I was without web access for about a week. This put me in a introspective mood and I made some observations and realizations. Not the most insightful of realizations I should warn, but maybe this post can help someone out there.
Since a big chunk of my daily routine is dedicated to browsing the web, I had to do other things to entertain myself. I had to is probably the wrong word. It was more I opted to because apart from chores, they were things I actually wanted to do. It wasn’t like I was forced to do them. This isn’t exactly about how the web has made me procrastinate, because it has done that too, but more about how social media makes you unaware of how it’s distracting you.
I didn’t actually accomplish life changing goals either, but what I did was finished doing something. I haven’t felt that sense of completion in a long time. Some were chores, but others we’re just entertaining activities like watching TV, reading books and magazines, and playing Brain Age. (My youngest score is 23 years old.) The difference, in contrast to the web, was that I accomplished the purpose.
Lets not fool ourselves. The web is mostly for entertainment. (Or, The Internet is for Porn) Everyone supposedly knows this, but pinpointing the distraction is actually harder than people are aware of.
When you read a book, watch tv, or consume other type of media, you do it for a purpose. Most of the time the purpose is to entertain yourself. But on the web, specially on so called social media like Twitter, the purpose is constantly being challenged and shifted. It’s a two way, or asynchronous conversation as it has been proselytized, but you still have to manage that expectation. To listen or to talk, to participate or to follow, to write or to read. This is theoretically great, but you will never have that sense of completion I was talking about. It’s an open loop that never closes in your head.
That’s one of the biggest reasons why I’m quitting social media services like Twitter and Tumblr. I just can’t do it anymore. I realized that at best social media is entertainment disguised as “useful” information or crowdsourced “knowledge”, and at worst is distraction disguised as entertainment. The later being most of my experience with social networking sites, specially Twitter. See, when you watch Television to kill time and distract yourself because you’re bored, it is easier to realize it. Most TV junkies are aware that they are TV junkies. But the web is constantly shifting your attention and it makes it harder to realize that you’re distracting yourself.
There’s a relationship between entertainment and distraction, but you don’t have to be bored to be entertained. That makes sense? If you’re bored and watching TV for example, your option is channel surfing and you can only do that for so long. Online, you have a variety of options, but the “catch” is that it seems entertaining. It’s hard to be aware because it’s hard to close the loop of the purpose. Whatever the purpose may be, be it for entertainment reasons, keeping up with news, or whatever, the free for all of social media will keep you in a constant state of neurotic arousal all day.
I’m aware that this is all debatable and there are a million reasons people can point out why I’m wrong and missing out on the “revolution”, but I think the web has many ways to connect with people without using social media. I’m not quitting being social, but I’m cutting out the social from the media. It’s less crazy that way and something I can handle. I’m quitting unclear expectations and relationships and I don’t want to be all day trying to figure out and tolerating the random moods of people.
There are people that I’m sure that have a more clear purpose for using social media and stick to it. But for most of us, social media is either an illusion of an audience or an illusion of friends.
I suspended my Facebook account very happily for months. Then I decided to get on with putting work into my annual tax returns … and halfway through find myself procrastinating with a reactivated Facebook session … Thanks for your post!
I had to write a post in response, which is rare for me these days.
[...] Jay Cruz, a Broadcasting Brain reader and a great blogger in his own right (see Tape Noise Diary), has written a thoughtful and insightful post about why he is drastically scaling back his social media participation in Why I’m Quitting Social Media. [...]
I agree that social media does bring a lot of noise, but if you are patient, you can filter out all that noise.
On twitter, I can choose who to follow, based on what they are talking about.
Twitter search allows me to find the info/perspectives for events happening right now, not what major networks think I want to hear!
I hate that with my cable, I am fed that same information, in same format on the same channels (bar HBO, Discover, Equator … types)!
[...] Read the original here: Why I'm Quitting Social Media « Tape Noise Diary [...]
