I stopped using facebook in 2013 or 2014, I don't remember. I used to be very active on Twitter and then simply stopped checking it two and half years ago and forgot about it. I have a love and hate relationship with Instagram, and can spent weeks or even months without posting and then post like crazy for a while and then go off it again- and I consistently delete the app from my phone. But with Notes, I think Substack works very much like social media and I am struggling with that aspect of it. I have tried to switch of notifications about likes of notes and it seems impossible- I've done it on the app and on the web, and they still show up and then I contacted Substack help and they told me to do exactly that, switch off those notifications - and I did to no avail. So while I hear all you say about IG, FB etc, I think Substack is in many ways what in my mother tongue we'd call in a rather vulgar manner 'same shit different package'.
Because there is all this liking of notes that really say nothing, that are all about being seen, about increasing followers and subscriber numbers to get them to buy what we are selling.
I love your writing and the focus of your Publication, and am not denying it the appreciation it deserves, but I do believe that same toxicity that prevails on other social media is coming to Substack, it is just wrapped as positivity for now.
What if SS is a narcissist undertaking, it love bombs you are first, but then you need to provide it with supply, in order to keep staying in the game (maybe I am a bit jaded, but does feel that way at times - like I noticed not being active on SS for 36 hours had impact on the engagement and followers/subscriber numbers for me)?
It’s interesting, Liza, and I hear you. But for now with Substack there is still a transaction taking place, and that what was lost with the others. Plus as far as I know, we can download our subscriber list, so if Substack also became like the others, we can clear off and take out subscribers with us. At least I think that’s how it works.
I find notes just as confusing - I see those posts that seem to get huge responses and cannot work out why...my own just disappear - eve if they are on the same topic - perhaps you need lots of subscribers first? Or is it just potluck. I do wonder if time zone makes a difference? I am in the UK so my notes are lost more easily. Of course, I could just be boring!!!! I decided to play with it and have started to love my utter failure to engage and as a great amusement.
hah - so Lucy odd(s) I win! You will live a better life - how often have you been genuinely moved or enlightened by something you have read on social media? Self discovery so much better than spoon fed
I agree Liza. The actual newsletter part of Substack, I love, reading articles like Anna's, engaging with my own subscribers. But Notes is just another form of social media.
Interested to see this. I don't want notifications from SS but you seem to have to choose between having them either via email or in the app. I don't want either.
I've been carrying around a sort of guilty feeling that I should engage with SS fully and learn how to use it properly but maybe I'll just start enjoying my ignorance instead!
You can import all your photos/videos from Facebook onto your computer, you have 30 days until they actually delete your account once you request it - so you can log back in and do it then request deletion again.
I got rid of my FB/Insta about 2 years ago due to it making me miserable - I was really poorly with chronic illness and seeing people post relentlessly cheerful stuff all the time (even though I knew it wasn't real) was just too much for me. Also, ADHD meant I was sucked into a scrollhole all too easily. I do not miss it AT ALL, and now they're all crawling to The Orange One, rolling back DEI etc and showing us exactly who they are, I feel good knowing I'm not a participant in their insidious empires. I just wish WhatsApp wasn't so ubiquitous, then I could be Meta free!
Yes I know, it’s a shame What’s App is meta. I did look to download the photos and videos but then it said I needed to give meta permission to access my Google account so I stopped.
I just deleted Facebook off my phone, and my mental health has improved. I feel less lonely somehow. I thought I'd miss it, but I don't.
I much prefer to read a thought out article on here than scroll through a tonne of emotionally manipulative content - all the emotions in just a few seconds. No wonder mental ill health is sky rocketing
I only have Insta left, and that's because I am genuinely interested in some of the people I follow there, many of whom I know or have met irl. And also follow authors I admire. But still I am so tempted to press delete. I am all about simplifying my life. Sm detox is defo part of that. Fair play to you!💕
Hi Anna, well I am too, normally. I can anticipate the relief I will feel if I do it. I've been on the fence for too long. Time to decide and take back power. Thanks for the encouragement. 💕
My wife and I deleted Facebook a few weeks ago and genuinely do not miss it at all. I’m in a bind with Instagram as trying (unsuccessfully thus far!) to land a publisher and a lot of the knock backs have said, basically, “good proposal, but online platform not big enough.” Ffs.
