointed out, perhaps, that I feel I have a healthy social media attitude - meaning, I spend little time there, and 90% of my time is on Substack, which as we all know, is ALWAYS time well spent!
I do feel like it's a necessary evil - such a harsh way of putting it, I know - if I want to make a living writing/teaching. We hear so much about multiple income streams and as an unemployed layabout (I checked with Berlitz, btw, no openings in Vienna at the moment), I'm thinking of ways to make this viable. I really have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm willing to give it a try. I can hardly believe I've started a TikTok, but there is a decent-sized language learning audience there (judging from the numbers of followers other language teachers have).
LinkedIn? I'm struggling to figure out how that place works, but then again, I'd hardly call myself responsible or professional! 🤣
I completely understand that it's necessary if you're looking to earn without being tied to an employer. Using it professionally is absolutely fine. It's the people that dwell and lurk there, picking fights, slinging insults, looking for any excuse to tear others down or (on the "flip side" as young people say), spend their days presenting their friends/followers with perfectly illustrated (orchestrated?!) updates on their perfectly polished lives on an hourly basis - I find both very annoying. I'm aware there's almost no way around it as a creative or someone wanting to establish independent income streams...
Most of the people on LinkedIn are not that responsible or professional either, but being there makes them appear that way 😁
I escaped FB and am enjoying my freedom.
It’s amazing to me how stupid & aggressive those types of commentators are. It’s almost like the have a leader that acts that way 😬
I first saw STFU in the late 80s . It was a notice trying to persuade the punters at the Jazz Cafe to keep the noise down and listen to the musicians.
Wow, I'm really behind on the times then. How have I missed that all these years?
Substack is the first social media I have allowed myself to communicate on in years. I removed myself from oter platforms to lessen the toxicity I see/deal with. The interactions displayed here reinforce my decision.
I am embarrassed to admit that I did not have much to do with politics until I turned 30, I just had no interest in it. That being said, I knew that I was not educated in any political topic, so I would keep any thoughts I had to myself when I was around a political conversation. That is something not many people are able to do. I see all too often people who shout out misinformation as facts because they do not research a topic before forming their opinion. I think that is the reason it is so difficult to have a political conversation when people have differing opinions.
Sorry for my short rant there... and sorry you had to deal with such idiocracy on social media, goes to show that 'common sense' is not very common these days.
No need to apologise for your rant, Cara, I always appreciate a good rant, and thanks for sharing your thoughts. I should've pointed out in my post that overall I have a healthy relationship with social media. Almost all my time is on Substack, which is such a pleasant place (and may it continue to be so).
Nothing embarrassing about admitting your lack of political engagement. It reminds me of a quotation, and I'm afraid I forget who said it: "It's no easy to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." All of these people spouting their opinions on FB and elsewhere should be adhering to that approach.
It was really just the news with Ukraine that prompted me to get involved. I hit that breaking point but it's not something I'll be repeating. I've written before about my dilemma - a lot of my readers/followers and potential audience is still active on FB, IG and TikTok and so it's really about doing the bare minimum there to attract people. Let's see how long it lasts. I know people say you need to engage on other platforms and it's a two-way thing, but I'm hoping to share my stuff, do my thing over there and hope I gain some followers.
Thank you for reading and your insights ☺️
I hope you’ll keep doing updates on your tiktok journey, I am genuinely extremely interested in seeing how you decide to navigate it
If you are looking for inspiration re: YouTube content, I recommend this:
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCV2tPNB5c4X36u5GaedDh4A
As usual, you are nothing but a tremendous help.
Okay, so I will start my own channel with images of me lying in the grass looking cute. I'm sure it'll reel people in.