[...] Read more here: Why I'm Quitting Social Media « Tape Noise Diary [...]
[...] Read the original: Why I'm Quitting Social Media « Tape Noise Diary [...]
[...] View original here: Why I'm Quitting Social Medi&#… [...]
Sadly maybe it’s a slap in the face, reality does that, it’s the price we all pay for relying on technology, for now stay connected, we’re social loving creatures.
Yeah the web is full of porn and the like…there is also an over abundance of really interesting info contributed by kind and caring people.
May I suggest planning your online activities, you don’t have to get sucked into spending countless hours
doing stuff.
Use your time productivily and make use of this medium wisely, it may not be around forever so go to the places and people that give you the most benefit.
Cheers
John
[...] Why I’m Quitting Social MediaJune 6, 2009 [...]
This is, by far, the most insightful post about social media I have ever read.
You’ve given me a LOT to think about.
Please don’t stop blogging.
You may have found it “Insightful”, me, not so much, but neither of us will have to debate this in the future because he’s leaving Social Media, which includes this blog.
See you Jay! I respect your decision.
Might have been nice to converse.
We’ll never know.
Peace.
I missed the part where he said he’s leaving this blog. He said he’s leaving Tumblr, but this is WordPress.com!
[...] This post was Twitted by ctcash – Real-url.org [...]
Great post.
I know the feeling but in a bit of a different way.
I lost my cellphone and didn’t bother to replace it for about one month (I have a landline at my home) It was, to put it mildly, wonderful. I realized I didn’t need to be on my phone nearly as much as I had been. And I didn’t have to be so ‘accessible’ to everyone. I carried a back up phone that only my family and two or three very close friends used to reach me.
What I have found is now that I have a new phone I still get far less calls as I haven’t let ‘everyone’ know that I am finally ‘accessible’ again.
Cut the cord, people. We don’t need all this connectedness! (And don’t even get me started on the people with the earpieces at the grocery store and at the movies…GEEZ)
I think you may have stumbled on a key point: having a family. I’m a single guy in an apartment with no family nearby, so if I don’t have my phone or social media to get in touch with people, I simply don’t have anyone to talk to. Have you tried talking to strangers lately? Most people refuse to have an unanticipated conversation with a stranger (or at least, unanticipated conversation with me).
I don’t take issue, I just want to remind people not to judge anyone for using social media instead of spending time playing board games with a family they don’t have.
I don’t have a problem with social media. Then again, I do look at it as entertainment with a bit of connecting and learning thrown in.
Seems to me that it gets out of control when everyone starts to take it too seriously and we get into the “social media changes everything” routine.
For some organizations SM can be a useful marketing tool – just one of many and smart marketers will continue to use all their tools in a sensible balance.
Like Jason says, please do keep blogging. It is nice to read thought provoking articles like this.
But for most of us, social media is either an illusion of an audience or an illusion of friends.
So very true. Something a lot of the New To Social Media folk haven’t realized yet.
While I agree with the perceived lack of completion from engaging in social media (on the large scale), I feel that same construct can be applied to off-line activities. I go to work each weekday because there remains more work to to be done. True, the workplace does provide completion milestones, finished a report, ended a meeting etc., the same milestones can be found via social media. Pose a question a Twitter, receive feedback or recommendations and that chapter ends and new one can begin.
It’s not the avenue of engagement, it’s managing one’s self and setting an expectation.
Jay,
To me, insight is being aware of something you weren’t aware of before, in a way that you can no longer ignore. So only you can judge that.
I resisted being on Twitter for months, but I ended up realizing that I can use it how I want to, regardless of what everyone else is doing.
What I’ve been thinking lately (and I’m very new to Twitter) is that it’s really like a giant Instant Messaging platform, where you have the potential to exchange with total strangers.
So far, I am OK with it. I go on when I have something to say and limit my time on it. But I am keeping a watchful eye on myself – if it becomes a time sink, I will either self-regulate or quit,and not look back.
