My Relationship with Social Media

Press play to listen and read along with me.

I’ve been questioning my relationship with social media a lot lately—and perhaps you are too?

I think we can all agree that these “social” platforms are designed for one thing: profit.

We can tell ourselves that social media helps us to stay connected with all the people that matter to us.

But deep down inside, we know that these platforms are designed to manipulate and hijack our human experience while serving up ads to make money as we serve up our lives for everyone (and noone) to like, comment, or share.

It’s f*cked up.

During my 4-year bicycle tour from Japan to China, I didn’t have or ever use social media.

In fact, I didn’t ever have a smart phone until I was 28 years old. Back then, I got by with a tablet, which I only used for emails, communicating via Line, and occasionally prank calling my mum using Google voice to let her know I was still alive.

I built relationships. I experimented with guerrilla marketing tactics. I printed t-shirts with a QR code to my Line. I offered free intro English classes. I provided quarterly events for my students.

This is what social is supposed to be like. Not this vanity insanity that’s slowly destroying our psyche.

p.s.,

If one day I do disappear from social media, you still be able to find me here or sharing my knowledge of copywriting—for free—here.