Thoroughly enjoying Susbtack, though. So that’s something!
Oh Andy, I honestly would pay no attention to that. To push a book deal over the line, you've got to be talking about a pretty big following, and even then look at Aimee McNee with her 500k followers, it makes very little difference. Do it.
Inspirational! Had removed FB and Instagram from my phone but have now deactivated the former (because I keep in touch with some friends and family via Messenger)and deleted the latter because I don't need it at all.
There are some costs for me having deleted it all, for example, my bestfriend’s kids who are now in their twenties and live in the States, I won’t get to see their lives on Instagram, but I will just have to make an effort to message them once in a while to catch up on their news.
I am often tempted to delete my facebook account. I spend so my time on it, it's downright shameful. I think I would need to wean myself off of it in little spurts over time. Thanks for writing about it and giving proof that you didn't implode or anything.
Well done, Anna. I don’t know anyone who enjoys social media, but it seems so knotted into our lives now. I gave up Twitter years ago, touch-in on Facebook occasionally, but I do have some good and warm connections on Instagram. My attention span is shot though — everything about the phone encourages me to keep checking it!
There are pros and cons and some of those cons are not having those connections to nice people and connections on Instagram, Rebecca, and its a shame to lose them but then I think that’s how they keep us tied in, so those cords have to be cut for the greater good!
Great words Anna! I deleted all social media apps and LinkedIn from my phone at the beginning of the year. I only kept Bluesky, then I noticed that I was creating the same constant checking habit with it so deleted that. I’ve yet to delete my Meta accounts fully online but haven’t logged in for months (I will delete them eventually).
I deleted my Twitter account the day Musk bought it - that was hard as I saw firsthand in 2019 how useful Twitter used to be for raising awareness - I was part of the Harry Dunn/Anne Sacoolas campaign, he lived a few doors away, his mother was an ex-colleague of mine and my daughters grew up with him, his brother and the Seiger family in our tiny community. I was burning with rage and being involved with the social media campaign as part of the community affected helped immensely at the time.
I have a love/hate relationship with Substack Notes - on the one hand I love finding new accounts via them, on the other hand I have no wish for social media in my life anymore. I realised a while ago that I was stuck using social media for so long because of fomo, but in actuality the only people important enough to me are in my life in a real way anyway. Now I have more time to read instead 😃 P.S I set up an automation that automatically syncs new subscribers to my Convertkit account via Gmail labels - just incase Substack becomes another Meta! 🫣
Oh that’s interesting, Emma. All of it, but also the bit at the end about syncing subscribers. I don’t know about things like this so I’ll have a look at that, thank you. And you are write, those other types of social media were, at some times, a force for good and change. But how much did we ‘pay’ for that, unwittingly?
I stopped using facebook in 2013 or 2014, I don't remember. I used to be very active on Twitter and then simply stopped checking it two and half years ago and forgot about it. I have a love and hate relationship with Instagram, and can spent weeks or even months without posting and then post like crazy for a while and then go off it again- and I consistently delete the app from my phone. But with Notes, I think Substack works very much like social media and I am struggling with that aspect of it. I have tried to switch of notifications about likes of notes and it seems impossible- I've done it on the app and on the web, and they still show up and then I contacted Substack help and they told me to do exactly that, switch off those notifications - and I did to no avail. So while I hear all you say about IG, FB etc, I think Substack is in many ways what in my mother tongue we'd call in a rather vulgar manner 'same shit different package'.
Because there is all this liking of notes that really say nothing, that are all about being seen, about increasing followers and subscriber numbers to get them to buy what we are selling.
I love your writing and the focus of your Publication, and am not denying it the appreciation it deserves, but I do believe that same toxicity that prevails on other social media is coming to Substack, it is just wrapped as positivity for now.