Good luck and thank you for sharing your insights.
Claudine
This is something I’ve never really thought of since I started using the internet. I think I have been slave to tall these technology nonsense that I have lost sight on what really matters.
The only sensible thing I’ve done in the last 7 months has been closing my facebook account.
I think it was time I discovered my inner tortoise and learn to be less reliant on computers and social media.
Thanks for this blog post.
-
Cillia Johnson
http//www.jroller.com/evans
Thanks to all for all the thoughtful comments! You guys are giving me a lot think about. I think the words “social media” have a lot of ambiguous definitions and saying that your going to quit it implies that you’re somehow disappearing from the face of the internet. But that’s another topic for a blog post.
Like I wrote to Mark Dykeman over at Broadcastingbrain.com, I’m not going to quit this blog. Sure, a blog can be used as another social media tool, but I’m definitely out of the following/followed thing.
[...] I know, don’t know, and know I don’t know about tomorrow’s WWDC announcements.” Why I’m Quitting Social Media Tape Noise Diary Jay Cruz has had enough and is taking his marbles and going home. Jason Falls of [...]
Great post and who hasn’t felt a twinge of guilt after spending a full day surfing (wasted) As in all things, moderation is the key, if you can find that happy medium! I don’t think you have to sacrifice anything you enjoy. Best wishes – glad you will continue blogging.
[...] This post was Twitted by MiaCucina – Real-url.org [...]
I had a similar experience at a tradeshow last week where I didn’t have the time to even turn on my laptop. Sure, I had my BlackBerry, but I was isolated to this event and to socializing with people face to face. I felt a certain pleasure in that. I’m still trying to find my way around social networks in terms of how, when and what to prioritize. However, I think it may be extreme to just walk away from them. There is value, you just have to find your place in it all and that takes patience and time. Wish you wouldn’t give up so soon.
hmmm. not sure i entirely agree here. i don’t think “social media” was ever intended to create “friendships” and “meaningful relationships”; that’s the work “people” do with each other.
instead, i think social media was meant to create opportunities for people to connect, communicate, share ideas and from there, determine whether or not those connections, communication and shared ideas were the basis for developing something more meaningful.
maybe if we look at it from that perspective, jason; you won’t have to quit social media and we won’t miss out on the opportunity TO create “real” and “lasting” relationships with folks like you.
as far as people and random moods? well, heck…i can get that in my car, in the grocery store or at the gym. that’s just “life”. the internet is no different. only know; we’re spending considerably more of our day “living” on it.
hope this helps, jason
I was finishing up a post stimulated by an excellent article by @jonathanfields on Career Renegade, which I discovered when he tweeted about it earlier today, when I spotted the tweet from @JasonFalls about this post. So, instead of finishing what I was doing, I popped over here and read your thoughtful piece. I’m making your point, but wait, there’s more.
Is Social Media entertainment or information or exactly what? What it is, is young. It’s still finding its way and this will take time. Probably less time than other “new” media took but it will take time.
For example, marketers are still figuring out online advertising. Consumers online exceed newspaper readers and radio listeners combined but, for most marketers, online marketing represents less than 10% of their activity. And online advertising has been around for 10+ years.
Stepping away may well be the best choice for you but it won’t stop the evolution of this new media channel. I don’t pretend to have the answer but I am and will be fascinated by the process. I plan to stay engaged.
Thanks for another view of social media and the human condition. From my perspective, your involvement in social media took on a much more consuming aspect than some of us, but your points are valid ones.
I’ve been technically involved in computers and software for over 30 years and watched a lot of evolution. Social media is the new wave as James pointed out and there are a lot of aspects beyond following/followed with random acquaintences. I got inolved because of @ktvan (www.socialmedialand.net) and I participate in a number of them. She has some great articles about the various other aspects of social media far beyond the entertainment aspects. The people I follow are interesting and I learn a lot from them and blogs (like this one)and other social media outlets. However, I find it easy to ignore a lot of superfluous things and overlook the mundane. Very little of what I do on social media has to do with entertainment.
