oh god same i did the experiment of blocking youtube for a month and a bit and i really think i started portioning my time better, however through the useful parts of it, i tricked myself into reinstalling it and through how easy it is to do so, i just let it eat big chunks of my time regularly again
I have a chrome extension that blocks twitter on my PC every day except Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and it has 100% resulted in me being generally happier and less anxious. I also generally follow the news less fervently, which I was ambivalent about because it seems important to say informed, but I've decided my mental health is more important, and its not that hard to stay generally informed anyway.
I like that weekends-only solution. Really interesting to read your perspective on this, since I'm a fan of your videos and the way you engage with political discourse. -John
I suggest more focus on news _wires_ over news _outlets_ . News wires tend to have no leading language or opinion, just the essential facts and details of a subject. Once that gets to news outlets, it becomes framed with leading language, opinion, misrepresentation, "group-think" terminology and phrasing, and in some cases manufactured outrage. There are of course always exceptions to the rule (even the wires have their moments of fault), and there are still legitimate journalists with integrity and ethics on all sides. Still I find them more reliable and less biased on the whole. [Edited for clarity]
I have found that there is definitely such a thing as being "too woke" when it comes to your mental health. I think staying generally informed and engaged in the world is a good thing, but constantly submitting yourself to the news, and people's reactions to the news, can make it really difficult to maintain hope and stay civil with your friends and family when you are exposed to every opinion or thought that they might have.
That's what I was wondering. How did he learn and follow news like Yemen if he doesn't have any websites? I really want to get rid of reddit, but I know I'd stop following news if I did.
I deleted basically all of my social media (Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, Twitter), and the first thing I noticed was how little people actually noticed. Like I disconnected from all these people I was having regular, though passive, contact with on these platforms. They all had my number, but don’t answer texts. I mostly get my news through my phone now and if I have thoughts I share them with either my wife or my close friends who are still around. It’s funny how quickly you realize it’s more of a place for people like John these days; that is, people who are famous who others want to hear from, whereas people in my situation are just the observers. I didn’t want to be an observer anymore, and it’s actually kind of depressing how little anyone seems to acknowledge that absence of a “friend.”
Peachy Pie really makes you think about why we use social media. Like MySpace used to be a place where you could express yourself and your thoughts online. It was a communal space. But with ad sales and whatnot, it feels like they’re mostly a place for people to capitalize on this generation’s willingness to surrender privileged information that can be packaged into targeted campaigns. And other than that, a place to congregate for memes, feel good stories and outrage. Failing that, these spaces really feel like they’ve lost something of that communal feel. It doesn’t feel like a place for friends as much as it does a place for capitalists and their consumers.
Kirsten Crawford I do sorely miss the “old internet.” But maybe that’s just a feeling all millennials have about the world before it was commercialized. There’s a dig on millennials somewhere in there, but the reality of our world is, corporations used to have to plant people in communities to study what was trending in teens and young adults; social media evolved to allow us to surrender that information willingly. Once people realized they could capitalize on everything we said and did, all that was left of the hollowed our husk of our internet communities was the celebrities and the few people witty and snappy enough to get a following. The rest of our desperately reaching for a place that doesn’t exist anymore.
@@jaydubcee_ Gen X-er here: I really do feel ya. And, no need to dig on the Millenials, as you guys have been around longer than this issue now. I have been on Facebook for quite a while and noticed the quality of the community declining somewhere around 2015-ish...or maybe slightly before. I really noticed it when Facebook started letting more advertisers use their platform and the weird "shuffling" of friends and my own posts on the feed. And, the social/political anger/hatred around 2012. People always shared urban legends and silly untrue things on FB since forever, and before that via email...as nobody wants to use snopes or factcheck. For me, I just clean out my friends list to real friends and started a closed group to chat with people that matter so we can talk about certain topics and actually keep it private. I have also gotten phone numbers of my friends on FB and spoken to them by phone and either have visited them or plan to travel to see them. The invitation is open for them to visit as well. I think interacting outside of the internet is very important too.
+ I would say that he was, for quite awhile, bashing on the social internet as an in general thing and thinking that everyone should get out of it and that it has no net goodness to it for anyone. I feel like in listening to dear hank and john I have slowly heard his position evolve to recognize that the problem lies within him and not necessarily entirely within the internet though things about it make it worse for him and for many.
While there are a few worthwhile and pleasant social aspects to Twitter (in particular), it seemed like however hard I tried to avoid the negativity, I was continually bound by it and rewarded for participating in toxicity. More and more it has become a dumping ground for anger, hate, venting, fighting, outrage, offense, groupthink, tribal alignments...and on and on. I am 13 months free of Twitter: happier, more relaxed and compassionate.
@@vlogbrothers I think you just have to be careful of your communities. My Twitter feed is almost entirely made up of authors, educators (I'm a HS English teacher) and TH-cam friends I've made, mostly over the past five years of VidCon attendance. My Twitter feed is one of the greatest sources of joy and hope in my life. It's also true online, just as it is in life (and as John frequently reminds us) of the words of Mr. Rogers: "Look for the Helpers."
@@juststeveschannel I don't actually have a Twitter account but you can still see what people have tweeted and I just do that for a couple of people - like Hank. This way you have a set point when you are done and since you can't like of reply, you don't get sucked in.
@@juststeveschannel I think you are right. The key is to carefully curate those spaces and find those communities that are engaging but not antagonistic, thoughtful but not thoughtless. Like nerdfighteria. :)
For the most part, my Facebook and Twitter feed are full of science communicators (as I am also one) and various science journal feeds. I sorta feel like those that have major issues with their feeds are following the wrong sorts of pages, accounts, and groups.
You know, I find having thoughts is nice too. We need to have them more often because it's those thoughts that change the world, not the mindless scrolling. Thank s for sharing your thoughts and I will continue to share mine down here as well.
The best thing for my upbringing was my mom making me have "bored time". Time where I couldn't use distracting things (this was pre-internet, so we're talking 8-bit Nintendo) I never gave that up and find times to "be bored" and those times where all I have to do is daydream, I believe, has helped me focus when I need to. Good luck on the next 11 months.
This is somewhat important but it can be taken too far by taking away something a kid is passionate about. Keeping our brains productive is the reason boredom exists, as modivation, but forcing it isnt natural. I see what you mean though
Captain Totes I get that. This wasn’t scheduled time but happened when boredom would naturally happen and I would try and distract myself with video games.
From what I’ve been told and come to understand, boredom is highly related to meditation, where meditating when bored kills the unpleasant feeling and boredom is kinda like involuntary meditation
If I would do that I would kill the pitiful rest of my freetime completely, like then the whole day consists solely of sleep, eat, go to work, work, go home, eat again, be bored, sleep again. I don't think that's for me.
Yeah, I remember when I was bored in high school I invented codes and interesting ciphers just to keep my mind occupied. But now that I have an entire world of entertainment at my finger tips I don't do that as much any more. Turns out that sometimes a little bit of bored time is not a bad thing.
As a first year teacher, one of the most shocking things I’ve observed is how little my students know about navigating the internet properly and using it to their advantage even though they’ve grown up using it daily. I’m really looking forward to your new CrashCourse series and intend to use it in my Civics unit on media and bias!
Taking a leaf from your book, John, I deleted (disabled, cuz my phone won't let me delete it) the youtube app from my phone. I was always congratulating myself on not being addicted to twitter/facebook/instagram/tumblr etc. But it was time to be honest with myself that the thing I was addicted to was youtube. And yes, youtube has a lot of great content, but I do not need to spend hours and hours glued to the endless supply of videos I am not even that interested in watching. So, I will continue to use youtube only on my laptop, watching content that I actually care about, like vlogbrothers! Happy 2019 to everyone!
Yeah, youtube is my issue too. I can understand the appeal of facebook, twitter etc and occasionally browse them but I don't /check/ them. TH-cam is the one thing that I'm on a lot and is generally unfulfilling. I am trying to cut down but it's difficult, especially as I don't currently have a job or much to really occupy myself. But I am making progress, slow as it can be!
I'm glad we made the cut! :) I think everyone's Internet is different and it's great that you've recognized the ways that yours has become a problem for you. Here's to a 2019 of more consciously chosen attention! -John
I am very impressed. My phone tells me that on average I spend an hour on TH-cam every day. I don't have any other social media on my devices. Quitting TH-cam will be the toughest thing I will ever do
I quit Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit two years ago and it has undoubtedly done me a world of good. I found myself constantly measuring myself up against others and it was just so unhealthy for my mental health, self esteem, and productivity in general. My homeboy Theodore Roosevelt once said that comparison is the thief of joy, and let me tell you, that bro knew what was up! I’ve never felt so at ease and comfortable with myself and really enjoy how I am able to have privacy. I also read more now than ever before! It’s great. It’s funny how you can give one thing up and gain so much more! Anyway, long ramble aside, best of luck with your hiatus!
