By Dennis D. McDonald

One upon a time I was a vocal cheerleader for social media. Dissatisfaction set in when I realized social media is also heavily used to spread propoganda and misinformation. As a result I began thinking in terms of social media decay.

I'm off nearly all social media now. I no longer have Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts. I've gone on and off those platforms several times over the years but this time I think the goodbyes will be permanent.

The platform I miss most of all is Google Plus which gave me total control over whom and what to follow and interact with, but that platform is no longer around.

The downside of going off social media: it is difficult to promote and share this web site's tech oriented posts as well as my book and media reviews. But I also find that life is much more pleasant given the harsh nature of so much on social media these days. I have also adjusted my newsgathering to account for the social media cutoff. (I still use Reddit occasionally despite some nasty interactions with those who pounce on shared links as "self-promotion.")

When I pick up my phone or tablet I'm more likely to just read or listen to a book wherever I am. Or, I interact regularly with family and friends via email, text messaging, or group sharing of photos.

Overall, I am finding that life is simply more pleasant without social media.

Copyright (c) 2022 by Dennis D. McDonald