A personal reflection on the author's decision to abandon social media after years of contemplation. The turning point came with Meta's controversial decision to remove feminine hygiene products from men's restrooms for trans men and non-binary individuals.
For years, I've overlooked the many good reasons for leaving social media platforms. But now, there's simply no other choice. Jaron Lanier , a prominent figure in the early days of the internet, having served as chief scientist of the engineering office of Internet2, articulated the reasons for ditching social media in his 2018 book. When I read it, I summarized it as: ' Facebook . I really should just close down my Facebook account.' Back then, there was no way I would have given up Twitter .
It was my go-to platform for venting about Brexit, and that was pretty much all I did. However, seven years ago, Twitter wasn't just a haven for porn and chatbots. Although Lanier presented his arguments comprehensively, a key takeaway was his observation about the political landscape. He argued that social media creates a bias, not necessarily towards the left or right, but downwards. Any position that lacked evidence, embraced stupidity, or exploited outrage would tend to gain traction. He highlighted the manipulative algorithms, the proliferation of misinformation, the fostering of hostility, and the amplification of divisive narratives. All these issues were already evident, but even then, Facebook felt incredibly dull. Feeds were dominated by acquaintances I didn't know harbored so much anger, ranting about potholes, ill-fitting bras, or their children's antics. There was an abundance of self-promotion, boasting, and inflated posturing. This was all before the advent of AI, so we hadn't yet been inundated with those nonsensical interior design posts showcasing tiny, meticulously crafted hobbit houses, or triumph-over-adversity stories. And even without that, it was still dreadful. I never clicked the 'delete my account' button because there were always some trivial reasons to stay. Where else could I discover which of my former primary school classmates had turned out to be a 'wrong 'un' now? How long would it take to locate photos from a decade ago and save them? (Five minutes.) How else would I wish people I rarely saw a happy birthday? I was caught between a compelling, well-researched, and profound argument for change and the pull of insignificant convenience and the comfort of inertia. The latter clearly won. I was just waiting for one final nudge, which, when it finally arrived, was more than just a minor prod. It came in the form of a petty but revealing decision: the removal of tampons and sanitary towels from the men's toilets at Meta for trans men and non-binary people. I'm ready to fight these billionaire overlords on the beaches, in the toilets, or wherever they choose to bring their battles; and first, I need to stop watching those melted cheese videos.
Social Media Facebook Twitter Jaron Lanier Meta Trans Rights Algorithm Misinformation Online Culture
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