Wellington Smith Not having smartphone and spending time on social media is NOT a valuable achievement. But doing valuable things (educating yourself, helping others, etc) instead with your free time IS in fact valuable. Most people who are proud of not being on Facebook, Twitter etc... are just wasting their time and life in other ways.... Don’t be like those people!
I’m in early high school and it is so hard to actually TALK to people, as in face to face talking. I realize that social media makes it possible to talk to more people, and quicker, but no one really does. All of these new interactions involve abbreviated phrases because we somehow don’t have the time to write out full phrases, yet have hours and hours to spend mindlessly scrolling through our twitter feed. I hardly ever get to just hang out with people, instead of their phones. every place we go to has to be snapchat-ed and every starbucks drink Instagram-ed.
Well, there's a million things on social media to discuss in the first place, so conversation topics are plentiful. I think in the real world, it's not as easy to connect with random strangers if you don't really need to talk with them, or don't already have things in common.
Yeh. I tried to delete all my social media but I ended up having to redownload Instagram and snapchat due to the fact that people don’t text each other anymore they DM each other so to get information off people I actually need these apps which is so dumb
I feel you. One of the hardest things about social media is that you can control whether or not *you* are on it, but you can't control whether the people *around* you are on it. I was in a theatre production recently and there were times backstage when I wanted to chat, but everyone was already on their phones, meaning I could either sit in silence or get out my own phone. And yet, I feel what Shweta is saying, too, because I love to obsess over stories, and when my friends aren't obsessed with the same stories as me, the internet allows me to find people who are obsessed with them too and it opens up so many new ways to process stories and connect with people who love the things you love. It's a very tricky balance to strike.
I've recently discovered that the suggested news feed that my phone makes for me has become increasingly... terrible. It's taken to giving me absolutely useless articles with sensational titles and information that is vague and uninteresting on the inside. Been trying to find a way to teach the algorithm that I don't want these things, but I think it's programmed to prefer these kinds of articles. It isn't easy to make your personal space of internet a good experience when outside forces don't want it to be.
I find that the problem is that these companies place too much reliance on their Algorithms. I have the same issue all the suggested stuff just gives me anxiety or causes me distress or just drives me away from the platform. My opinion is to channel that distaste to motivate you to stop using these platforms. It's what i've done and my life is better.
I've gotten rid of my social media for about 3 years now, and I don't regret it. Sure I have TH-cam and email, but without Facebook or Twitter I've had a lot less anxiety and (like you said) I'm able to have thoughts of my own instead of caring what others say and repeating it. I look forward to watching your crash course series coming up!
Quitting social media was one of the best things I’ve ever done, and I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything, but now I have to find a way to form a healthy relationship with TH-cam
I’ve basically quit all social media myself in the past couple of months and it’s done no end of good for my mental health. The constant whipping up of negative emotions as well as the fact that I would almost robotically check them numerous times every day, I don’t miss either at all.
I just (mostly) quit social media, too. It was after I heard you were, John, but not because you were. I think your discussing it, and recently listening to Hank's podcast Delete This, informed this decision in the background. Recently, I started having noticeable anxiety. I'm not sure how long I've had this, but it had never culminated in a panic attack out of nowhere before. After my second panic attack in a week, I sort of... felt? that the panic was in part coming from my social media use. I never even posted much on social media, and never felt like I was comparing myself to my Facebook friends or anything. Just... the feeling of scrolling was remarkably familiar to me when I was panicking. I go on one subreddit for a game I play to participate in discussions about that game, and that's been it for me for going on two weeks now. No more Twitter or Facebook, and basically no more Reddit (I never had an Instagram). I don't particularly miss it, and I don't go to type the websites into my browser. What I do notice is that I reflexively take my phone out of my pocket and expect to open a social media app in a lot of situations, like waiting for my order to be called at QuickChek. I've filled those spaces with catching up on some webcomics I had fallen behind on, which now I need more of... In the place of all of that social media time, I'm doing other things more. There are shows I've wanted to watch that I've finally watched. I read a novel for the first time since the last A Song of Ice and Fire book came out. I draw more. I play with my cat more. I feel like I can focus so much better on the world around me, even when I'm not in situations that I'd check social media, like when I'm driving. I feel more alert, and healthier, and happier. Some amount of that surely comes from other good things happening in my life recently, but some of it probably comes from less time in the RIFT. For however much you and Hank have influenced this decision, thank you. Good luck on your journey, and I hope you have more insight to share soon :)
I also reflexively take my phone out when in line or when facing some other kind of minor boredom. (Waiting rooms, elevators, etc.) That is something I have not yet been able to stop doing, but for me at least, when I do resist it, I find that I like my thoughts and being with my thoughts more than I would've expected. Thanks for sharing your perspective on this; really interesting. -John
I use webcomics to replace social media apps too! I find it's a lot more entertaining because you never see the same posts/stories over and over again.
YES! I quitted social media about a month ago after a mental breakdown brought on by a terrible day at my old job. As I was crying on the way home I couldn't wait to have WiFi to share what had happened on twitter/facebook and I asked myself "what in the hell am I even thinking? Do I need to broadcast my mental breakdown and get questions and fake worry from people I barely know?" I deactivated my accounts, deleted the apps and had a good mental breakdown by myself. Now, I'm not saying this was healthy, and I intended to come back to the internet as soon as I felt better but it turns out, that my quieter days brought a sense of inner peace I hadn't even known I could have while I was job hunting. Turns out I _can_ have a social life without social media and I sure can stay informed in a better way. I'm honestly amazed at myself. I might not go a year without social media, but at least now I'm conscious of the amount of time I use my phone and I enjoy my free time more because I'm not itching to touch the phone again. I'm super bored though, so thank you for this crash course John, I have something to look forward
I heard you talk about the boredom part on Dear Hank and John a few months ago, and how having time to think about things during the day helped you actually turn off your mind and go to sleep better at night. I tried it out, and holy cow. Nothing so easy has made such of a difference in my life. Now in waiting rooms, walking to my car, standing at the platform for the metro, I don't look at my phone (mostly). I let myself be bored. I let myself stare around and think and have songs stuck in my head and just...be bored. It reminds me of when I was a kid, but in a good way. And I do sleep better at night. Thank you, John.
John, this project made me delete Twitter for good (though I had mostly stopped using it) and I’m focusing on significantly cutting down social media and technology based content, and instead I’m rereading Harry Potter. It’s been WONDERFUL! So thanks for being the push I really needed!
I think the fact that I am in a panic thinking about your missing out on something on social media speaks to my own addiction pretty strongly. I admire you for taking the plunge and sticking with it. I'm looking forward to the new CC, too!
I would be interesting if he did write it down and put that all into a more biographical book. Or is there another genre to better describe what I'm thinking...
You described all the things I miss from the days before social media. Bored time for me was creative time. Now I rarely get lost in my literal "own little world" because I have the itch to be distracted. And those worlds of mine were so much of who I am, that I think it's one of the big roots of my depression.
God, trying to do assignments has made me realise that when I open a new tab on Chrome, my hands auto-type "tw" to load twitter. Literally automatically. I spent last summer with no socials on my phone, but I'm starting to think I need to go social-less entirely for this summer. Good to hear your thoughts on it though, John. Keep it up!
Muting stuff and unfollowing people and making good use of “not interested” tabs has curated a pretty healthy social media experience for myself. It’s in defining what upsets you and not continuing to self sabotage. I hope it continues to go well for you!
