HACKER Q&A
📣 pipeline_peak

Have you been successful in cutting off social media?


If so, have you found any benefits? Where do you get your news and entertainment from, how do you see the world? Do you still have a way to connect with people?


  👤 NickRandom Accepted Answer ✓
Yes and Yes to both your questions. Well.. except for HN of course but even here I sometimes 'rage quit' (which is a good thing obviously).

My reasons for quiting Facebook etc were two fold - firstly it was a constant stream of chatter and noise (and yes, I was selective/restrictive aka 'family and friends only' but even with that there would be a constant herfuffle or mini-drama that left my phone pinging and ponging. Who-da-fugg-needs-that right?

Secondly ... My mental health improved and my resting heart rate dropped. Whooda-Thunk-It?


👤 thrwawayjohnde2
Interestingly I was forced to go cold turkey as part of my bail conditions was 'no social media'.

It's actually been therapeutic (despite the circumstances and for the record I'm innocent) and I keep in touch with the people who matter through email.

I get my news through HN, Reddit and Twitter, which technically some people might consider to be social media but I don't (and hopefully the police don't either) because I don't actually interact with anyone.


👤 codefreeordie
Asking this on social media is a fun choice! That said, I have stopped using several other more-toxic social media outlets, and am much happier for it.

I'd probably be even happier if I left HN, but, you know, it's hard.


👤 boppo1
I have quit some platforms, but never my overall compulsive browsing.

The one thing that stops it is traveling. It's like a magic cure. I lose all interest in my phone.