A good few years ago now, I deleted Facebook. When musky bought out Twitter, I deleted that too.
I've never used Snapchat or TikTok or any other so-called 'social' media, except Instagram.
Instagram,
when it started, was right up my street. I'm pretty sure I got it not
long after its original launch, and though over the years I've deleted my
account and remade another at least twice, I always kept going back
because photos are my thing. That was until recently, when something
clicked in my head, and I had to leave there too.
I've not posted
photos of people, including myself, online for years and stopped
sharing my pets too. A few months ago I began going through my
'activity' and deleting old likes, comments and re-shares. Then a month
or two ago I deleted all of my photos and videos that had been posted
before 2026. (Who is even looking at a back catalogue of images from a
stranger?!)
Finally, on the first of August, I deleted everything
and put up one post saying I was leaving and why. However, there wasn't
enough space to write the words I really wanted, and after having more
comments on a post than I've had on anything for years, I wanted to
elaborate in a blog post.
This might be difficult to put into
words coherently, so it will be more of a stream of consciousness that I
hope you'll humour.
---
Firstly, social media is a stupid term because the human race has never
been less social than we are now in the digital age. There is nothing
social about it, and recently, with the increase in rage bait, hatred,
meta glasses, posting your every move and thought online, it has become a
cesspool of the worst of humanity. Don't get me wrong, we get to see
the best of it too, and I'm well aware of the good people doing good
things; however, much of it feels fake and forced and money chasing.
When is doing a good deed no longer a good thing? When you are filming
it specifically to post online, be it for the attention and praise or for
monetary gain.
It's a great tool to get information out there and
spread the word of causes that you believe in, but there is no
regulation, so
how do you know what information is correct versus what is
fear-mongering or hate-inciting? That is becoming more and more
difficult to decipher. I
can't believe I've gotten this far without mentioning the dreaded
two-letter terror that is taking over our world. I fear everything it is
causing, from loss of jobs and an increase in deep fakes, to the data
centres and political, societal and safety implications. So much so, in
fact, that I don't even want to write those two letters and draw robotic
eyes to my last safe space on the internet.
It's a scary,
depressing and heartbreaking time we're in, full of war, the rise of
right and our beautiful planet's sixth mass extinction. Yes, we need to
be aware of what is going on in the world and proactive to stand up for
those who need us, but it's a difficult balance before you fall
headfirst down a well of despair and have to claw your way back out.
That's
exactly what has happened to me, and as someone, like everyone, who has
my own overwhelming life issues, it's all become too much. There has to
be a point where we realise the online world is making us ill, and we
have to know when to say enough is enough.
I live in a household
that cares deeply about our natural world and prioritises it in many
aspects of our lives. We do things that many people don't think about or
even care about, but I think and care, and it matters to me. It seems
everyone has the mentality that while our governments and those silly
little men in power don't care and aren't doing anything to save our
planet, we shouldn't worry about it either. However, in the same breath,
those sceptics will always say that we insignificant lot 'make a
difference' too. So which is it? I believe that every single choice we
make, no matter how small, causes an effect. I was told 'an Instagram
post is insignificant ', but I disagree. Not only does every post
contribute to the need for data storage and therefore data centres, but
it also risks my photos being taken and used by others or stolen
to train those two letters. I have had my photos taken and reposted by
others, and for you that may not seem like a big deal, but as someone who
puts so much of my limited time and energy into my work, it is a big
deal for me. We are losing the rights to our own work. My photos are
nothing compared to the authors and artists and people whose livelihood
is being damaged in similar ways, though.
While talking of that, I must
also mention the fact that it now seems a requirement for any
independent business to play the social media game to be seen or
considered. As a species we've become so removed not only from the
natural world that sustains us, but the communities and relationships
that have formed the basis of humanity for millennia. You'd rather save a
pound or two by buying from billionaires than support a fellow person
working hard to make a living. You'd rather hoard masses of disposable
tat than treasure a small amount of quality items. You'd rather save 10
minutes by going straight to the big name imprinted on your brain, than
go out of your way to seek out the indie gems.
I choose to do
everything in my power to limit my impact on Mother Nature. My acts may
be less than a drop in the ocean to you, but to me it is something I can
control, and if we all had that mindset, those 'less than drops' could
merge to make a ripple.
People seem to think that by me saying I
choose to act in certain ways (be it veganism, limiting my digital
footprint or anything else in-between) means that I am judging them for
not feeling or acting the same way, which simply isn't the case. For
goodness sake, I have a tattoo across my chest that says 'Believe in What
You Want ', and although yes, it is taken from a Jimmy Eat World song, it
doesn't make the sentiment any less true. I personally believe that I
should live my life in a way that aligns with my morals. So I am.
There
is more to say, there always is, but I'm aware our species has limited
attention spans these days, and I doubt you've even read this far.
In
conclusion, I just want to reiterate that I have made such a tiny choice
that affects no one else but at least makes me feel like I have some
control over an uncontrollable situation. I took up space for no reason.
I had a minute following where my photos amassed a maximum of 15 likes.
My voice was an echo in an empty tunnel. No matter what I have shared,
no matter how much I've pleaded, I have had no positive impact on
helping my planet, and I never will.
I know when to stop.