What if SS is a narcissist undertaking, it love bombs you are first, but then you need to provide it with supply, in order to keep staying in the game (maybe I am a bit jaded, but does feel that way at times - like I noticed not being active on SS for 36 hours had impact on the engagement and followers/subscriber numbers for me)?
Ok, end of ramble/rant.
It’s interesting, Liza, and I hear you. But for now with Substack there is still a transaction taking place, and that what was lost with the others. Plus as far as I know, we can download our subscriber list, so if Substack also became like the others, we can clear off and take out subscribers with us. At least I think that’s how it works.
I find notes just as confusing - I see those posts that seem to get huge responses and cannot work out why...my own just disappear - eve if they are on the same topic - perhaps you need lots of subscribers first? Or is it just potluck. I do wonder if time zone makes a difference? I am in the UK so my notes are lost more easily. Of course, I could just be boring!!!! I decided to play with it and have started to love my utter failure to engage and as a great amusement.
Notes are an utter mystery to all of us here on substack! You are not alone!
Who can be the most unpopular and billy no mates? I fancy my chances….what are the vegas odds?
Well, Vegas odds are house always wins!
hah - so Lucy odd(s) I win! You will live a better life - how often have you been genuinely moved or enlightened by something you have read on social media? Self discovery so much better than spoon fed
have a good rest of the day
I agree Liza. The actual newsletter part of Substack, I love, reading articles like Anna's, engaging with my own subscribers. But Notes is just another form of social media.
Interested to see this. I don't want notifications from SS but you seem to have to choose between having them either via email or in the app. I don't want either.
I've been carrying around a sort of guilty feeling that I should engage with SS fully and learn how to use it properly but maybe I'll just start enjoying my ignorance instead!
You can import all your photos/videos from Facebook onto your computer, you have 30 days until they actually delete your account once you request it - so you can log back in and do it then request deletion again.
I got rid of my FB/Insta about 2 years ago due to it making me miserable - I was really poorly with chronic illness and seeing people post relentlessly cheerful stuff all the time (even though I knew it wasn't real) was just too much for me. Also, ADHD meant I was sucked into a scrollhole all too easily. I do not miss it AT ALL, and now they're all crawling to The Orange One, rolling back DEI etc and showing us exactly who they are, I feel good knowing I'm not a participant in their insidious empires. I just wish WhatsApp wasn't so ubiquitous, then I could be Meta free!
Yes I know, it’s a shame What’s App is meta. I did look to download the photos and videos but then it said I needed to give meta permission to access my Google account so I stopped.
Yes. What’sApp is the only thing I miss.
I feel the same about whatsapp. I am also using Signal but most of my friends and family use whatsapp 😫
I just deleted Facebook off my phone, and my mental health has improved. I feel less lonely somehow. I thought I'd miss it, but I don't.
I much prefer to read a thought out article on here than scroll through a tonne of emotionally manipulative content - all the emotions in just a few seconds. No wonder mental ill health is sky rocketing
Exactly! Well done!
I only have Insta left, and that's because I am genuinely interested in some of the people I follow there, many of whom I know or have met irl. And also follow authors I admire. But still I am so tempted to press delete. I am all about simplifying my life. Sm detox is defo part of that. Fair play to you!💕
Thanks Ali, if you can handle it and it doesn’t encroach on your life, then keep it! I am an all or nothing kinda girl.
Hi Anna, well I am too, normally. I can anticipate the relief I will feel if I do it. I've been on the fence for too long. Time to decide and take back power. Thanks for the encouragement. 💕
You’re so welcome, Ali. I hope this might inch you forwards in some way.
Great read and good on you, Anna.
My wife and I deleted Facebook a few weeks ago and genuinely do not miss it at all. I’m in a bind with Instagram as trying (unsuccessfully thus far!) to land a publisher and a lot of the knock backs have said, basically, “good proposal, but online platform not big enough.” Ffs.
Thoroughly enjoying Susbtack, though. So that’s something!
Oh Andy, I honestly would pay no attention to that. To push a book deal over the line, you've got to be talking about a pretty big following, and even then look at Aimee McNee with her 500k followers, it makes very little difference. Do it.