I'm 14 months into my "no social media (except youtube)" life and here's the results so far: (1) I don't miss any of it. After the initial few months of withdrawal symptoms that you described here (including typing "F" into the address bar dozens of times each day, only to end up on a site that I no longer have an account for) my itch and urge for accessing these sites has disappeared completely. (2) I use TH-cam a LOT more. When you eliminate a habit/addiction, it MUST be replace by something else. I didn't realize it until recently but I had simply replaced social media with TH-cam and it sucks up almost as much time as the others before it. Fixing that is a work in progress but at least there's only one beast to tackle now. (3) I don't feel any more lonely, despite the fact that I had basically no friends outside social media. I'm one of those people who really has no social life, so I had assumed that getting rid of social media would make me go from "practically no friends" to "absolutely no friends". And while that is technically what happened, I realized that it's worse to have fake friends than no friends at all. Why is that? Because at least when you have zero friends, you have no excuse NOT to go find people to be around. And whatever few relationships I muster to have are more meaningful than the hundreds I had on Facebook. Pro tip for attention issues in general: on your phone do these things: - Turn off ALL notifications from apps except those coming from people directly making contact with you (e.g. keep SMS notifications, but turn off email notifications, etc). That way, you won't be alerted every minute about something that you'd be better off checking manually at a more opportune time. - If you want to go super hardcore mode, set your phone's screen to Black & White mode. There's a lot of science that says that your phone is far less addictive when there's no color. I've had my phone like this for about 6 months and it made an immediate difference. I sometimes have to re-enable colors temporarily, but that's rare. If you actually read this entire comment, first reply with something interesting or friendly. Then go outside and enjoy the day :)
For the most part I haven’t used any social media other than TH-cam in over a decade. I don’t feel it has made me any less addicted to social media though. I’m thinking of quitting from it because trying to moderate the time I spent on it didn’t seem to work. I don’t know what else I would use to fill my time though. Obviously I can be more productive but I feel if I don’t substitute it with something fun but healthy, I’m going to inevitably fall back to TH-cam.
I would really love to see both green brothers study something new together. Right now I’m studying the teaching of Socrates, and there is nothing more that I would like the to watch my 2 beloved teachers studying the art of asking questions. Thank you for making every journey feels like an adventure 🥳🚀
"I've come to realize that the problem is deeper than I first thought so I'm not only going to examine the problem for myself but i'm going to examine it in a way that teaches and helps others." John, you are being the person Mr. Rogers knew you could be. Thank you.
@Sabi Turkki He was the host of a children's television program called "Mister Roger's Neighborhood" which ran for 33 years on PBS. He is seen by many to be an example of morality and human kindness. And by all accounts he was as genuine and kind off-screen as he appeared on screen.
I recently took the Twitter and Facebook apps off my phone. Was never a big user of FB but was with Twitter. It’s nice to take a step back and examine how much I was scrolling through Twitter out of boredom. I’d rather pick up a book instead. Great video and a year from social media sounds like a good challenge, best of luck.
I like how you related how, "My thoughts are mine!" Too many people share their thoughts on social media. Even though the particular social media used may not always offer audio, the thoughts on them can be deafening as you read them.
The part where you talked about not being able to get lost in a book without checking social media really hit home to me. That's actually one of my goals this year is to read longer without that type of distraction.
“It had become harder to lose myself in a book without feeling an urge to look at my phone or open my computer.” Honestly, that happens to me all the time, but I didn’t think it was possible for it to happen to someone like John Green.
We weren't allowed to say the phrase "I'm bored" growing up. If everyone around you was busy, well, you just had to find something else to do. (And we only got an hour of TV after school) As the youngest in my family, I was often left to my own devices, and I think it made me the creative person I am today. It forced me to actually do things, instead of just passively ingesting the world around me. If I had run out of books from the library, well, I just had to write my own, right? If I saw a movie I liked, I could play pretend or come up with my own story. In high school, I watched you guys and the Lizzie Bennet Diaries and used that to make my own channel. And now, even with the unlimited stream of information, if I'm listening to podcasts all the time, I can certainly make one. Even though I'm now as addicted to social media as everyone else, I think I can somewhat utilize that to actually create something. Because otherwise, I'd be bored.
I remembered on New Year’s Eve that my 2018 resolution was to quit Facebook. I undeactivated and went back to using it mid-February. Now I’m renewing my resolution for 2019, wish me luck!
I think the enjoyment people get out of Facebook depends on their real life communities much more than other social media. Everyone at my school uses it, for example, so I experience Facebook as an extension of my social experience attending school. Without that real life connection, Facebook becomes much less interesting and easier to detach from than a site where you follow content from people you don’t really know.
I needed to hear this. I've been running away from my life but spending countless hours on TH-cam. I love YT but it's an unhealthy love and probably better described as an addiction. I rarely do anything I just watch other people doing things. I know I should put the damn thing down but always fall back to its comfortable ease of escape. I cant believe how easy it was to become this way and how hard it is to change. Thanks for always making me think John, I appreciate ya.
You've got this, John! I deleted facebook and twitter off of my phone after I started listening to Hank and Katherine's podcast, and it's been a huge improvement in my life. Now I only look at facebook if I've gotten five email notifications saying that my mom tagged me on a post on facebook, and I only look at twitter if I want to see the show notes for Delete This. So good luck with the next 11 months, and know that the nerdfighters are here to support you!
With the exception of the bare necessities to do my job as a marketer, I also quit social media and have experienced many of the same feelings. I'm definitely struggling with the pull to check still, but overall I think I'm much happier with not knowing all the minutiae that's shared on Facebook and Twitter especially. Not being bombarded by information I didn't specifically ask for has been really healthy for me.
Good on you, John! I followed the same journey and it was transformative. I believe a radical shift in lifestyle/routine is always insightful if you're eyes are open, especially when it's based in discipline and focus. Good luck and good media fasting, Signed an admirer
Thanks for being so honest, John. I feel like a lot of successful people preach discipline and make us feel bad for being tempted by distractions like social media. It's comforting to know that someone as productive as you can still feel exactly like everyone else about social media. I think this problem isn't about lack of discipline, it's a very human problem that affects almost everyone and we do need to change how we approach what we surf on the web. I'm gonna check out that crash course. I made an animated video recently about social media addiction myself, so it'll be interesting to see if I come across new information about this topic.
John I did the same thing for almost two years. It is liberating. I completely agree with what you said. I really appreciate your candor and attitude about it all.
I got tired of the fake image that people go a little too out of their way to create and so I left out of sheer irritation that I couldn't find anything genuine on any social media (I think TH-cam when regulated, has many genuine personalities and positive content that teaches more than it wrecks) and yet I find myself missing the artwork my favorite artists posted daily
JOHN! There is a nerdfighter named Amber Blevins in need. She is disabled and dealing with a serious and potentially fatal health condition (craniocervical instability I think) and doesn't have the money to access the doctors she needs since she is excluded from Medicare and Medicaid. We've been talking in the Nerdfighteria Facebook group about setting up a fundraiser but we really need your help. We've sent emails to you and Hank (along with Maureen and some other people that are able to get in contact with you all). She estimates that the medical costs would be around $10-15k. She's getting progressively worse and if she doesn't get treatment she will die. We are all ready to help, but we need to get the word out. I think she's found nerdfighters in her area to help with rides to appointments and running errands, but she still needs financial help. Making a video detailing her situation and linking a fundraiser could save her life. I know you're not on Twitter right now, but we're using #helpamberblevins Please upvote so John will maybe see this. Thank you. -Abby EDIT: It seems like he liked a bunch of comments from the same hour I posted this (some higher likes some lower although I don't know how many likes it had at that hour). Disheartening, but we can't give up. Keep posting on new vlogbrothers content #helpamberblevins.
Yo! I’ve been off of social media for a couple of years now too - I can definitely relate to the boredom bit and relearning how to have quiet thoughts. Good luck with your journey!!
When I was a kid in the 1st grade, I told my teacher I was bored. Her response was, "being bored is stupid!" which I guess shaped my perspective on boredom, because it caused me to always look for a way to evade it, always try to be occupied, and therefore, almost never having time for myself and my thoughts. But when I did have time for my thoughts, they would usually be negative, pessimistic and anxiety-inducing, which gave me all the more reason to never be alone with nothing to do but think. But after watching this video, I might give it another go.
This is amazing. I myself have wanted to on multip occasions delete all of my social media or simply trade in my iphone for a dumb phone because I hate what it does to my soul. I think your points though are solid. Our attention spans are fractured and long form reading is declining. People are staring into their phones and whether they're replying to emails or looking at memes, their minds are being rewired, trained to skim, rather than to think and ponder. People now have an instant escape from boredom, but when did boredom become such a bad thing. Sitting in boredom can be a really magical thing and launch you into so many creative endeavors. Now of course I'm not going to be a total Luddite and abandon all technology, but I just think we need to consider more what we're spending our time on, and whether it's really valuable for us and for the people around us. I really do like what you say about the problem not being the internet but my internet. The reason we go on our phones or computers is not because of the our phone itself but because somethign in us has a desire to see or something on our phones/computers. This means thta fixing the problem means fixing oruselves, which can be a really tough pill to swallow. Anyways, I've taken up too much space, but this is important and I am glad you addressed it. Good day.