I think the tools to participate in social media are starting to get more interesting and that has a huge impact on letting users get hold of the various aspects of social media.
Just like TV, you can bypass the commercials and some shows on a channel, but pay attention to others. Unlike TV, social media is more reflective of life that does not have quick resolutions and continually changes and evolves over a long period of time.
I think all of us can learn a little from your post and the need to gauge ourselves on separating the wheat from the chaff. Everything in moderation.
Terrific post. Particularly when you consider the fact that 90% of the Twitter posts are from 10% of the users.
This suggests that Twitter isn’t about keeping in touch in two way exchanges (you know, a relationship?). It seems to be a way to at best broadcast personal PR and at worst communicate personal events or opinions very few care about.
Present company excepted of course.
[...] This post was Twitted by TimothyCarter – Real-url.org [...]
[...] absence from the web as a whole before Jay Cruz realized this tipping point had been reached but he was good enough to share his reasons why in a post. That’s one of the biggest reasons why I’m quitting social media services like Twitter and [...]
I totally agree, don’t quit though.
[...] me to consider Twitter and social media in a light that I haven’t quite done before called Why I’m Quitting Social Media: I realized that at best social media is entertainment disguised as “useful” information or [...]
The reasons you state, unfortunately, rang a bell in my head. I gave up TV, basically, for the same reasons. I still watch sporting events, election results, and I will follow an important news event. However, I watch no “regular” tv programs. I think you have convinced me to give up my Facebook account which I just used for fun with family and friends. Twitter, however, gives me so much information (professionally) that I will continue to monitor it and grow my PLN.
Social Media is like anything else: you get out of it what you put into it. You CAN use it to develop deep friendships or exceptional working relationships if you choose to do that.
Twitter can be one of the very best ways to interact with the extremely busy, brilliant folks who are hard to contact any other way. In doing so they can learn who you are and find out why they may want to know you better.
You CAN use it to research towards a specific goal and then write up those results in your blog. Or to drive traffic from those most interested (using a niche-specific or geo-targeted account) to what you write.
Even if an individual decides Social Networking is not for them personally they may not want to burn the bridge. Staying in touch with someone who is very active online and letting them send your work traffic could be a solution for many.
There is a new realization that social media is actually wasting a lot of valuable time of a lot of people. Several reasons for this is :
1. Boredom
2. Porn [as you rightly pointed out]
3. Instant Gratification [Susan Boyle has done it and she is on Twitter so I MUST be on as well]
4. Easy access to web [medium] where you can blog and pay some search engine to sponsor your link [which you could not do in newspaper age]
.. and more reasons I am not aware of.
This is a nutshell is what I believe will spur a large number of people turning away from social media sites like Twitter but will still keep their LinkedIn, Ecademy, Xing account live as here they meet people who are not that ‘Active’ always.
JM2C
Arup
[...] not too psyched of living in a world were everything is socialized media. I state one big reason here. Sure, the paradigm shift that’s happening with publishing and broadcasting is very [...]
[...] example, here the author proclaims that he’s quitting social media and gives his reasons why. But he also states he’ll continue to blog, by [...]
In my opinion, you are grossly wrong about Social Media being disguised entertainment… it was not the expected experience probably because, you were at the social media avenues for the wrong reasons.
Ask yourself, why were you on twitter (or on any other social media)? What did you want to achieve from it? Why did you fail to do it? (failure as in, finding it a waste of time). That might give some answers.
I see it around me a lot, people getting distracted on the social media, but blame the medium at the end.
If you switch a channel while watching a tv show, and don’t return back to the original show, was the TV responsible for your distraction and wastage? I guess not.
just my two cents. peace
[...] example, here the author proclaims that he’s quitting social media and gives his reasons why. But he also states he’ll continue to blog, by [...]