Jeez, is that really the sort of figure they’re looking for?! I’ve only the 499,000 to go…
Think you’ve sold me here. Cheers.
Haha! You’re welcome!
Wait, so that's why you haven't accepted my friend request? 🤣
Love this! Taking back your power is possible. 😊
Yay! I hope so Lorraine!
Welcome back to the other side!
Inspirational! Had removed FB and Instagram from my phone but have now deactivated the former (because I keep in touch with some friends and family via Messenger)and deleted the latter because I don't need it at all.
There are some costs for me having deleted it all, for example, my bestfriend’s kids who are now in their twenties and live in the States, I won’t get to see their lives on Instagram, but I will just have to make an effort to message them once in a while to catch up on their news.
I am often tempted to delete my facebook account. I spend so my time on it, it's downright shameful. I think I would need to wean myself off of it in little spurts over time. Thanks for writing about it and giving proof that you didn't implode or anything.
No, I’m still here, it’s fine. I just don’t know if my friend from primary school that I haven’t seen in 40 years had a nice holiday, Nancy 😩😩😩
Well done, Anna. I don’t know anyone who enjoys social media, but it seems so knotted into our lives now. I gave up Twitter years ago, touch-in on Facebook occasionally, but I do have some good and warm connections on Instagram. My attention span is shot though — everything about the phone encourages me to keep checking it!
There are pros and cons and some of those cons are not having those connections to nice people and connections on Instagram, Rebecca, and its a shame to lose them but then I think that’s how they keep us tied in, so those cords have to be cut for the greater good!
There’s clearly something in the water. I wrote about this, earlier in the week. Glad to see this Anna. Great stuff.
Ooh I shall have to take a look at your piece, too!
Congratulations Anna! This is a milestone I’m here for. ✨💞✨
Yay 🥳🥳🥳
This is very inspiring!! I am almost there…
I’m deleting Instagram from my phone. I’ve been thinking about it for a few weeks and this was just the push I needed! Thank you!
Yay! Well done, Monica!
Great words Anna! I deleted all social media apps and LinkedIn from my phone at the beginning of the year. I only kept Bluesky, then I noticed that I was creating the same constant checking habit with it so deleted that. I’ve yet to delete my Meta accounts fully online but haven’t logged in for months (I will delete them eventually).
I deleted my Twitter account the day Musk bought it - that was hard as I saw firsthand in 2019 how useful Twitter used to be for raising awareness - I was part of the Harry Dunn/Anne Sacoolas campaign, he lived a few doors away, his mother was an ex-colleague of mine and my daughters grew up with him, his brother and the Seiger family in our tiny community. I was burning with rage and being involved with the social media campaign as part of the community affected helped immensely at the time.
I have a love/hate relationship with Substack Notes - on the one hand I love finding new accounts via them, on the other hand I have no wish for social media in my life anymore. I realised a while ago that I was stuck using social media for so long because of fomo, but in actuality the only people important enough to me are in my life in a real way anyway. Now I have more time to read instead 😃 P.S I set up an automation that automatically syncs new subscribers to my Convertkit account via Gmail labels - just incase Substack becomes another Meta! 🫣
Oh that’s interesting, Emma. All of it, but also the bit at the end about syncing subscribers. I don’t know about things like this so I’ll have a look at that, thank you. And you are write, those other types of social media were, at some times, a force for good and change. But how much did we ‘pay’ for that, unwittingly?
Absolutely, I know I’ve definitely ‘paid’ in my attention span limits compared to before social media!
So depressing, Emma...
I still have the messenger but I have deleted the app too. Same with the toilets which are LinkedIn and X
That should say reek not feel but I can’t seem to edit a comment
I got the picture, Joanna! 🤣
I wish I could delete it too. I detest it. But I don’t think d ever make any money again if I did.
It does however feel like Satan’s arsehole after the deadliest shit.
Oh yes, I forgot I deleted Linked In too, but I never really got that. I deleted Messenger too. X