Distracting, Divisive, and Dangerous
When I set up my first social media account, I followed a few close friends and endeavored to read every one of their posts. That didn’t last long. As the number of my connections grew, the quantity of posts soon had me feeling overwhelmed.
Then I added a second platform and, after that, several more. It’s an unmanageable amount of information. I make no effort to keep up to date.
Long ago, I turned off all notifications.
If I have time, I proactively check a couple of my pages once each weekday—and only once a day—as I wrap up my work. I peek in on a few more once a week and some just once a month. I shut down a few and said good riddance. What a relief.
There are times I wonder about closing them all. I think I would, except that I use a few for advertising and might one day want to tap into others.
Aside from running occasional promotions, I use these sites to point to my website, my writing hub. I treat my website as my online home, with my social media pages as mere spokes on the wheel, funneling a bit of traffic to my online home.
Beyond that, I see little value in them. It’s a distraction at best and a seductive danger at worst.
Experts from various fields decry the downsides of social media, especially on young minds. But that doesn’t make adults impervious to its risks.
It seems little content has true significance. Many of the postings are people trumpeting the very best parts of their lives, elevating themselves in the process and leaving out the negative—except for those going through a crisis who seek support or sympathy.
Then there are the snarky and hateful comments by people who have nothing better to do. They stir up dissension, start arguments, and sow division. Frankly, I don’t need the negativity in my life. No one does.
Next are the bots, posing as real people but pursuing some nefarious agenda. Let’s not forget all the spam messages directed specifically at us.
Last, there are many people who use social media as their news source, but it’s most unreliable in that regard. Posts are apt to provide wrong information or biased perspectives.
That’s why I limit my social media interactions and have deprioritized it as a useful tool in connecting with my audience. I use my website and newsletter for that, not social media. Let’s not lose sight of this.
Also, you should never set up your home base on a social media platform. It can be summarily removed, leaving you with no recourse to reclaim it or communicate with your followers.
Let’s seek personal one-on-one interaction in real life with real people. Aside from that, we can tap email, text, and the telephone as optional communication tools. But to the degree possible, let’s leave social media out of the mix.
We must limit our use of social media and its role in our lives. We’ll be better off when we do.
Life Lesson If we don’t limit our use of social media, it will limit us.
Read more in Peter Lyle DeHaan’s latest book Sticky Living featuring his compelling story-driven insights and tips, part of the Sticky Series.
Peter Lyle DeHaan is an entrepreneur and businessman who has managed, owned, and started multiple businesses over his career. Common themes at every turn have included customer service, sales and marketing, and leadership and management.
He shares his lifetime of business experience and personal insights through his books to encourage, inspire, and occasionally entertain.