Read on Twitter
On a whim, I've stopped liking tweets & used a script to unlike all of my old likes. This is for a few reasons. First, I hate that likes are public on twitter. What possible reason could there be for public likes being mandatory? I don't know, but I know I don't like it!
& the way likes being public is used over & over again is one of interpersonal surveillance.
Second, I am working on refusing my brain as many social media dopamine hits as possible. Liking a tweet is meant to feel like I'm nodding at you, a tidbit of approval.
Second, I am working on refusing my brain as many social media dopamine hits as possible. Liking a tweet is meant to feel like I'm nodding at you, a tidbit of approval.
That's not how receiving a like feels. Imagine actually catching 10 people's eyes while you're speaking & seeing their agreement & support of you. Is that what 10 likes on your tweet feels like? Or 100 or 1000? Of course it doesn't. It's meaningless currency in an addictive game.
We know social media is not a replacement for meaningful, vibrant, interconnected, interdependent community that provides day to day support, joy & social stimulation. Many of us do not have that, & social media is presented as the next best thing, or the only other thing.
I don't want to buy into the idea that this is a good replacement. I hate participating in this shit. Why should I like a tweet when if we really had a connection & I wanted to talk about what you're saying I'd reply, or call you up, or send a letter
It's a small thing & on everything but a personal scale completely meaningless. But I want to continually try to integrate my relationship w/social media & behavior with the facts I know about the morally bankrupt industry that puts it on the screen in front of my face.
