No More Meta
Last year, I left Twitter (X). It was a tough decision; I had spent 15 years building and curating a network of fellow writers, readers, film enthusiasts, and the like. I stuck it out as long as I could—longer, really, than I should have. Sure, my little corner of that hell site had remained mostly clean and comfortable, but I no longer wanted to be even a tiny cog in that machine. I left for bluer skies.
Now it’s time to do the same with my Meta sites. I’ve removed their apps from my phone, so if you usually keep up with me on Insta, Threads, or Facebook, I’ll no longer be present there. This site, Bluesky, and my YouTube channel are the best places to reach me now, along with good ol’ fashioned email.
It feels a little bit like going back to the stone ages. But I’m also relieved. Cutting back on social media feels freeing. Everyone tells me I must have all these accounts in order to be successful and market my work, but honestly, I’ve seen little to no benefit. And maybe I’m just “bad at it,” but even if that’s the case, I have no interest in being a product for Meta to sell to its shitty advertisers. If I can’t be successful on their platforms, I sure as hell have no desire to contribute to their success.
And, of course, it’s not only about quid pro quo. If it were, I’d have left a long time ago. Facebook happens to be the site I’m most in touch with old friends and distant family. That’s a tough decision to make–cutting that tie–but if those people want to remain in touch with me, there are plenty of other ways. I’m simply unwilling to support Meta’s practices and ideology.
In my most recent YouTube video, I talk a little bit about how media consumption is a personal matter. That is, some people have conscientious reasons for not watching certain directors’ films or reading some authors’ books. I would never presume to tell someone what they should or shouldn’t do; there are various factors involved, and we all have different priorities. Might I judge some people for their choices? Well, I mean, I do give people driving Teslas a side-eye, so… yeah. I think that’s human nature. But the point is to take each person as an individual, and even if I don’t agree or align with their choices—and in some cases I may choose not to associate with people because of those choices—I also don’t think it’s my place to tell people what to do or how to “ethically” consume and/or participate in media. All I can do is decide where the lines and limits are for myself. And I’ve finally hit those limits with Meta.