Farewell Social Media.
“The number of people I could reach outside my humble hometown felt like a portal into a world I would never desert. ”
Before I elaborate on my reasons for departing from social media, below is an unordered, non-exhaustive list of why I'm stepping away for an undetermined amount of time.
*If you are only here to view new photos, they’re at the very bottom and from last year when Celine and I went dog sledding for my birthday.
Reasons:
The time required to use the algorithm effectively outweighs the reach and benefits of creating content for these platforms.
Advertisements are too abundant, manipulative, predatory, and invasive to personal information.
It's an unproductive platform with an atmosphere of distrust for those we would otherwise assume best intentions.
It distracts from my in-person relationships.
Monetarily benefiting from the services is participating in the same ethical objections I desire the companies to eliminate.
I'm unsure of the degree to which one can embody a healthy life in a digital format.
The negative environmental impacts of online activity are significant.
Time and mental energy saved by disengaging in virtual communities will, in theory, allow for an increased embodiment of good in nearby, physical communities.
I admire creative people who are not on social media more than those who are.
Goodness, Truth, and Beauty are substantiated materially and merely pointed at digitally. I believe this is evident through an embodied Christ.
Explanation:
Simultaneous were the moments where I received my first 'like' on a photo and the beginning of an arduous journey toward a personal social dilemma. As I began to share my photographs through companies such as Facebook and Instagram, I quickly learned how useful these platforms could be. The number of people I could reach outside my humble hometown felt like a portal into a world I would never desert. My followers grew, I learned the platforms' algorithms, and I was capable of managing the system in a way that showed my work to more people than I ever imagined! This novel method of sharing a newfound artistic practice was the thrill and affirmation I once received through playing sports. The familiar drug provided the positive encouragement I once basked in as an athlete.
I'm skipping the meticulous details about my past decade on social media, the suitable correlations to drug addiction, and the various recaps of documentaries like "The Social Dilemma" so I can speak about the why behind this transition. Before proceeding with my reasoning, I would be foolish not to acknowledge the immense value I have harboured from teachers I encountered through social media. I am grateful for the work they share with the world on a platform that works for them. Below is a more thorough explanation of my slow divorce from the virtual social world.
To state it plainly, social media no longer adequately contributes to my current life ambitions. The return on time spent developing or consuming content on these platforms compared to the number of people viewing them has become an unfair exchange. In addition to the pitiful reach that most posts achieve in correlation to followers, the infinite quantity of targeted ads prowling behind every click or tap is ominous. As someone familiar with the predatory nature of marketing, I am sensitive to these veiled tactics. Within every ad, there are unknown amounts of data being used to manipulate us into participating in systems, companies, organizations, or habits that are antithetical to the ideals we pursue. What saddens me most about this reality is that many people view the advertising model as the only option for 'free' services or sharing artistic offerings. There needs to be a creative revitalization in the free service world. Services like Patreon offer a sufficient alternative, but there should be a multitude of varying options for those desiring to share work. I propose that the creativity used for manipulative advertisements be diverted toward aiding healthy public practices, rather than oblivious addiction for the sake of increasing capital. Local solutions such as markets and art galleries are prototypical candidates to replicate or innovate from. The reimagining of these public exhibitions provides the regional population with access to support work from their fellow members and assigns a genuine value that properly compensates for time and skill.
My conviction to practice the embodiment of my beliefs is why I am conflicted when I see people unaware of the coercive tactics used against them. This capitalist twisting of malleable minds reduces individual liberty while creating unconscious addictions and desires. To have control over the patterns in my life could be merely an illusion, but I should do what I can to form the environments that encourage choices toward what is healthy. The pursuit of the Good, True, and Beautiful, or what I call Christ, are clouded during my unaccounted time spent on social media. To begin embodying those core tenants, I must remove the distractions that shift my focus from accomplishing other purpose-giving tasks. An unfortunate realization is that as soon as one distraction is removed, another pops up or possibly some are more difficult to dispose of due to addiction. Often this internal struggle is antagonized. However, I believe it is this struggle toward the pursuit of Goodness, Truth, and Beauty that will lead us to become whole people. As a result of our renewed health, we can assimilate into the diverse community of humanity and contribute to aiding others through the ambivalent process of pursuing a Christ reality.
Below are a few final notes on some exceptions I'm making in this transition away from social media as I continue to learn what is healthy. I hope you found this reflection valuable. To continue this conversation or ask questions, please email me at masonunrauphoto@gmail.com or comment on this post. If you can relate to my thoughts you may enjoy my podcast that will return shortly. I appreciate your participation in supporting my work and helping others.
Additional Notes:
I will continue to occasionally use Youtube to consume education and at times entertainment. I do not share on the platform and enjoy access to the learning opportunities.
I will occasionally use Facebook / Instagram Messenger for communication purposes.
I apologize for the many birthdays I will miss.
I will continue to share the bulk of my thoughts through the People & Place podcast or on my blog.
I will continue making and sharing images here until my cameras break. Once my cameras are inoperable, I'm unsure if I will continue this artistic practice. The ecological impacts of technology are abhorrent, which I am painfully aware of as I type and edit on a computer that brought ecological harm to someone's homeland. I currently have two digital and two film cameras, so there's some time before I have to contemplate this abandonment.
I will miss those of you with who I have shared uplifting conversations and will not join me here. I like to think of it like I'm inviting you over to my home instead of meeting at an underwhelming coffee shop.
This decision has been in the making for about three years. I wrote this post almost 6 months ago. It is only now I feel confident in my cost/benefit analysis and determined social media to be a losing investment.
I encourage you to examine the impacts these companies have on your life. Are they moving you toward purposeful participation in the world?
