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Ask HN: What are some alternative activities to replace using social media?
I have been trying to quit facebook and twitter, and have tried a couple of times. But after 1 week or so I find myself getting back to them again. I think I am failing because I am not replacing them with some sustainable alternatives. People here who have quit social media, how did you do so? What activities you started that helped you getting away from them? Any kind of insight will be valuable.
- kiddico 9y agoI tried to make it difficult, but still possible to log into them. Remove the apps from your phone, and remove the login information from your browser. (back it up somewhere if you're the forgetful type like me) Even though getting to the website on my phone, or putting in my credentials is fast/easy it still created a barrier to entry which wasn't there before. Even with the barrier in place I still needed to have something else that was easier than getting over that barrier. I tried to have some form of entertainment lined up that didn't include a social media element, like something to read or watch.
- skaha 9y agobiking, reading, playing guitar/music, take a class, get involved in community groups/initiatives, coffee shops, beer w/ friends, potlucks, dog walking, writing letters, learning a language, making cartoons, birding, coding, sailing, volunteering, read the news, get involved politically... literally anything that you feel would be more meaningful and less of a waste of life than cyber fake book etc.
- oblib 9y agoAny side project is good. I have a few Raspberry Pi that I use to hack with and those are a lot more fun, entertaining, and productive than arguing on FB. I have never installed FB or any others on my iPhone but if I were wanting to spend less time on them I'd remove them from it first.
- matt_the_bass 9y ago<useless and data>HN is as “social media-y” as I get. I guess I just don’t care that much about FB and Twitter, etc. </useless anecdata> I am a musician and scuba diver. I find that when I have a good music thing going or middle of the dive season, I lose interest in all other free time activities. I guess the Tl,dr is find something you’re passionate about. Everything else goes away.