.png)
We often talk about how social media use can be a red flag with men but I wanted to make a general post to ask your opinions on your own use.
I think we are all aware that whether it is dating apps, social media, media in general, women are the “product”. We are always objectified, filtered, edited, angled in certain sexualized poses etc. And some of you may also be aware of studies that document how constant sexualized images of women and girls and being bombarded with these affects our mental health - some of you may have experienced this.
So with these in mind I do wonder what your opinions are on using apps that constantly expose us to sexualized and altered images of women and girls? And do your opinions match your actions?
I do wish we moved to a world where the mainstream saw this behavior as trashy and men using it as not just trashy but also a red flag (they are the consumers not the product. Not only do they not have to worry about being objectified they are the ones objectifying women and there are complicated and indirect but undeniable links to violence here. Objectifying something is the first step to justifying violence. Recommend watching “killing us softly” by Jean Killbourne on YouTube).
Personally I stopped using social media a while back. I keep an account on FB just because I fear that I may want to reach out to a pat friend one day and be unable to. But I have no activity on it and I try to not scroll aimlessly on it.
Curious about everyone’s thoughts. I know there may be valid arguments about promoting business on there but often I don’t think they are honest about a) how much the promotion is actually bringing b) how much activity on the apps is actually spent on business and how much on scrolling through images, if then of women
I also got rid of all social media. I grew up without it and raised all my kids without it. I think it’s toxic, especially now with all the filters and body morphing cameras…it creates an environment where we are afraid to show up as ourselves, we hid behind filters and then sit and wait for those validating likes and comments, but inside doesn’t make us feel any better because..is not real. Our skin isn’t “flawless” unlike the “compliments” we receive on how it is, we age..contrary to the “compliment” “you never age”….and so on. I find it terribly sad and also cringe seeing women succumb to this for the temporary high of attention and validation. Then the men….ugh…it’s absolutely pathetic reading their comments. I’m appalled and embarrassed watching them leg humping all these women social media pictures. For me, it’s a huge deal how involved a man is on social…the less the better I’m my opinion.
Its undeniably addictive. I went through a weird withdrawal when i deleted mine. But now I have seven garden beds lol :)
My recommendation is that if you're holding on to social medias for distant family/friends, ask for their phone number. They're scrolling on their phone anyways. Its nice having the occasional call, and sending pictures one on one to eachother. Feels a little more special.
A massive weight off my shoulders is no longer having to see my old highschool friends lie about their race and sexuality and doing weird embarrassing shit for clout. They all had a tinge of animosity towards me because im a witness to their lies. (Why have me on your account if you know that I know you're Irish, not Latina? That you're straight as a pole, not a queer/poly/enby/my husbands a porn addict pls give likes?)
No more politics other than what i cant avoid
No more porn and misogyny shoved in my face
No more whiny male coworkers in my messages
No more incel cousin complaining about wamens bads
No more watching my bestfriend be brainwashed by TRAs and fat activism
I highly recommend
I deleted my social media about 1.5 years ago but kept FB to interact with cousins and I’m in a mommies group in my city as well as a fitness group. I don’t use it for anything else and don’t post anything anywhere really. It’s kind of nice when people know nothing about me or my life 😊😊 I’m accomplishing things on my own and living my life how it should be lived with no one’s nose in it. I also love my body the way I am and stopped the need to compare myself to other fake women online.
I purged Facebook from my life but am having trouble pulling the trigger for Instagram, since a few of my friends live/are moving abroad and I'd like another point of contact. I'm trying to keep my use of it constructive (following art and recipe accounts, purging the body shaming etc accounts). I'd like the ease of having another point of contact without having to feel involved in the social media friends dichotomy (quantity of acquaintances that you call 'friends' and keep informed / at a distance. And no 'real' relationships)
I'm pretty active on social media but I need to cut back on the mindless scrolling. I did purge my SM, so its mainly friends, hobbies, fashion/natural hair inspo, fitness, and the occasional musician. I got rid of almost all the influencers and models. It was just making me feel bad that I was constantly comparing myself to people that I'll never look or live like. And i rarely see positive images of black women with natural hair (especially darkskin) in real life , so i like following that kind of content too. At the end of the day, you can curate it how you want it. I don't see super sexual, misogynistic content because i block it instantly. My biggest issue is the time suck. I know I should be using my time more productively lol. But I also don't want to raise my future kids with it, at least not instagram, snapchat or tiktok if it's still around. They can stay on poptropica and neopets 😂