Under-Informed vs. Uninformed: Why I Quit Social Media
I don’t want or need to be this accessible.
Information is a funny thing. We all crave knowledge on some level. Whether that be news or gossip. It’s fun to know things. But too much of anything can have adverse effects. This is especially true with information.
I reached my information overload last month and decided to figuratively burn the house down. I deleted my Facebook and Instagram accounts because I was inundated with too much information. Especially about things I don’t care about.
Not only did I feel like there was too much information, but I also didn’t like how accessible I was to people. And I’m not talking about my friends and family—I’m referring to complete strangers.
Facebook Marketplace Sucks
My tipping point happened a week after I sold an item on Facebook Marketplace. The person who purchased the item inspected it prior to providing payment. I explained my history with it and how it was in good but used condition. We agreed on a price. The buyer paid me for the item, loaded it up and we went our separate ways.
That was until a week later when the buyer messaged me to complain that they felt like they didn’t get a good deal. What’s more, they felt like I misrepresented the item, which I didn’t because I disclosed in the listing—and in person—that it was missing a few pieces but still functioned correctly.
Again, the buyer physically handled and viewed the item prior to purchasing it. They went the cheap route by purchasing something they didn’t really want in the hope of saving some money. I think that’s what they call buyers remorse.
After this exchange, I felt like anyone could just tap me on the shoulder to get my attention. I don’t want or need to be this accessible. Like most people, I’m busy with family and work and don’t have the time or energy to get wrapped up in other people’s drama.
Benefits of Quitting Social Media
Since I deleted my accounts I’ve noticed that I have much more time to read and to be still. Instead of browsing social media for cars or seeing what people are up to, I spend my free time reading and thinking. The first week was a little weird because I had to retrain my neural pathways to a new default when I was bored. I quickly discovered that I had a stronger desire to read long-form articles from Substack authors that I enjoy. I was no longer consuming dozens of short-form stories. Instead, I was immersing myself in deeper, well-written stories. On top of that, I was reading more books and writing.
I am no longer inundated with advertisements. Instagram used to be a cool platform but it jumped the shark a few years back when it introduced stories and longer videos. It was no longer about photo sharing. Instead, it became the de facto app where influencers shilled products for companies with hyper-focused targeting.
Not interested.
I rarely see advertisements anymore. And when I do it’s almost offensive. I was amazed by how accustomed I was to seeing ads without thinking about it. But the more I noticed them the more I wanted to retreat from these platforms.
Overall, I’m more pleasant and under-informed about the state of the world. I don’t feel like I’m caught up in other people’s lives and drama. I’m spending more quality time with my wife and kids. I’m accomplishing more projects around the house. In general, I’m focusing on the things that I can control.
Pitfalls of Quitting Social Media
I don’t know if this is a pitfall or an advantage but I’m generally behind the curve of current events. I used to know about new car launches, specs, and features. Now, I hear about the important and notable releases eventually. The same is true with news about friends and family. My wife will ask me if I heard about x or y and I typically respond with “no.” And that’s fine because the people I’m closest with have my phone number and correspond with me regularly anyway.
I find that I’m bored more, which isn’t really a negative thing either. It can be uncomfortable at times but I like to sit with that feeling and process why I feel that way. I’m not the person who immediately pulls out their phone while standing in line. Instead, I like to observe a situation and other people. I wish I could say it was interesting but it usually involves looking at a bunch of people standing in line while staring at their phones.
Being Under-Informed Isn’t Uninformed
Email has to be one of the best communication channels ever created. I feel like it's an underrated medium due to how old it is. What I like most about email is that it’s active. You get to decide what messages can reach you and with whom you’d like to correspond.
I subscribe to several newsletters that give me all of the information I need to know on a daily basis. I’m a big fan of the NYT The Morning email that gives readers an overview of what’s going on in the world. I subscribe to a couple of car publications like Road & Track, Bring a Trailer, and Hagerty. But the one email I look forward to the most is the Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday.
This mix of newsletters makes me feel informed without being sucked into social media channels that are full of opinions about a given topic. I can read all of my emails within 30 minutes and then I’m done for the day.
I prefer being under-informed so there’s enough space in my head for musing and daydreaming.
Deleting Instagram and Facebook was one of the best things I did for myself! I haven't been on them for a full year now, and it's amazing how it has shifted my perspective. I see the world as a much more positive place now, and especially view myself more positively.
With world news, politics, and business, I’ve started going the “slow news” route. Usually I’ll catch up via the economist or WSJ on a weekly basis rather than daily or hourly. This is another way for me to re-wire those neural pathways, aside from deleting social media.