No, it’s not. You can literally delete social media right now and just start using your phone as a phone. Sure, there are endless temptations pulling at your attention, but in the end it’s still you choosing to distract yourself from the real world.
Life gives you constant opportunities to be present, but we just choose not to take them because sitting on a bus staring out the window feels boring.
Just decide when you want to be present and stick to it. Pair it with daily stuff you’re already doing anyway - doing the dishes, going to the bathroom, driving or commuting, queuing, waiting for something. Decide in advance not to pull out your phone in these moments and just be there.
This “it’s too late” thinking is just mental handcuffs you’re putting on yourself.
On social media, cynicism often gets mistaken for intelligence because it looks like “seeing through the bullshit.” It gives the appearance of depth and critical thinking. But it’s not. It’s a defensive posture, not a truth-seeking one. Cynic just assumes everything is corrupt, stupid, or fake. That way they never have to risk being wrong, vulnerable, or naive. It’s low-effort intellectual armor.
On one level I agree with what you’re saying. On a different one I really dislike the “just do it” attitude, when we’re dealing with software that has been engineered to be extremely addictive. Of course, you could tell a heroine addict or meth-head that they need to “just decide to quit”, but it’s well established that that doesn’t usually help much. Of course, it’s true that, bottom line, they “just” need to quit. However it’s reductionist to the point of no longer being helpful to suggest that as a solution in itself.
With e.g. social media (and other addictions) we should be doing more than just putting it on the individual to cut out their addiction. After all, they’re just an individual that’s fighting a huge for-profit industry that’s set up around keeping them addicted. Asking them to fight that battle alone is setting them up to fail.
I think my response is a bit more nuanced than “just do it.”
I acknowledge that it’s hard - that’s exactly why I’m laying out small, practical steps people can actually take instead of quitting cold turkey. Deleting social media is extreme and easier said than done, but something like not taking your phone to the bathroom is an easy daily habit anyone can start.
I’m just trying to highlight that it can be done - and it sure as hell isn’t “too late.”
No, it’s not. You can literally delete social media right now and just start using your phone as a phone. Sure, there are endless temptations pulling at your attention, but in the end it’s still you choosing to distract yourself from the real world.
Life gives you constant opportunities to be present, but we just choose not to take them because sitting on a bus staring out the window feels boring.
Just decide when you want to be present and stick to it. Pair it with daily stuff you’re already doing anyway - doing the dishes, going to the bathroom, driving or commuting, queuing, waiting for something. Decide in advance not to pull out your phone in these moments and just be there.
This “it’s too late” thinking is just mental handcuffs you’re putting on yourself.
Defeatists really need to STFU. Most annoying people ever. It’s like they‘re on a mission to demoralize everyone.
On social media, cynicism often gets mistaken for intelligence because it looks like “seeing through the bullshit.” It gives the appearance of depth and critical thinking. But it’s not. It’s a defensive posture, not a truth-seeking one. Cynic just assumes everything is corrupt, stupid, or fake. That way they never have to risk being wrong, vulnerable, or naive. It’s low-effort intellectual armor.
Well said, it lives in the realm of posturing, saying things because of how they sound and not actually thinking and wanting to solve problems.
On one level I agree with what you’re saying. On a different one I really dislike the “just do it” attitude, when we’re dealing with software that has been engineered to be extremely addictive. Of course, you could tell a heroine addict or meth-head that they need to “just decide to quit”, but it’s well established that that doesn’t usually help much. Of course, it’s true that, bottom line, they “just” need to quit. However it’s reductionist to the point of no longer being helpful to suggest that as a solution in itself.
With e.g. social media (and other addictions) we should be doing more than just putting it on the individual to cut out their addiction. After all, they’re just an individual that’s fighting a huge for-profit industry that’s set up around keeping them addicted. Asking them to fight that battle alone is setting them up to fail.
I think my response is a bit more nuanced than “just do it.”
I acknowledge that it’s hard - that’s exactly why I’m laying out small, practical steps people can actually take instead of quitting cold turkey. Deleting social media is extreme and easier said than done, but something like not taking your phone to the bathroom is an easy daily habit anyone can start.
I’m just trying to highlight that it can be done - and it sure as hell isn’t “too late.”
Well said, I see that I may have read your initial comment a bit too quickly and misinterpreted it a bit :)
All good man. Noting that things are nuanced is always welcome - especially online.
🥱