The "I deleted my [Facebook, Twitter, Medium, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok] account and this is why" is a genre in itself. They rarely say anything new.
Social media is a waste of time, the news feed is enraging, people put on a fake perfect persona, FOMO, insecurity, inauthentic connection, signaling, controversy, drama, dopamine, addiction. Unplug yourself, use analog tools, read books, have real life fun and deep bonding with your partner, friends and family etc.
It's all true, but we've heard it countless times and read it in the lifestyle columns of magazines all the time.
Indeed I think this is the next generation of self promotion and branding. You are above the plebs and the uniform little boxes that people package themselves into. You cannot be represented as a row in a database table, you are unique and special, you think outside the box, you go your own way, know what you want, think critically and independently and can refuse lowly temptations. You are not under the powers of the corporate machine. You delete your social media.
>"Indeed I think this is the next generation of self promotion and branding"
I'm unsure if this is meant to be sarcasm. Do you actually believe the next generation of self-promotion will be offline, in-person as kind of a reform movement or backlash? The optimistic side of frequently likes to entertain this idea but my cynical side thinks the dopamine addiction is only getting stronger. That cynical view is mostly informed by observations of the number of folks I see on sidewalks staring and scrolling at their phones as they walk.
No I mean just promoting on other platforms that you are outside the cookie cutter stuff and you do your own thing. Regardless of OP, whom I don't know, there is a recurring pattern of people announcing leaving various platforms but still reach to other platforms and with a performative contradiction try to get widespread social validation for the radical idea of not needing social validation.
It was also typical in the 90s, when people always announced that they are now really really done with a forum, ragequit and then kept coming back.
The point is, HN likes this type of posts because it's contrarian and quirky. Tons of people don't use linkedin or just have a crude profile and never log in.
Reminds me of those people who swear off meat to reduce animal suffering, or people who swear off junk food in order to live healthier—it's all just a cynical ruse to feel superior.
Social media is a waste of time, the news feed is enraging, people put on a fake perfect persona, FOMO, insecurity, inauthentic connection, signaling, controversy, drama, dopamine, addiction. Unplug yourself, use analog tools, read books, have real life fun and deep bonding with your partner, friends and family etc.
It's all true, but we've heard it countless times and read it in the lifestyle columns of magazines all the time.
Indeed I think this is the next generation of self promotion and branding. You are above the plebs and the uniform little boxes that people package themselves into. You cannot be represented as a row in a database table, you are unique and special, you think outside the box, you go your own way, know what you want, think critically and independently and can refuse lowly temptations. You are not under the powers of the corporate machine. You delete your social media.