The Social Dilemma

How I am navigating around an ever-increasing weariness felt towards my time on social media

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As some of you might remember, back in my college days I was obsessed with Steve Jobs (and Apple) and used to write a fairly popular blog about Apple and technology called "All Things Apple". A lot has changed since then both in my own life but also in the technology landscape. There have been huge strides in technology that have improved our lives in unimaginable ways from cleaner energy and mobility to the various applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

That being said, technology (specifically social media) has also had a negative impact on our lives. For starters, it has eroded our attention span - habituating us to bite-sized versions of information and art. Our attention span has been gamified to be restricted to 30-second snippets of everything whether it be information, art, or even personal updates. It has also made us superficial and homogenous - with the algorithm (and by consequence all of us) prioritizing content that is trend-based and surface-level in order to be popular with the masses rather than a deep dive.

These pros and cons in mind, it is tempting to take a polarized stance on social media. To be either for or against technology and social media as well as the role they play in our lives. To either be for using it or against it. As a creative however, I see both sides and hold a slightly nuanced stance on the role of social media.

On one hand, I agree that there's definitely been a enshittification of technology. What might come as a surprise to most of you - I am a fairly private person. If I could get away with it, I would prefer to simply be creative and not have to deal with the social media stuff. However, to completely give it up would be extreme because it has been the source of inspiration, connection, support, and encouragement over the years.

So what can one do? What has made sense to me is to approach my time on social media with greater consideration and mindfulness (both as a consumer and a creator). I have been doing this in three main ways:

1. Being intentional about why and what I consume and share on social media

2. Taking routine breaks from social media

3. Prioritizing real life over the reel life

   
   

Intent plays a big role in how I live my life and so naturally it impacts my time on social media. Although it is easy to forget, I try to remind myself of the intent behind my use of social media. How it helps me discover meaningful and inspirational stuff. How it helps me stay connected with those I know and connect with new ones. How it helps my work reach different corners of the world. I try to be curative about my feed and often unfollow or mute accounts that I do not vibe with.

It has also been helpful to take routine breaks from social media to reflect on what works for me versus what doesn't. For instance, such breaks made me realize I wanted to reduce my time on social media (both consuming and posting). I've been using Apple's Screen Time feature to stay on top of things and have used it to set and adhere to limits with my time on social media.

The breaks have also taught me that as much as I appreciate connecting through tech and social media, I still prefer real life and other platforms to make connections and share my work. So the goal with my music and creative work in general is to prioritize taking my work on the road - this means more gigs but also bringing up what I do more when I meet people in real life. It also means prioritizing my Patreon page and website when sharing my work. As for consuming information, newsletters, magazines, and books are increasingly being prioritized over reliance on social media for discoverability.

As I've taken breaks from social media and approached it more mindfully, I have been able to redefine my relationship with it. My time on it feels less compulsive. It feels lighter. I'm once again finding myself inspired and connected each time I use it.