Is TH-cam not considered social media by you? I’m curious as to how the community aspect of TH-cam could make or break the perception of it as a social media platform, or are you generally staying away from it besides creating videos?
Pretty sure youtube is more of an entertainment platform with “social media”-esque features. But personally i dont go to youtube to use the social media features more than to actually watch videos.
2:25 feeding without nourishing and distract without enriching. Power statement. I'm excited for your crash course. It's been a long time coming for a lesson on how to decipher and filter all the useless information on the internet.
Oh god, I turned off my FB and IG yesterday and I just keep grabbing my phone and looking at it before I realize there's nothing to look at... it ridiculous how often I am looking at it.
I have GAD and Panic Disorder and one of the things that signals to me that I’m entering a headspace that’s unhealthy is my habits on socials. Refreshing constantly. Hopping out of an app just to load it back up a couple minutes later. I don’t even realize I’m doing it until I’m frustrated that I’m seeing all the same things and it clicks. “That’s because you were JUST in there.” That’s usually a good sign to put the phone in another room, as far from me as I can, walk away and deal with my thought patterns that led me there. It’s not that social media causes me anxiety, but constantly checking it is a symptom of it. It’s a crutch I use to distract myself. I need to throw away the crutch and work it out.
Love that closing line. I've noticed the same regarding boredom; it leads me to more engrossing thoughts than anything I find while browsing the internet.
Our internet connection has been patchy and slow all weekend, and it's really made me realise how much I depend on it for entertainment and information. Definitely helped remind me we have books. Good luck with the rest of the year, John!
I hear that. I think we all have different Internets. I do worry that even here I am contributing to this great Attention Land Grab of huge corporations. But on the other hand, I really like making TH-cam videos and I feel happy here. I dunno. -John
@@vlogbrothers I think the problems with this sort of thing are more complicated than that. To me having an unhealthy relationship with the internet is like an unhealthy relationship with food. Vlogbrothers is like, a pretty healthy but tasty meal that someone can certainly overindulge in rather than say the non-diet Dr Pepper some other TH-camrs are.
@@vlogbrothers I think there is a difference though. You talked about sites that 'feed without nourishing'. I definitely feel nourished after watching this. And I'm intellectually engaged, as evidenced by me typing this comment (although it's not *that* intellectual I guess..). Being truly engaging without being infuriating is pretty rare on the internet. And I find those qualities most often on TH-cam.
I think we need collaboration and we’re not using the internet to its full capacity.. We are in a post-industrial digital age of consumerism with a mostly (or becoming mostly?) thinking/service/entertainment economy due to programming. Start my own business looks like creating a dating website, being a video game streamer/entertainer or TH-cam star.. I hate to say it but we need to rethink economic policy as monetizing our assets with a focus on GDP growth isn’t enough? People learn faster than ever through the internet... we just don’t have enough.. collaboration.. for what means? People can start their own business still and private ownership, sure... but most of what we produce are wants and wanting to get rich by selling any product is a want too? We certainly don’t need GDP growth which competition drives..? Cyber security and medical are some needs. Also if companies go public via IPO’s then the company is already socialized/publicly owned if millions own shares/stocks? You have to admit most shareholders have no idea what direction the company should head or what upcoming threats there are... most just know they receive a consistent % return. Plus, the car was made in 1885... since, there has been rounds of additions and improvements. Shouldn’t the public own rights to the old intellectual property except the improvements? Does this mean other old intellectual property should belong to the public? Can we collaborate/educate on a global scale about any topic? End rant.
I am 2 weeks social media free as of today (besides the Life’s Library Discord app) and I have to say that how I read books and engage with others has changed SO much. My attention span was truly terrible and I didn’t even notice that until I read a book that would normally take me a week in two days. I feel like I am taking my time more with tasks and am losing that social media “gimme gimme now” mentality that scrolling gives me. Rosianna mentioned in our chat room that she also deleted Instagram over the weekend and I’m just so glad to see that we are trying to work towards human interactions and away from the digital era a bit....there’s more life outside of the screen! -I say as I type away on my tiny box of light thing called a phone
Less time on the social meeds Is exactly what John Green needs It's hard, yes But it is for the best You may type Reddit, Twitter, Tap Instagram or Tumblr However all these things have been put to slumber So for a year, we shall wait For John to come back through the internet's gate
Talking about how social media fills your time without actually enriching it resonates with me. You've inspired me to spend less time on social media this year! I'm not banning it, but I am trying to reduce the amount of time I spend just sitting around and browsing Reddit. Sure, it's a fun way to kill time, but there are far more relaxing and/or fulfilling ways to spend an hour than scrolling on my phone. Sometimes it can be a useful tool if I am anxious (as it can quickly take my mind off of my anxiety), but at the same time, it can also give me anxiety in some situations. I'm going to try to find a better balance between using it when I need a quick distraction and using it for extended periods during my free time at home.
Wow 2veritasium talked about anti social media this week as well. It's interesting because a lot of people around me is feeling the same way as john and a ppl on this comment section. I guess it's really becoming this decade's biggest problem. If it's not a problem it's sure is a challenge for us humans. I personally feel that a lot of ppl are gaining awareness.
I deleted all social media apps about 2 months ago, and I do agree that I can find myself bored in my own home, but more so in social settings. I didn't realize how often people are on their phones, even in a group of people, until I wasn't. I found connecting with people right in front of you was just as, if not, harder than on any social platform. As someone who was absolutely glued to their phone from when they woke up, right until they went to sleep, it's still hard to separate myself from my device. I'm not on it nearly as much as I used to be, but I still catch myself scrolling through news feeds, trying to converse with people I wouldn't usually talk to, going through useless apps, and so on. I will continue to try and fill those empty voids with maybe volunteer reading at my local library, getting more physically active, or visiting places in my city that I've always wanted to but 'never have time for'. I'll post an update on how it's going in about 3-4 months. Just to see if ditching social media actually made any improvements on my daily life.
Crash Course Navigating Digital Information is going to be a great series! I can't wait to watch and share. I too am on a social media diet - though not as extreme as yours. It's been pretty great thus far. More diet to come. Thanks for being part of the inspiration.
I left social media in July 2018, and haven't looked back. I occasionally check my husband's facebook to keep up with school events for my daughter, but omg, it has drastically reduced my anxiety, my "wanting" for things (don't see it, don't want it), etc... It's just all around great. I hope your experiment is still going well. I think it's a worthwhile thing. I'm an addict to social media, and I was disgusting myself. Thankfully there was a cure for that!
Hearing about you quitting social media for a year on your podcast with Hank inspired me to do the same this year! Like you said, its not a permanent fix, but it has greatly helped my mental health and I feel better for it! 😊
I have done this about 3 month except the only TH-cam. It was like everything just fine and I felt like reborn in such a new day, or new life. I think I'm really out of those social media for the whole 2019. It's time to make something real in TH-cam.
Yesss! I love that you decided to do that because I really do think it frees up so much time and allows you to do what you truly want! I just posted a 1 minute poem about the realities of Social Media and I'm super curious to know what you think about it since you have committed to take a detox from social media.
My 100-day twitter hiatus is ending soon and I have many mixed feelings about coming back to it. Which yes, was the idea, but it's odd since twitter used to be a huge part of my time online and where I interacted with friends the most
John, you certainly caught my attention when you brought up the topic of boredom. I too have been struggling with my social media fixation and I recently realized that I'm just bored. I was being really hard on myself saying "What happened to you?" and "You never do your artwork anymore." This realization only gave me more anxiety about my current situation and state of being. But when I finally understood that I was just bored, that gave me a proper wakeup call to give myself more projects to do with my time. Things that make me happy. This way, I feel like I have more value and substance to my life, rather than how many likes I got from one tweet. Thank you. DFTBA
I was so influenced by this and I started doing this because I am starting at university and it has helped me so much to keep focused. Thank you so much John!!!
way to go and good on you, john! i try to plan for two offline-and-without-news days each month. not as impressive as your goal, but it helps me to keep in touch with the real world now and again.
Crash Course hooked me on obtaining internet knowledge about two years ago. I've seen much genius since but you were the first and I'm happy for the positive update. I look forward to your new format that all You Tubers are inventing to survive. And I too read a book without a Face.
Quitting social media is a thing I’ve been considering for a very long time but you’re definitely right John, the problem is how I’m using the internet. I’m not entirely sure how to go about fixing my relationship with the internet (because cold turkey just isn’t going to work) but I’m going to keep trying different things. I look forward to this new crash course! Any information i can learn about using the internet more intentionally will be helpful!
