Another millennial leaves social media

Summary

Haley Z, a licensed therapist and content creator, shares her personal decision to leave mainstream social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, citing reasons such as the time-consuming habit of scrolling, the pressure to perform for others, and the influx of negativity and ads. She explains her continued presence on YouTube as a creative outlet and distinguishes LinkedIn's professional use. Haley encourages mindfulness in social media use and shares her alternative methods of staying connected and creative without relying on traditional social media.

Takeaways

• 😀 Haley Z is a licensed therapist who usually creates content about indie animation and video games but also focuses on mental health.
• 📱 She decided to completely get off social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Snapchat, except for YouTube, which she uses for her channel.
• 🛑 The main reasons for quitting social media include excessive mindless scrolling, feeling the need to perform for others, and being exposed to negativity and distressing news.
• 🚫 Haley felt pressured to post about her cosplay activities to gain traction and was disappointed when her content didn't get the attention she thought it deserved.
• 🏆 She misses the early days of social media where people posted more mundane, everyday content instead of curated highlight reels or violent and sensationalist posts.
• 💼 As a therapist and accountant, Haley doesn't need social media for her professional life, and she doesn't see it as a necessary tool for her career.
• 💡 She believes that social media should be used mindfully and that it's possible to maintain connections and engage in interests without relying on it.
• 🌐 Haley has a website to showcase her creative work and uses other methods like email, texting, and direct interaction to stay in touch with people.
• 🔗 She differentiates between social media platforms, considering LinkedIn as a professional network rather than a social media site.
• 💭 The video encourages viewers to think about their social media usage and to consider the impact it has on their mental health and daily life.

Q & A

Why did Haley decide to quit social media?

Haley decided to quit social media due to several reasons including the mindless scrolling, feeling performative for others, exposure to negativity and distressing news, and the overwhelming number of ads promoting consumerism.

What social media platforms did Haley delete from her life?

Haley deleted Facebook and Instagram from her life, while she had already been without TikTok and Snapchat for about a year and a half, and hadn't used Twitter actively for nearly a decade.

How does Haley feel about the content on Instagram?

Haley feels that Instagram's content is often sensationalized, misleading, and distressing. She also dislikes the excessive focus on attention-grabbing content, including extreme violence and curated highlight reels that don't reflect everyday life.

What is Haley's profession and how does it relate to her decision to quit social media?

Haley is a licensed therapist and an accountant for private practice therapists. She doesn't need social media for her job, which influenced her decision to quit.

Why does Haley still use YouTube?

Haley continues to use YouTube because she sees it as a creative outlet rather than traditional social media. She uses it to share videos on topics she's passionate about, such as Indie animation and mental health, without the pressure of likes and clicks.

How does Haley feel about the ads on social media platforms?

Haley finds the ads on social media platforms to be excessive, annoying, and promoting unnecessary consumerism. She believes that the ads contribute to a harmful cycle of consumption and waste.

What is Haley's perspective on the changes in social media content over the years?

Haley misses the authenticity of earlier social media content, where people posted more casual and silly things, and she feels that current platforms are overly focused on curated highlights and sensationalism.

How does Haley handle the loss of social media for connecting with friends and family?

Haley believes that people who truly want to stay connected will make the effort to reach out through alternative means like email, phone calls, or texts. She's also adjusted to using other platforms like her website for personal connections.

What is Haley's stance on people who choose to continue using social media?

Haley does not judge those who choose to continue using social media. She believes everyone has the right to use it in a way that suits them, as long as it doesn't harm others or promote negative behavior.

What advice does Haley have for people who want to be more mindful on social media?

Haley suggests that people should be more mindful of their social media use by considering the impact it has on their lives and by adjusting their engagement to focus on meaningful connections and content.