My Social Media Detox Manifesto/FAQ
By Kayla H. (She/They)
When I was a young child back in the 1990s and 2000s, the internet was a wild and magical place.
There was wonder, adventure, magic, and all sorts of cool shit that made the internet a special place to be.
I remember visiting “homemade” websites of everyday people who wanted to share new ideas and perspectives of the world.
Unfortunately, the current landscape of the internet is filled with corporate greed and A.I slowly distorting our truth.
What was once a place of escape; has now been corrupted into a proto-dystopian nightmare of A.I generated scammers and
big monopolistic companies dictating our tastes based on market trends.
All I ever wanted to do now is escape from this evil world, collect myself, and start to develop my own “true digital identity”.
I want to take the time to create my website where my artwork, writings, and other material can breathe without “the metaverse” breathing down their necks.
I want to be able to freely express ideas without the fear of censorship for “not being advertiser-friendly” or being silenced with no real reasonable cause.
I want to the internet be queer, neurodivergent, and free from the oppression of ruthless capitalism and hate speech that destroys our digital spaces.
On October 6th, 2024 at 6p.m; I plan to “detoxify” myself from the big social media sites that have caused me the most spiritual pain by boycotting the use of
Facebook, LinkedIn, and many other sites that don't line up with my values as a creator and as a person.
I would also significantly limit my time on other sites that might cause distractions from my personal goals. (i.e. Instagram, YouTube, etc.)
By taking these actions, I also want to use this time to learn how the internet truly works. I am going to learn more about personal web development, web design,
and how I can use the “indie web” to make a positive change for myself and others around me.
It will be a long and difficult road ahead but I think taking the time to learn the skills of “being a citizen of the Internet”
will be worth the investment in the long run.
I would like to note: that not every social media site is evil.
There are plenty of other sites that can provide a platform for many oppressed voices and respect the privacy of data from everyday users.
However, moving forward: I want to be more mindful and aware of what I see online and how I interact with it. I refuse to be another pawn of an algorithm
that cares more for profit from taking other's data than people who use those sites to connect with others.
I want to use this time to not only reflect and educate myself but also inspire others to take control of their own identity in cyberspace
and live out their lives as authentically as possible.
I know I am still a beginner at web development and creating content outside of the Core Web
but I am willing to go out there and become free from the forces that not only control my online life but through real life as well.
I will be free in cyberspace and beyond!
FAQ
Are you abstaining from all social media sites in general?
No. There will still be some sites that I will use for professional and limited personal use. The only difference now is that I am going to be a bit more mindful and aware of what apps I use and how much time I browse through them. I also want to take this time to focus more on “creating my own digital space” on neocities or any other site where I have more control of what is shown.
How long is this going to last? How is this detox going to work?
My current goal is to go through the “detox” phase up until the end of October. The first few days would be me “weening off” some of the sites and putting up some notifications that I am taking a break from some of those sites. After that, I would continue to not only develop my personal digital space but also enjoy some “I.R.L” hobbies that might pique my interest. (I.E Traditional Art, Reading etc.) After that, I will assess the next few steps and act accordingly.
Isn't making a “personal website” in an online space the same as posting on social media?
No, it's not the same. The difference between creating a webpage and creating a post on social media is that I have to put more work into creating a webpage than just posting up on someone else's site. I have to put in more thought and effort to create something more genuine and authentic. Plus, I have more control over how that content is presented and who visits that site.
Is there a way I can reach you if you are not on social media?
Yes, I have a personal email that is: theskunksally@gmail.com This is the email I usually use for my neocities website but I also have a professional email that is: Kayla_Hed@outlook.com I'm also on Discord and various other chat apps.