Not really for me? But it is for some people, I know. My relationship with YT is vastly different from my relationship with twitter or reddit. I don't really browse here. (But I'm at risk of STARTING to browse now that I can't access those other platforms!) -John
That is a great question and I’d have to agree with John that my relationship with TH-cam is incredibly different to any other platform. There’s a lot more effort that goes into video creation than slapping some sentences into twitter or Facebook status or a reddit forum. TH-cam is a lot more creative and also introspective because the time it takes to film, then edit, then upload should give a person enough time to be self aware enough to remove anything that could be construed as ignorant or ill informed. (Keyword: ... should. Plenty of people on TH-cam aren’t this way but you get the point). I’d personally be more likely to say something hot headed and feisty on twitter than to creative a video and upload.
So I've never joined reddit or Twitter and I think I'm addicted to TH-cam, so I don't know what to now.... I can't even say that I'm happy but I don't think that social media makes people unhappy. I think it's good for you John that you're taking a break and finding it worthwhile. The longest I've been without social media since I started actively using it in 2014 is a month. What I realised when I came back in social media(Instagram &Facebook) is that things happened in others lives that I did not know about and I did not care. I was surprised at how easy it was to go back to old habits and the FOMO kept me coming back 💙
Last october, after a serious political disapointment (I'm brazilian), I left Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and Twitter in the same day. As a result, TH-cam took over my life.
About a month or so ago I deleted all of the social media apps on my phone and implemented obstacles to accessing them via computer. I've found that not only am I so much more mindful in everyday life, but I feel overall better about the thoughts I am having as, like John said, they're now... mine. This has greatly fostered the creativity I used to have and feared I lost, and has carved out time to sit with any discomfort that has long lived within me. Social media, at least for me, creates this sense of unwanted but seemingly inevitable urgency that even if followed, leads you nowhere. Or at least nowhere good... And I have found that with my thoughts being mine, and my updates' lack of urgency, I am actually able to formulate opinions that belong to me, as well as the ability to cultivate a healthier headspace that is not comprised solely of the way(s) in which I gather I am supposed to feel.
I deleted all social media with the exception of Instagram a little over a year ago. I float on TH-cam less and less these days as well. I found the first couple of months were hard and like you I realized how often I was tangled in so much stimulus because I wasn’t using social media and felt somewhat disconnected in a way I hadn’t quite contemplated. I find now that I spend more real time talking to friends face to face, by letters or phone and I feel more connected to those people as a result of that. I also find myself completing more art projects and projects around the house than I did before. When I go hiking I’m not stressed about getting a signal or checking my phone, actually enjoying the world around me. The hard part at the beginning was when people asked me if I saw this or that thing on Facebook, etc. and these days it doesn’t even phase me anymore. I don’t see myself ever going back to social media because my attention span is better and I’m less stressed. Best of luck to you on this journey and thank you for sharing it with us.
Love this ♡ Keep going, John. I'm doing 30 day challenges like wheezy waiter. December was no internet. January is no eating meals out. This is actually working for me. Cheers :)
Though I often have issues seeing eye to eye with you two. I’m always happy to be inflicted with your insights, no matter the validity. Maybe it’s because of the dynamic between you two, or the fact that you both remind me so much of my brothers... anyway it’s not important. You’ve hit on something extremely important, the year of no social media will do you wonders. I’d also encourage you not to view boredom as unpleasant, or at least figure out why you think it’s unpleasant and evaluate if you should keep with that concept or boredom. My mother told me on more than one occasion that, “interesting people are never bored.” I now understand what she meant, let that imagination that I know you have (I’ve read a few of your books) stretch it’s wings without feeling like you’re wasting time, or that you could be doing something meaningful. You are already, depending on how you go about it, dwell on good things and relax, have fun. The better you become the easier it will be to actually focus when the time comes.
I recently deleted the Facebook app from my phone and installed StayFocused on my browser to limit my time on Facebook on my computer as well. It was SUCH a great idea. Thank you for this video!
This is IMO the best video with the best conclusion that I've watched regarding the dangers/bad things about Social Media. Love how you speak from your perspective, talk about what you like and what you dislike, and how you've done it. I feel like I should try yet I know there would be so much stuff I'd miss. I think I'd start with a less NUCLEAR option tho lmao, maybe from like 9am to 9pm and from midnight to 9 am.
I’m a senior in HS and I HATE what social media and phone addiction does to me. But I can’t stop. Like I’ve been posting Instagram and Snapchat stories more often lately. And It makes me have this really toxic mindset. It’s like I feel like if people don’t know that something is happening in my life, that that thing doesn’t matter. Which I know isn’t true. And I’m constantly checking to see how many people are seeing it or even worse how many guys see it. This isn’t the only issue I have but it’s a more recent one. But then I fear that if I get rid of it, then I won’t get to keep in touch with people. But I know I should be spending wayyy less time on it. Idk. I appreciate this video.
I have not cut down on my social media consumption (although after this, I'm starting to think maybe I should!), but I have attempted to spend some time actively away from it - i.e. reading after work instead of goofing around on the internet. It's SO HARD. And I love reading! But the distraction of my phone/laptop is so easy to give into. Thanks for making me consider "my internet" as well.
So happy you’re getting informed on Yemen! It’s so often overlooked. Also, I’ve blocked social media from 5am-12pm, and my mornings are so much better.
woah. Having own thoughts
DODIE!!!
Ironically enough, I'm only watching this because I checked my phone while I should have been doing other things.
TH-cam is my problem
@@r0z3d I feel like I should say "Ditto!"... but I haven't really admitted to myself it's a problem yet 😅
oh god same
i did the experiment of blocking youtube for a month and a bit and i really think i started portioning my time better, however through the useful parts of it, i tricked myself into reinstalling it and through how easy it is to do so, i just let it eat big chunks of my time regularly again
I'm in a TH-cam hole right now
"I need to find out what lies on the other side of boredom." Holy heck that's relatable.
I have a chrome extension that blocks twitter on my PC every day except Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and it has 100% resulted in me being generally happier and less anxious. I also generally follow the news less fervently, which I was ambivalent about because it seems important to say informed, but I've decided my mental health is more important, and its not that hard to stay generally informed anyway.
I like that weekends-only solution. Really interesting to read your perspective on this, since I'm a fan of your videos and the way you engage with political discourse. -John
I suggest more focus on news _wires_ over news _outlets_ . News wires tend to have no leading language or opinion, just the essential facts and details of a subject. Once that gets to news outlets, it becomes framed with leading language, opinion, misrepresentation, "group-think" terminology and phrasing, and in some cases manufactured outrage. There are of course always exceptions to the rule (even the wires have their moments of fault), and there are still legitimate journalists with integrity and ethics on all sides. Still I find them more reliable and less biased on the whole.
[Edited for clarity]
What extension is it?
I generally read the news of the day on the abc news website (www.abc.net.au/news/) and watch Q&A when it's on to keep up. Love both of your channels.
I have found that there is definitely such a thing as being "too woke" when it comes to your mental health. I think staying generally informed and engaged in the world is a good thing, but constantly submitting yourself to the news, and people's reactions to the news, can make it really difficult to maintain hope and stay civil with your friends and family when you are exposed to every opinion or thought that they might have.
I am happy you know more about YEMEN now !!
Much love from Yemen 🇾🇪 ❤️
I hope this will be over soon for us !
Good luck!
Best of luck!
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That's what I was wondering. How did he learn and follow news like Yemen if he doesn't have any websites? I really want to get rid of reddit, but I know I'd stop following news if I did.
There are news sites and apps which can give you notifications and update you on politics.
I deleted basically all of my social media (Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, Twitter), and the first thing I noticed was how little people actually noticed. Like I disconnected from all these people I was having regular, though passive, contact with on these platforms. They all had my number, but don’t answer texts. I mostly get my news through my phone now and if I have thoughts I share them with either my wife or my close friends who are still around. It’s funny how quickly you realize it’s more of a place for people like John these days; that is, people who are famous who others want to hear from, whereas people in my situation are just the observers. I didn’t want to be an observer anymore, and it’s actually kind of depressing how little anyone seems to acknowledge that absence of a “friend.”
Same here! I expected messages from people asking what had happened since I wasn't on instagram/facebook/Snapchat anymore and nothing came.
Peachy Pie really makes you think about why we use social media. Like MySpace used to be a place where you could express yourself and your thoughts online. It was a communal space. But with ad sales and whatnot, it feels like they’re mostly a place for people to capitalize on this generation’s willingness to surrender privileged information that can be packaged into targeted campaigns. And other than that, a place to congregate for memes, feel good stories and outrage. Failing that, these spaces really feel like they’ve lost something of that communal feel. It doesn’t feel like a place for friends as much as it does a place for capitalists and their consumers.