[...] example, here the author proclaims that he’s quitting social media and gives his reasons why. But he also states he’ll continue to blog, by [...]
So…use social media to meet people. Duh. Why does it have to be all or nothing? Perhaps you shouldn’t treat social media like WoW.
This blog is social media.
Social media is only a distraction if you allow it to be, like anything. You can’t blame social media for taking up your time.
You said it yourself, you chose to do something different and got some stuff done. You can always choose to do whatever you want whether your internet connection works or not.
Personally I think social networking and social media are just like anything else. They are just something to either engage in or not, but I do agree that 99% of it is just noise and irrelevance, whether you can filter it or not…
You are, of course, absolutely correct. We are all conned into thinking that we need all this crap. Real life is better. I have been thinking about doing the same thing for ages now, you just confirmed my belief. I thank you
[...] a post over at Copyblogger that asks Since When Are Blogs Not Social Media?. It linked to my post Why I’m Quitting Social Media as example of an author confused with the term. While I don’t agree about the being confused [...]
[...] example, here the author proclaims that he’s quitting social media and gives his reasons why. But he also states he’ll continue to blog, by [...]
Like everything else in life balance and moderation is key.
Think of Social Media as a tool that can be entertaining rather than straight entertainment and it’s easier to manage.
[...] W09) Turns Your iPhone Into A Virtual Wand Today Was The Last Day of Sun Microsystems Simplenote Why I’m Quitting Social Media Scalable Web Architectures and Application State Java Hack: Double Brace Initialization iPhone [...]
Wow! As a big proponent of social media for business this post really made me think. I admit I do probably spend some of my time “channel surfing” on the internet. I do however spend most of my type being productive and having a purpose when I am interacting using social media. The popularity of time sucking apps like Mafia Wars does validate your argument about the way most people use their time on social networks.
[...] Why I’m Quitting Social Media — 8:41pm via Google [...]
Rather like the analogy of Twitter being an “open loop that never closes in your head.” Some might call that a feature, of course. But it’s a dead-on analogy.
Great post. Oh look, cows! (off to browse something else)
If one socializes for no purpose, digital or otherwise, then there is no value, only wasted time. If you invest yourself, follow your purpose and return more than you take, socializing on the web, in your backyard, at a bar, wherever will bear fruit. Merely sitting in front of your computer tapping keys reverts the PC digital age to 1950′s TV. It is not the medium; it IS the message…. be a messenger in life and you will reap demonstratively.
[...] http://tapenoisediary.com/2009/06/06/why-im-quitting-social-media/ [...]
I feel the same way about a lot of social networking…and of course set out to build something not about throwing sheep at friends but sharing knowledge and information around interests…if you get a chance, see if you find uzvy.com more life-enhancing and encouraging than other services…
[...] example, here the author proclaims that he’s quitting social mediaand gives his reasons why. But he also states he’ll continue to blog, by [...]
[...] example, here the author proclaims that he’s quitting social media and gives his reasons why. But he also states he’ll continue to blog, by [...]
I must say please pardon me if this post doesn’t make any sense, as I am new in the world of social media – but as I am understanding and getting use to it, it attracts more and more….
My whole idea for me being here is I want to know what this world is all about – but your post made me think – am I here looking for new audiences or for new friends or I really don’t know what????
[...] “I’ve quit [replace with service] because [xyz].” There have been way too many of those type of posts and I don’t want to be another log on the [...]
[...] “I’ve quit [replace with service] because [xyz].” There have been way too many of those type of posts and I don’t want to be another log on the [...]
[...] “Whatever the purpose may be, be it for entertainment reasons, keeping up with news, or whatever, the free for all of social media will keep you in a constant state of neurotic arousal all day.” — Why I’m Quitting Social Media [...]
[...] example, here the author proclaims that he’s quitting social media and gives his reasons why. But he also states he’ll continue to blog, by [...]