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Set your profile to private and stop giving a shit about engagement. If you're selling something, great, make a themed profile and increase your follower count

Set your profile to private and stop giving a shit about engagement. If you're selling something, great, make a themed profile and increase your follower count with as many #hashtags as you can cram into that comment section. If you're using it socially, post about your life and chill out on measures of popularity. I do strongly agree with the idea that we need a better way to reach out to our friends. Posting a photo and getting likes isn't staying in touch. It's fine for acquaintances, but you should talk to the people you care about, not just check up on their recent posts.

negative34 8y ago
I think the same thing. I got tired of just liking pictures on IG. I created a side project which sends me email reminders for friends I want to keep in touch with, but are not in my everyday, close circle. Every email has a direct link to Whatsapp, which opens directly into my friend's chat with a pre-set message('Hi!'). It helped me reconnect and start real conversations beyond double tapping a picture.
ngngngng 8y ago
I recently deleted facebook and instagram in an effort to take back my privacy. I really miss the stories feature on instagram. Stories don't have a concept of engagement besides views. People actually post what they're doing throughout the day in small, bite size pieces. I think it's a fantastic way to keep up with people.
- etrautmann 8y ago
  Interesting - I see this less as "keeping up with people" and more voyeurism. It feels odd to me when I see someone who I haven't talked to in a while but I know all about what they've been doing/etc.
  - thatoneuser 8y ago
    Eh idk. I’d say that it’s more like going to a play to watch an old acquaintance perform while sitting in the way back where they can’t see. Is that voyeurism? Because on social media, typically the idea is people opt to display their lives so that they can be observed. Idk for me voyeurism implies more of a one sided observation where the observed isn’t really aware or intending.
smacktoward 8y ago
The whole point is that these services use psychological tactics to make it hard to "stop giving a shit about engagement." Your brain gets addicted to all the little dopamine hits you get from using them, so when you try to just stop using them, it's a bit like going cold turkey. Your brain has to adjust to not getting that constant dopamine drip-feed anymore.
tdb7893 8y ago
Chat apps like Discord are great for groups you actually want to keep in touch with. That's what I use for my friends from college
germinalphrase 8y ago
I agree, but also feel it’s a consequence of a reduced role for public living in our cities. I think of this question: How many locations do I have in my life in which I socialize without buying something? There are homes, of course. A few city parks? I’m a member of no social clubs, so not much else. We are seeking alternatives to public life without having the urban and (more importantly) social infrastructure to achieve it.
hi5eyes 8y ago
the limit is 30 tags instagram/facebook public posts were always for acquaintances/broader most people had groups/groupchats for more personal communication with the closer groups... and those groups have instagram gcs.. im confused did people not understand this?

negative34 8y ago

I think the same thing. I got tired of just liking pictures on IG. I created a side project which sends me email reminders for friends I want to keep in touch with, but are not in my everyday, close circle. Every email has a direct link to Whatsapp, which opens directly into my friend's chat with a pre-set message('Hi!'). It helped me reconnect and start real conversations beyond double tapping a picture.

ngngngng 8y ago

I recently deleted facebook and instagram in an effort to take back my privacy. I really miss the stories feature on instagram. Stories don't have a concept of engagement besides views. People actually post what they're doing throughout the day in small, bite size pieces. I think it's a fantastic way to keep up with people.

etrautmann 8y ago
Interesting - I see this less as "keeping up with people" and more voyeurism. It feels odd to me when I see someone who I haven't talked to in a while but I know all about what they've been doing/etc.
- thatoneuser 8y ago
  Eh idk. I’d say that it’s more like going to a play to watch an old acquaintance perform while sitting in the way back where they can’t see. Is that voyeurism? Because on social media, typically the idea is people opt to display their lives so that they can be observed. Idk for me voyeurism implies more of a one sided observation where the observed isn’t really aware or intending.

smacktoward 8y ago

The whole point is that these services use psychological tactics to make it hard to "stop giving a shit about engagement." Your brain gets addicted to all the little dopamine hits you get from using them, so when you try to just stop using them, it's a bit like going cold turkey. Your brain has to adjust to not getting that constant dopamine drip-feed anymore.

tdb7893 8y ago

Chat apps like Discord are great for groups you actually want to keep in touch with. That's what I use for my friends from college

germinalphrase 8y ago

I agree, but also feel it’s a consequence of a reduced role for public living in our cities. I think of this question: How many locations do I have in my life in which I socialize without buying something? There are homes, of course. A few city parks? I’m a member of no social clubs, so not much else. We are seeking alternatives to public life without having the urban and (more importantly) social infrastructure to achieve it.

hi5eyes 8y ago

the limit is 30 tags instagram/facebook public posts were always for acquaintances/broader most people had groups/groupchats for more personal communication with the closer groups... and those groups have instagram gcs.. im confused did people not understand this?