Kirsten Crawford I do sorely miss the “old internet.” But maybe that’s just a feeling all millennials have about the world before it was commercialized. There’s a dig on millennials somewhere in there, but the reality of our world is, corporations used to have to plant people in communities to study what was trending in teens and young adults; social media evolved to allow us to surrender that information willingly. Once people realized they could capitalize on everything we said and did, all that was left of the hollowed our husk of our internet communities was the celebrities and the few people witty and snappy enough to get a following. The rest of our desperately reaching for a place that doesn’t exist anymore.
@@jaydubcee_ Gen X-er here: I really do feel ya. And, no need to dig on the Millenials, as you guys have been around longer than this issue now. I have been on Facebook for quite a while and noticed the quality of the community declining somewhere around 2015-ish...or maybe slightly before. I really noticed it when Facebook started letting more advertisers use their platform and the weird "shuffling" of friends and my own posts on the feed. And, the social/political anger/hatred around 2012. People always shared urban legends and silly untrue things on FB since forever, and before that via email...as nobody wants to use snopes or factcheck. For me, I just clean out my friends list to real friends and started a closed group to chat with people that matter so we can talk about certain topics and actually keep it private. I have also gotten phone numbers of my friends on FB and spoken to them by phone and either have visited them or plan to travel to see them. The invitation is open for them to visit as well. I think interacting outside of the internet is very important too.
ZombieMommy nothing is private on the internet
Man, I so admire how much you're able to promote reducing social media use while not being patronizing or "holier than thou". Absolutely beautiful.
Emily +
John and Hank are intelligent and nuansed people, plain and simple.
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I would say that he was, for quite awhile, bashing on the social internet as an in general thing and thinking that everyone should get out of it and that it has no net goodness to it for anyone. I feel like in listening to dear hank and john I have slowly heard his position evolve to recognize that the problem lies within him and not necessarily entirely within the internet though things about it make it worse for him and for many.
riiiighttt!!!!
While there are a few worthwhile and pleasant social aspects to Twitter (in particular), it seemed like however hard I tried to avoid the negativity, I was continually bound by it and rewarded for participating in toxicity. More and more it has become a dumping ground for anger, hate, venting, fighting, outrage, offense, groupthink, tribal alignments...and on and on. I am 13 months free of Twitter: happier, more relaxed and compassionate.
Ssssaaaaaaammmmmmeeeeee. -John
@@vlogbrothers I think you just have to be careful of your communities. My Twitter feed is almost entirely made up of authors, educators (I'm a HS English teacher) and TH-cam friends I've made, mostly over the past five years of VidCon attendance. My Twitter feed is one of the greatest sources of joy and hope in my life. It's also true online, just as it is in life (and as John frequently reminds us) of the words of Mr. Rogers: "Look for the Helpers."
@@juststeveschannel I don't actually have a Twitter account but you can still see what people have tweeted and I just do that for a couple of people - like Hank. This way you have a set point when you are done and since you can't like of reply, you don't get sucked in.
@@juststeveschannel I think you are right. The key is to carefully curate those spaces and find those communities that are engaging but not antagonistic, thoughtful but not thoughtless. Like nerdfighteria. :)
For the most part, my Facebook and Twitter feed are full of science communicators (as I am also one) and various science journal feeds. I sorta feel like those that have major issues with their feeds are following the wrong sorts of pages, accounts, and groups.
"Itchy in the way only ____ can scratch" fits most addictions I can think of.
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this is so great, yeah
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You know, I find having thoughts is nice too. We need to have them more often because it's those thoughts that change the world, not the mindless scrolling. Thank s for sharing your thoughts and I will continue to share mine down here as well.
The irony that I encounter this thought while mindlessly scrolling... 🤦♀️ But also the paradox?
You are 100% right.
The best thing for my upbringing was my mom making me have "bored time". Time where I couldn't use distracting things (this was pre-internet, so we're talking 8-bit Nintendo) I never gave that up and find times to "be bored" and those times where all I have to do is daydream, I believe, has helped me focus when I need to. Good luck on the next 11 months.
This is somewhat important but it can be taken too far by taking away something a kid is passionate about. Keeping our brains productive is the reason boredom exists, as modivation, but forcing it isnt natural. I see what you mean though
Captain Totes I get that. This wasn’t scheduled time but happened when boredom would naturally happen and I would try and distract myself with video games.
From what I’ve been told and come to understand, boredom is highly related to meditation, where meditating when bored kills the unpleasant feeling and boredom is kinda like involuntary meditation
If I would do that I would kill the pitiful rest of my freetime completely, like then the whole day consists solely of sleep, eat, go to work, work, go home, eat again, be bored, sleep again.
I don't think that's for me.
Yeah, I remember when I was bored in high school I invented codes and interesting ciphers just to keep my mind occupied. But now that I have an entire world of entertainment at my finger tips I don't do that as much any more. Turns out that sometimes a little bit of bored time is not a bad thing.
As a first year teacher, one of the most shocking things I’ve observed is how little my students know about navigating the internet properly and using it to their advantage even though they’ve grown up using it daily. I’m really looking forward to your new CrashCourse series and intend to use it in my Civics unit on media and bias!
Taking a leaf from your book, John, I deleted (disabled, cuz my phone won't let me delete it) the youtube app from my phone. I was always congratulating myself on not being addicted to twitter/facebook/instagram/tumblr etc. But it was time to be honest with myself that the thing I was addicted to was youtube. And yes, youtube has a lot of great content, but I do not need to spend hours and hours glued to the endless supply of videos I am not even that interested in watching. So, I will continue to use youtube only on my laptop, watching content that I actually care about, like vlogbrothers! Happy 2019 to everyone!
Yeah, youtube is my issue too. I can understand the appeal of facebook, twitter etc and occasionally browse them but I don't /check/ them. TH-cam is the one thing that I'm on a lot and is generally unfulfilling. I am trying to cut down but it's difficult, especially as I don't currently have a job or much to really occupy myself. But I am making progress, slow as it can be!
I'm glad we made the cut! :) I think everyone's Internet is different and it's great that you've recognized the ways that yours has become a problem for you. Here's to a 2019 of more consciously chosen attention! -John
Ugh I spend so long on TH-cam and I can't stop!! I don't want to delete it but I also know it's not good for me...
I struggle with this too-I haven’t allowed myself to get the app at all because I know I’d while away my time there even more 😕
I am very impressed. My phone tells me that on average I spend an hour on TH-cam every day. I don't have any other social media on my devices. Quitting TH-cam will be the toughest thing I will ever do
I quit Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit two years ago and it has undoubtedly done me a world of good. I found myself constantly measuring myself up against others and it was just so unhealthy for my mental health, self esteem, and productivity in general. My homeboy Theodore Roosevelt once said that comparison is the thief of joy, and let me tell you, that bro knew what was up! I’ve never felt so at ease and comfortable with myself and really enjoy how I am able to have privacy. I also read more now than ever before! It’s great. It’s funny how you can give one thing up and gain so much more! Anyway, long ramble aside, best of luck with your hiatus!
"And also it's a PHONE" Oh my god! That was unexpected! xD
I always think of the wristwatch from Spy Kids that does everything BUT tell the time lol
I never got one of those Twitter Machines and have no urge to get one. yes I'm one of the 5% of American adults without a 'smart phone'
5%? Are there that many of us?
@@TheMrAshley2010 me too. i don't want it.
Wellington Smith Not having smartphone and spending time on social media is NOT a valuable achievement.
But doing valuable things (educating yourself, helping others, etc) instead with your free time IS in fact valuable.
Most people who are proud of not being on Facebook, Twitter etc... are just wasting their time and life in other ways....
Don’t be like those people!
I’m in early high school and it is so hard to actually TALK to people, as in face to face talking. I realize that social media makes it possible to talk to more people, and quicker, but no one really does. All of these new interactions involve abbreviated phrases because we somehow don’t have the time to write out full phrases, yet have hours and hours to spend mindlessly scrolling through our twitter feed. I hardly ever get to just hang out with people, instead of their phones. every place we go to has to be snapchat-ed and every starbucks drink Instagram-ed.
Well, there's a million things on social media to discuss in the first place, so conversation topics are plentiful. I think in the real world, it's not as easy to connect with random strangers if you don't really need to talk with them, or don't already have things in common.
