The Social Sludge
As anyone in today’s day and age would do, when they need an outside opinion on something, they would turn to the Internet for help.
Over the long holiday weekend, I decided to turn to the internet for advice on a character that I was developing for a new novel that I had been working on for about a decade. I had been hesitant to do so for a while but I thought ‘new year, new me’ and to see what could happen. This was my first ever post in the specific section on this side of the Internet. I knew that the character I posted about would be viewed as problematic, but again, it’s a work in progress - especially after this incident, this character will be heavily modified. But, like other people who look for answers in these types of places, I wanted at least one piece of constructive criticism that I could pull from and use to rework my character to be better.
Not only was I met with hardly any helpful advice, but just harsh words with no intellectual lead or guide to improvement.
Since the rise of the computer age, the Internet, social media specifically, should have gotten past its teenage years and progressed into its adolescent years by now. You would think that by now the same rules online should reflect those of the real world. Yet here we are in 2024, where social media has become a virtual battlefield. I know that there won’t be a one-way quick fix for this issue, but I feel as if I can give some guidance on how to avoid the poison seeping into your psyche. At the end of the day, we have to remember that the Internet, is not the real world - it is only a mirror to show us the world and what is happening throughout.
Because of my job, I have to keep some social media and I do not have the luxury of completely taking a clean break. However,
Separate the Sludge
We have all heard of the “Facebook cleanse” where around the new year, or at some random peak in a person’s life, they decide to go through their friends list and unfriend those who are either no longer prevalent in their lives or are classified to them as “toxic”. I cannot speak on behalf of those folks who do get the axe from their friends list, but if you want to have your own cleanse, think about your boundaries and consider what or who you need in your life. Consider who has been a constant in your life, or likewise, who has ghosted you. Unless you have a special connection with your connections, it’s time to clean your friends list. Additionally, a cleanse doesn’t mean you can’t add new friends; if they are a significant part of your life, be sure to keep them in your circle.
Engage in Healthy Hobbies
There is life outside of our computer screens, our phones and our televisions. Since New Years just passed, maybe this can be an opportunity to prioritize your time to that new baking hobby that you have been trying to start. Cut down on time, maybe even set a schedule for your social media hour and then commit other hours to other engaging hobbies.
Take a Break (or Make a Break) from Socials
It’s January, and the year has barely started. Maybe now is the perfect time to commit to your New Year resolutions of taking a break from social media to pursue other interests or just to improve your mental health. Or if you want a complete severance, log out for the last time. Delete your accounts and enjoy your newfound freedoms. It will always be there when you want to come back.
Time Yourself Out
Sometimes the best thing you can do is take a step back. Unlike the complete sever from socials, taking a step back, even for like 15 minutes daily, can help keep your mind engaged with the world around you. Sure we might want to browse through Twitter (X) for our daily news or TikTok for your constant content fix, but taking time out and focusing on life and addressing your everyday work and timeline will help reset your mindset and improve your every day quality of life.
The Golden Rule
If you are unable to leave social media, whether it’s part of your job or if you are not ready to pull away, if you do decide to post, anything and everything, consider the golden rule - treat others the way you want to be treated. whether it be through your own posts, statuses, tweets, or comments on any other type of content, please show respect to others as they would for you. If you think that your post is going to cause a firestorm, consider that before hitting “Share”.
“Being famous on Instagram is basically the same thing as being rich on Monopoly.”
In conclusion, social media is not the end all, be all, that we as a society have come to identify it as. We have to remember that there is a life outside of the social spectrum.
What are you waiting for? Take a step back from the screen and step out into life. Enjoy it :)
