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In my case you’re probably preaching to the choir. I’m on FB to stay connected to family and friends and on Instagram too on occasion for the same reason, but I use both sparingly and sometimes avoid all of it for my psychological welfare. It is much too easy to get drawn into discussions or arguments you don’t want to have or for your insecurities regarding everyone else’s fabulous life and achievements to kick in. Books are a more friendly medium, assuming you pick the right ones! Bloggers too, with the same qualification!😉

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After more than a decade off of Facebook I joined Instagram when I was considering giving Threads a try. After about a month of no activity I received an absurd message from Facebook wanting to know if I would like to come back. My conclusion is they IDd me from about 2010 and would gladly send me the 20K notifications I missed :) I never managed to try Threads but might I guess. Sounds like you are thoughtful user of SM. I suppose that is the key. Lean in with thought and consideration and it could probably be pretty enjoyable!

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As my old ma used to say, everything in moderation, and that definitely applies to SM.

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This is a well-argued and persuasive cautionary tale, Mark. I agree with much of what you say, and your points about Facebook and other social media are even more valid and timely today--examples are legion in our divided and vitriolic politics and abroad. Unfortunately, our lizard brains seem to be winning, with very little self-actualization going on. (I read Maslow in college by the way and wonder if he’s being taught anymore.) I think you could keep going--but it seems you are, with the AI piece.

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Ruth -- THANKS for reading through to the end. I fear it is a little preachy. As a means of staying connected to many in my family I joined Twitter many years ago. It was before the Musk time and it was already very reinforcing. I never became entranced but at times found it to feel like a tractor beam. I left the service a while ago. I missed out on Maslow during my education but have since gone back to better understand him. Your comment about our lizard brains winning. I think that is the point. I just think SM is typically constructed to take your front brain out of the picture. They both have their place. It is just a hack to get the ill-suited rear brain to decide and push our cognitive selves out of the way. I think that is why it can be so nasty and sure of itself. That is what our impulses are for.

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