Yeh. I tried to delete all my social media but I ended up having to redownload Instagram and snapchat due to the fact that people don’t text each other anymore they DM each other so to get information off people I actually need these apps which is so dumb
I feel you. One of the hardest things about social media is that you can control whether or not *you* are on it, but you can't control whether the people *around* you are on it. I was in a theatre production recently and there were times backstage when I wanted to chat, but everyone was already on their phones, meaning I could either sit in silence or get out my own phone.
And yet, I feel what Shweta is saying, too, because I love to obsess over stories, and when my friends aren't obsessed with the same stories as me, the internet allows me to find people who are obsessed with them too and it opens up so many new ways to process stories and connect with people who love the things you love.
It's a very tricky balance to strike.
I've recently discovered that the suggested news feed that my phone makes for me has become increasingly... terrible. It's taken to giving me absolutely useless articles with sensational titles and information that is vague and uninteresting on the inside. Been trying to find a way to teach the algorithm that I don't want these things, but I think it's programmed to prefer these kinds of articles. It isn't easy to make your personal space of internet a good experience when outside forces don't want it to be.
Brynley Louise maybe a clean slate is the only way, as in deleting your profiles and making new ones?
@@chloe_alien I like the idea! Sadly that would mean deleting my entire Google account since I have the Google Pixel 2.
We'll probably you do click on clickbait, so it learns to show you clickbait.
Stupid clickbait and our psychological mechanisms that make it work.
I find that the problem is that these companies place too much reliance on their Algorithms. I have the same issue all the suggested stuff just gives me anxiety or causes me distress or just drives me away from the platform. My opinion is to channel that distaste to motivate you to stop using these platforms. It's what i've done and my life is better.
Delete cookies and subscription based media
I've gotten rid of my social media for about 3 years now, and I don't regret it. Sure I have TH-cam and email, but without Facebook or Twitter I've had a lot less anxiety and (like you said) I'm able to have thoughts of my own instead of caring what others say and repeating it.
I look forward to watching your crash course series coming up!
"I need to discover what lies on the other side of boredom" just that... I dont know what words to say to that. Thank you for sharing this with us.
^^^^
Quitting social media was one of the best things I’ve ever done, and I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything, but now I have to find a way to form a healthy relationship with TH-cam
I’ve basically quit all social media myself in the past couple of months and it’s done no end of good for my mental health. The constant whipping up of negative emotions as well as the fact that I would almost robotically check them numerous times every day, I don’t miss either at all.
Good for you :)
I just (mostly) quit social media, too. It was after I heard you were, John, but not because you were.
I think your discussing it, and recently listening to Hank's podcast Delete This, informed this decision in the background.
Recently, I started having noticeable anxiety. I'm not sure how long I've had this, but it had never culminated in a panic attack out of nowhere before.
After my second panic attack in a week, I sort of... felt? that the panic was in part coming from my social media use. I never even posted much on social media, and never felt like I was comparing myself to my Facebook friends or anything. Just... the feeling of scrolling was remarkably familiar to me when I was panicking.
I go on one subreddit for a game I play to participate in discussions about that game, and that's been it for me for going on two weeks now. No more Twitter or Facebook, and basically no more Reddit (I never had an Instagram).
I don't particularly miss it, and I don't go to type the websites into my browser. What I do notice is that I reflexively take my phone out of my pocket and expect to open a social media app in a lot of situations, like waiting for my order to be called at QuickChek. I've filled those spaces with catching up on some webcomics I had fallen behind on, which now I need more of...
In the place of all of that social media time, I'm doing other things more. There are shows I've wanted to watch that I've finally watched. I read a novel for the first time since the last A Song of Ice and Fire book came out. I draw more. I play with my cat more.
I feel like I can focus so much better on the world around me, even when I'm not in situations that I'd check social media, like when I'm driving. I feel more alert, and healthier, and happier. Some amount of that surely comes from other good things happening in my life recently, but some of it probably comes from less time in the RIFT.
For however much you and Hank have influenced this decision, thank you. Good luck on your journey, and I hope you have more insight to share soon :)
I also reflexively take my phone out when in line or when facing some other kind of minor boredom. (Waiting rooms, elevators, etc.) That is something I have not yet been able to stop doing, but for me at least, when I do resist it, I find that I like my thoughts and being with my thoughts more than I would've expected. Thanks for sharing your perspective on this; really interesting. -John
I use webcomics to replace social media apps too! I find it's a lot more entertaining because you never see the same posts/stories over and over again.
YES! I quitted social media about a month ago after a mental breakdown brought on by a terrible day at my old job. As I was crying on the way home I couldn't wait to have WiFi to share what had happened on twitter/facebook and I asked myself "what in the hell am I even thinking? Do I need to broadcast my mental breakdown and get questions and fake worry from people I barely know?" I deactivated my accounts, deleted the apps and had a good mental breakdown by myself. Now, I'm not saying this was healthy, and I intended to come back to the internet as soon as I felt better but it turns out, that my quieter days brought a sense of inner peace I hadn't even known I could have while I was job hunting. Turns out I _can_ have a social life without social media and I sure can stay informed in a better way. I'm honestly amazed at myself. I might not go a year without social media, but at least now I'm conscious of the amount of time I use my phone and I enjoy my free time more because I'm not itching to touch the phone again. I'm super bored though, so thank you for this crash course John, I have something to look forward
I heard you talk about the boredom part on Dear Hank and John a few months ago, and how having time to think about things during the day helped you actually turn off your mind and go to sleep better at night. I tried it out, and holy cow. Nothing so easy has made such of a difference in my life. Now in waiting rooms, walking to my car, standing at the platform for the metro, I don't look at my phone (mostly). I let myself be bored. I let myself stare around and think and have songs stuck in my head and just...be bored. It reminds me of when I was a kid, but in a good way. And I do sleep better at night. Thank you, John.
John, this project made me delete Twitter for good (though I had mostly stopped using it) and I’m focusing on significantly cutting down social media and technology based content, and instead I’m rereading Harry Potter. It’s been WONDERFUL! So thanks for being the push I really needed!
I think the fact that I am in a panic thinking about your missing out on something on social media speaks to my own addiction pretty strongly. I admire you for taking the plunge and sticking with it. I'm looking forward to the new CC, too!
"The other side of boredom", a possible title for a new John Green book?
I would be interesting if he did write it down and put that all into a more biographical book. Or is there another genre to better describe what I'm thinking...
You described all the things I miss from the days before social media. Bored time for me was creative time. Now I rarely get lost in my literal "own little world" because I have the itch to be distracted. And those worlds of mine were so much of who I am, that I think it's one of the big roots of my depression.
God, trying to do assignments has made me realise that when I open a new tab on Chrome, my hands auto-type "tw" to load twitter. Literally automatically. I spent last summer with no socials on my phone, but I'm starting to think I need to go social-less entirely for this summer. Good to hear your thoughts on it though, John. Keep it up!
Good luck! I hope it goes well for you whatever you decide to do.
Muting stuff and unfollowing people and making good use of “not interested” tabs has curated a pretty healthy social media experience for myself. It’s in defining what upsets you and not continuing to self sabotage. I hope it continues to go well for you!
I'm 14 months into my "no social media (except youtube)" life and here's the results so far:
(1) I don't miss any of it. After the initial few months of withdrawal symptoms that you described here (including typing "F" into the address bar dozens of times each day, only to end up on a site that I no longer have an account for) my itch and urge for accessing these sites has disappeared completely.
(2) I use TH-cam a LOT more. When you eliminate a habit/addiction, it MUST be replace by something else. I didn't realize it until recently but I had simply replaced social media with TH-cam and it sucks up almost as much time as the others before it. Fixing that is a work in progress but at least there's only one beast to tackle now.
(3) I don't feel any more lonely, despite the fact that I had basically no friends outside social media. I'm one of those people who really has no social life, so I had assumed that getting rid of social media would make me go from "practically no friends" to "absolutely no friends". And while that is technically what happened, I realized that it's worse to have fake friends than no friends at all. Why is that? Because at least when you have zero friends, you have no excuse NOT to go find people to be around. And whatever few relationships I muster to have are more meaningful than the hundreds I had on Facebook.
Pro tip for attention issues in general: on your phone do these things:
- Turn off ALL notifications from apps except those coming from people directly making contact with you (e.g. keep SMS notifications, but turn off email notifications, etc). That way, you won't be alerted every minute about something that you'd be better off checking manually at a more opportune time.
- If you want to go super hardcore mode, set your phone's screen to Black & White mode. There's a lot of science that says that your phone is far less addictive when there's no color. I've had my phone like this for about 6 months and it made an immediate difference. I sometimes have to re-enable colors temporarily, but that's rare.
