I Don’t Follow, I Subscribe

The idea of following somebody’s fake life sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel.

Introduction

There is nothing that makes me want to use your social media platform less than a ‘follow’ button. The minute you label me as a ‘follower’ of anything or anybody, I’m not interested.

Social media companies that use the language ‘following’ are in the business of ego-induced dopamine rushes. Don’t get me wrong; Youtube is no better in many ways than other platforms with its famous ‘Subscribe’ button, but the language we use is important. It conveys the ideas, intent, and philosophy behind a platforms’ inventors.

If ‘following’ is about ego, then a healthy digital life must be about utility. For me, that utility starts and ends with LinkedIn.

LinkedIn and Good Social Media

I’ve largely been removed from social media for 7 years now. When I talk to people from my past, many of my old peers who are not involved in more professional work think I am dead, or have no clue anything about me. I prefer it that way. This website shares enough personal information about me. I’ve kept a LinkedIn for professional reasons only and to generate new freelance work.

LinkedIn is a tool for me. I don’t scroll the feed daily or even weekly, I don’t post often. I use it with a purpose to network.

Don’t bother with any social feeds even if it is professional like LinkedIn, the return you receive from the time spent simply isn’t economical to day-to-day life. You will receive much better bang-for-your-buck if you decide to go out into the real world. Go to a networking event, go to a party, go hitchhike. Do something.

You will be amazed at the opportunities that come your way from being a nice person to everyone you come across. I heard from somebody yesterday that the average person knows about 250 people. That alone is enough of a reason to just go outside and be kind to everyone. Every person you meet has the potential to introduce you to hundreds more.

Using LinkedIn correctly, as a tool, is the only form of social media I’d say is even somewhat worth investing anytime in and it is certainly not essential by any means.

Since I’ve only ever engaged with LinkedIn in the past 7 years and not any other social media, my mind has been freed up to focus on other priorities.

Freeing Your Self From Social Media

In the drug, alcohol, or sex addiction world, it is known as a rule-of-thumb that once you overcome your addiction, your mind will be freed up by about 50%. This isn’t a fact just a general observation from people. You spend roughly 50% of your brain power or ‘energy’ on a serious addiction.

Apply that same concept to social media. People I meet in life are often confused when I say I don’t use social media. Sometimes they’re creeped out. Maybe that’s fair. My response to them is always that I just prefer to do other things with my time.

Since I don’t focus any of my brain on social media, I am able to work the career I want, exercise daily, run a freelance company, write and read daily, travel where I want to, and have the confidence to speak to any person.

Now, not all of that can be attributed to my lack of social media, but considering I am 25 and was first introduced to Snapchat and Instagram 11 years ago, I know what it is like to be on the other side.

Before I left social media

Before I finally quit social media for good, I was depressed and worried. I saw many of my peers and random strangers living what appeared to be flawless lives.

I was measuring my behind-the-scenes footage against their highlights. The math didn’t add up. The emotional cost was bankrupting my ambition. I realized I was a spectator in my own life while cheering for people I didn’t even know.

Why I choose to subscribe, not follow.

Back to the initial point on subscribing vs. following. Social media companies that choose to say ‘following’ are looking to boost the ego of those being followed. The celebrities, the influencers.

Platforms like YouTube are no better in many ways, but the language is a step in the right direction. When you ‘subscribe’ to a channel, or a Patreon, or a belief system, there is an implied exchange of value.

You aren’t trailing behind a celebrity like a lost dog; you are intentionally signing up for a specific idea or a piece of education. One is about ego. The other is about alignment. I don’t want to be a ‘follower’ of anything, I’m only interested in what is worth subscribing to in regard to my personal life.

Final Thoughts

I encourage you to get rid of one of your social apps for 24 hours. See how it makes you feel. I encourage you that the next time you feel the urge to scroll a feed, you go to the super market and strike up a conversation with a stranger.

Be a subscriber to your own and your values. Go outside and do something worth writing about. Start creating a story of your own that is more interesting than whatever is on social media.

On a personal note…

For those of you who read this blog regularly, I apologize for the hiatus and I hope you enjoyed the new style of writing. I’ve taken some time to focus on skills outside of programming and writing about technology. I plan to continue back up on writing similar to this as well as my prior stuff.

Thanks for reading!