I’m getting a degree in the internet which makes it reallllllly hard to stay off the internet. I cringe at my internet history from as recently as last week to as far back as 2014. I’ve burned hours of my life messaging people I had no business bothering. Here’s what has actually helped me, a recovering internet worm, stay off the slop.
Brick: A magnetic square that lives on my fridge. I can only check Instagram if I put my phone up to it to “unblock” the app. If I’m out and about, as the Canadians say, on the bus or babysitting, I can’t check Instagram. I haven’t heard about Taylor and Travis in weeks. I have no idea what the latest Gen-Z TikTok star I’ve never heard of whose dating a nepo baby I’ve also never heard of, are up to; it’s great.
I’ve deactivated and reactivated Instagram countless times, but it never worked. I’d always end up back on it (usually because I was working in social media at the time, now its because I live abroad and only keep in touch with some people through Instagram). I can avoid TikTok for months because of my age, but we all have that 1 app we can’t stay off of…
Except snapchat, it transcends generations, the *data doesn’t lie.
Boomers & Gen-X = Facebook
Millennials = Instagram
Gen-Z = TikTok
Snapchat = drug dealers
*data is just me thinking all that is true ^, no study was conducted.
Snapchat transcends time, space, and age. There are no age restrictions on drug dealing as far as I can tell. I’ve never done it and have no goals to (just an FYI if the TSA is reading this!! I get TSA and NSA confused a lot). Regardless, it seems like a passion you can really follow at any point as long as you’re ready.
Whatever your day job may be, limiting screentime is helpful. Staring at blue lights flashing between the worst thing you’ve ever seen to the prettiest person you’ve ever seen is surely not good for the brain.
Blocksite: A Google Chrome extension where I can block websites I get sucked into for too long, specifically Instagram…, TikTok (Yes, I have used it on the browser, I may be one of 4 people to ever do that), and Reddit’s NYC Influencer snark page. My therapist says I’m channeling my anger through reading about influencer’s being out of touch online…I guess its better than punching glass.
These 2 tricks are changing my life as genuinely embarrassing as it is. It feels embarrassing to need help staying off the internet, but these resources wouldn’t exist if there wasn’t a need, and these weren’t invented just for me.
AI news to make your day: Artificial general intelligence is not coming anytime soon, the news did over hype it, and no current data shows that it can run a company without humans.
Pinterest: My FAV website ever now lets you opt OUT of any generative AI pins in your feed.
Godspeed.
Photos courtesy of my favourite/favorite (respecting the spelling of two cultures atm) website Pinterest, which is also my 2nd most successful long-term relationship, the 1st is the treadmill.
Thanks for putting me on to disabling AI Pins and Blocksite!! I love my Brick as well. I also use Clearspace which has been helpful for making the time I do use on the apps more mindful/intentional.