I left all social media years ago now. My main reason originally was not privacy, but addiction. I would pick up my phone up or login every ten minutes and procrastinate life. It was worse than smoking. Since removal of all my accounts, I feel free and not sucked into the fake worlds of others as I felt they're trying to be someone that doesn't really exist. It's scary really how much time my friends spend there and I think "that used to be me"; it's also scary how much it changes people, whatever happened to leaving the house to speak with someone, damaging social structure at this rate the world will end up like WALL-E. My main point is to say, I feel good not being in that place. not even on open-source projects. I'd like to know what others think really, and why you use it, if you do and are willing to comment. Regards, QB.
hmmmm.... had to disable UBlock Origin in order to reply in this thread.... Back on subject. No, I rarely use Social Media
never did use it fb,t, ig etc followed some major events occasionally but never contributed Used Geocities 20 yr ago to learn how to build web pages. I prefer forums like this one which are focused on topics which can hold my interest and with significant contributors who can clearly express their ideas I try to avoid the drivel -- life is too short ...T
Yeah I'm a PRISM bot designed to get you to disable plugins. @tonto11 - I don't blame you and you're correct, social media eats up time from peoples lives when they could in fact be doing more constructive things (or destructive ). I speak on behalf of people that must check their accounts ten times an hour. Regards, QB. EDIT: I also had to disable my adblocker or MDL to post or vote polls.
uBlock is working here. Maybe depends on unique settings. I do not use any social media and never will. I am here since 2007 and could be an active part to shape a virtual forums platform, the MDL forums. The (virtual) social contacts and convos I have here are genuine. Besides of that I spend a lot of time to care and play with different OS and devices...and do maintain them... That's all I want to spend from my spare time....the rest is for real social life and family and friends.... I even have interrupted my online time on mobiles. I had 24/7....now I am offline during night and most of my work time... The reason for it was that it took more time than I wanted (addiction)...
From my point of view whether is social media, the interwebs, forums, or technical forums etc., people spend a lot of time, actually I do, in front of the PC. Some with their intelligent phones in hands and so on. So it's not only social media who keeps us sedated and bonded into the matrix but the whole thing of the Internet. IoT sooner or later if not right now will become IoS = Internet of Souls.
There are studies (Germany) which say that the consume behavior concerning social media has changed and is still changing. People do now think more about what they post...and have become bored posting trivial stuff every day... Because of that their total average time using social media has decreased the first time...I think it will level out...the original hype will settle further.... Anyway many individuals will keep going on as they did and addiction / zombie mode will keep playing a major role in our society. As mentioned for myself there was a day where I recognized that I do spend too much time with my smart phone and chats.......I could break the addiction because I could make myself clear that I miss stuff in my life that is really more important for me..... In other words. I have lost interest using my smartphone as I originally did. (XDA and countless of modifications and flashing.....ever being online to chat with friends, sharing trivial pictures, jokes and footage here and there......) I use it with more awareness......means I still do anything but not that frequently anymore...
Apart from Doctor calls, I rarely use my cell phone. Once a day I call my mom, just to check on her. But that's about it. I can't be bothered with Social media like facebook, et.al. To me, it's just a waste of time, and I'm too busy writing code to be bothered. I do enjoy visiting MDL though. Some of the things posted here really make my day. Between the joke section and Bat.1 posting about lobo, I can't say which is more hilariously funny. IMHO, we're lucky to have one another. We can all get together here and safely talk without anybody's nose up our tailpipe. Within reasonable limits, of course.
I use Twitter here and there, dunno if that really counts as "social" since you most of the time talk with yourself or post when you're on done on the toilet. I think social media are not better or worse than other pages, it's depending on which information you like to share and what you like to share with the server owner. I think the social media leaks are awesome because as Yen said, people more and more think about what they share and it gets the attention on important topics, especially parents have some problems with it because they not know or care what there kids post there (because they have no clue/care/time). The internet is no law free room and people not care until they get leaked and then everyone cries but if people well educated that this is dangerous they might even help to make the entire network better by posting more "useful" information.
"Useful infos" => labeled as specialized forums "Trivial infos / personal infos" => labeled as social media In the end we socialize or just interact at a minimum in web places, but like OP's concern, if addiction is the issue, then be warned any web place can be addictive like a cigarette full of nicotine
@Yen - Same with the mobile phone here, deleted social apps, whatsapp, all that junk now it's used for calls, texts and maps. Thinking of switching to a 3310 classic since I have a pointless $700 phone for calls when maps can be replaced by my sat-nav. @Michaela Joy - Apart from the occasional turd, MDL isn't so bad, eh - Useful information here and helping others keeps me. It's easier here to share knowledge because most people are a like minded, if I ever posted about computer stuff on Crapbook I'd have 20 people asking wtf I'm talking about, regardless of it being helpful for them. @Mr.X - I see what you're getting at, and this is true. After leaving social media I saw my replacing it using other places (like forums), after a while though it seemed to quieten down. now I don't feel the 'need'. I'm sat in front of my PC a lot, but I didn't learn anything on social media, apart from facts like 'My neighbors dog barking again LUL'. On the PC I learn the ins-and-outs of Linux and work as necessary. Thanks everyone for your valuable comments.
HI QB, simply the best post here dude trust me no one will ever see me in any social network junk I'm with you 100%
I don't have social apps on my phone and only use it for family contact or if my wife gets lost in Walmart and cant find me or gps when we both get lost lol , I do have FB on my computer and find you have to go thru a ton of crap and useless babble before finding anything useful like an old family photo you haven't seen before !
A smartphone has its advantages. And I think people should not generally curse social media... One has to get involved into social media or at least has to be a reader to make a decision about the own value..... I strictly refused to use Facebook. I refuse the business concept and I do not like the CEO. When I noticed that whatsapp has been acquired by FB (I've been to Cambodia) I immediately deleted whatsapp. I bought threema and 'convinced' close friends to go for it as well (at least as an additional messenger)... I never have had personal interest in the 'other' services just as Google+ and Instagram, Twitter...as said I have found 'my' place here at MDL... Where people have spent their time at social media I spent countless of nights trying to decompile Android apps, mod them and rebuilt them. Finally making own mods..... To find out the own value of a smartphone I was deeply involved first to get the opportunity to know later the 'healthy' relative value... I would keep a smartphone, though. And not buying an old school phone instead of. My smartphone is useful most when I am traveling. I would not want to miss it. Also to arrange events with friends...... BUT...I want to have periods where I am offline. I do not want to be an active part 24/7 at all those chat groups and know every trivial detail.... I enjoy periods of time where I am not a part of it. If there is something important people can call me. But I am not online all the time. That is getting back own freedom...
I don't use any social media either. I don't like being abused by some sh*tty company like facebook, google, etc.
i go on FB once a while but never been addicted to it....u want to socialize go out and talk to real people.
Never use it and never will. The internet is a fantastic tool if used for education and information BUT I'm not really concerned with what time someone has had a sh!te today.
I'm older and have been through lots of things that result in a time suck. Social media is another one of those traps. As far as social sites I limit myself to forums only when involved in a particular pastime. Right now it's this one since I'm working with Windows a lot right now. Though even forums can become too much of a time suck so I probably won't be active here much after I'm done with this project. So to me social media is something to avoid getting consumed with like lots of things in life.