If you actually read this entire comment, first reply with something interesting or friendly. Then go outside and enjoy the day :)
jordan summers they feel the same as you fam its just a fact
For the most part I haven’t used any social media other than TH-cam in over a decade. I don’t feel it has made me any less addicted to social media though. I’m thinking of quitting from it because trying to moderate the time I spent on it didn’t seem to work. I don’t know what else I would use to fill my time though. Obviously I can be more productive but I feel if I don’t substitute it with something fun but healthy, I’m going to inevitably fall back to TH-cam.
I would really love to see both green brothers study something new together.
Right now I’m studying the teaching of Socrates, and there is nothing more that I would like the to watch my 2 beloved teachers studying the art of asking questions. Thank you for making every journey feels like an adventure 🥳🚀
"I've come to realize that the problem is deeper than I first thought so I'm not only going to examine the problem for myself but i'm going to examine it in a way that teaches and helps others."
John, you are being the person Mr. Rogers knew you could be.
Thank you.
@Sabi Turkki He was the host of a children's television program called "Mister Roger's Neighborhood" which ran for 33 years on PBS. He is seen by many to be an example of morality and human kindness. And by all accounts he was as genuine and kind off-screen as he appeared on screen.
I recently took the Twitter and Facebook apps off my phone. Was never a big user of FB but was with Twitter. It’s nice to take a step back and examine how much I was scrolling through Twitter out of boredom. I’d rather pick up a book instead. Great video and a year from social media sounds like a good challenge, best of luck.
I love yalls channel and everyone affliliated with it. They are the only channels i am comfortable and not slightly ashamed to share with my mother
hahahahaha I'm glad we pass the mom test! -John
@@vlogbrothers lol when i saw this comment i screamed and scared that same mother
Better not show her the video of Hank humping the town. 😂😂😂🤣
@@emilyhennessey8294 Hah I thought the exact same thing!
I like how you related how, "My thoughts are mine!" Too many people share their thoughts on social media. Even though the particular social media used may not always offer audio, the thoughts on them can be deafening as you read them.
The part where you talked about not being able to get lost in a book without checking social media really hit home to me. That's actually one of my goals this year is to read longer without that type of distraction.
“It had become harder to lose myself in a book without feeling an urge to look at my phone or open my computer.” Honestly, that happens to me all the time, but I didn’t think it was possible for it to happen to someone like John Green.
We weren't allowed to say the phrase "I'm bored" growing up. If everyone around you was busy, well, you just had to find something else to do. (And we only got an hour of TV after school) As the youngest in my family, I was often left to my own devices, and I think it made me the creative person I am today. It forced me to actually do things, instead of just passively ingesting the world around me. If I had run out of books from the library, well, I just had to write my own, right? If I saw a movie I liked, I could play pretend or come up with my own story. In high school, I watched you guys and the Lizzie Bennet Diaries and used that to make my own channel. And now, even with the unlimited stream of information, if I'm listening to podcasts all the time, I can certainly make one. Even though I'm now as addicted to social media as everyone else, I think I can somewhat utilize that to actually create something. Because otherwise, I'd be bored.
I left social media 4 years ago, and I've never regretted it. Good luck on your attempt
I remembered on New Year’s Eve that my 2018 resolution was to quit Facebook. I undeactivated and went back to using it mid-February. Now I’m renewing my resolution for 2019, wish me luck!
I recently realized that I hadn't been on Facebook for almost a year...
But I also never quite understood what people do on there...
I think the enjoyment people get out of Facebook depends on their real life communities much more than other social media. Everyone at my school uses it, for example, so I experience Facebook as an extension of my social experience attending school. Without that real life connection, Facebook becomes much less interesting and easier to detach from than a site where you follow content from people you don’t really know.
Luck
I needed to hear this. I've been running away from my life but spending countless hours on TH-cam. I love YT but it's an unhealthy love and probably better described as an addiction. I rarely do anything I just watch other people doing things. I know I should put the damn thing down but always fall back to its comfortable ease of escape. I cant believe how easy it was to become this way and how hard it is to change. Thanks for always making me think John, I appreciate ya.
I’m 6 months into my social media fast and loving it. Power to you, man. :)
I dont understand. Did you not quit youtube too then?
You've got this, John! I deleted facebook and twitter off of my phone after I started listening to Hank and Katherine's podcast, and it's been a huge improvement in my life. Now I only look at facebook if I've gotten five email notifications saying that my mom tagged me on a post on facebook, and I only look at twitter if I want to see the show notes for Delete This. So good luck with the next 11 months, and know that the nerdfighters are here to support you!
With the exception of the bare necessities to do my job as a marketer, I also quit social media and have experienced many of the same feelings. I'm definitely struggling with the pull to check still, but overall I think I'm much happier with not knowing all the minutiae that's shared on Facebook and Twitter especially. Not being bombarded by information I didn't specifically ask for has been really healthy for me.
Good on you, John! I followed the same journey and it was transformative. I believe a radical shift in lifestyle/routine is always insightful if you're eyes are open, especially when it's based in discipline and focus.
Good luck and good media fasting,
Signed an admirer
Thanks for being so honest, John. I feel like a lot of successful people preach discipline and make us feel bad for being tempted by distractions like social media. It's comforting to know that someone as productive as you can still feel exactly like everyone else about social media.
I think this problem isn't about lack of discipline, it's a very human problem that affects almost everyone and we do need to change how we approach what we surf on the web.
I'm gonna check out that crash course. I made an animated video recently about social media addiction myself, so it'll be interesting to see if I come across new information about this topic.
John I did the same thing for almost two years. It is liberating. I completely agree with what you said. I really appreciate your candor and attitude about it all.
Vacations are so much more relaxing because I make sure to stay off social media & not watch the news. It's amazing.
I got tired of the fake image that people go a little too out of their way to create and so I left out of sheer irritation that I couldn't find anything genuine on any social media (I think TH-cam when regulated, has many genuine personalities and positive content that teaches more than it wrecks) and yet I find myself missing the artwork my favorite artists posted daily
JOHN! There is a nerdfighter named Amber Blevins in need. She is disabled and dealing with a serious and potentially fatal health condition (craniocervical instability I think) and doesn't have the money to access the doctors she needs since she is excluded from Medicare and Medicaid. We've been talking in the Nerdfighteria Facebook group about setting up a fundraiser but we really need your help. We've sent emails to you and Hank (along with Maureen and some other people that are able to get in contact with you all). She estimates that the medical costs would be around $10-15k. She's getting progressively worse and if she doesn't get treatment she will die. We are all ready to help, but we need to get the word out. I think she's found nerdfighters in her area to help with rides to appointments and running errands, but she still needs financial help. Making a video detailing her situation and linking a fundraiser could save her life.
I know you're not on Twitter right now, but we're using #helpamberblevins
Please upvote so John will maybe see this. Thank you.
-Abby
EDIT: It seems like he liked a bunch of comments from the same hour I posted this (some higher likes some lower although I don't know how many likes it had at that hour). Disheartening, but we can't give up. Keep posting on new vlogbrothers content #helpamberblevins.
+BUMP
#helpamberblevins
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Even more bump #helpamberblevins
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Yo! I’ve been off of social media for a couple of years now too - I can definitely relate to the boredom bit and relearning how to have quiet thoughts. Good luck with your journey!!
When I was a kid in the 1st grade, I told my teacher I was bored. Her response was, "being bored is stupid!" which I guess shaped my perspective on boredom, because it caused me to always look for a way to evade it, always try to be occupied, and therefore, almost never having time for myself and my thoughts. But when I did have time for my thoughts, they would usually be negative, pessimistic and anxiety-inducing, which gave me all the more reason to never be alone with nothing to do but think.
But after watching this video, I might give it another go.
Good luck!
This is amazing. I myself have wanted to on multip occasions delete all of my social media or simply trade in my iphone for a dumb phone because I hate what it does to my soul. I think your points though are solid. Our attention spans are fractured and long form reading is declining. People are staring into their phones and whether they're replying to emails or looking at memes, their minds are being rewired, trained to skim, rather than to think and ponder. People now have an instant escape from boredom, but when did boredom become such a bad thing. Sitting in boredom can be a really magical thing and launch you into so many creative endeavors. Now of course I'm not going to be a total Luddite and abandon all technology, but I just think we need to consider more what we're spending our time on, and whether it's really valuable for us and for the people around us. I really do like what you say about the problem not being the internet but my internet. The reason we go on our phones or computers is not because of the our phone itself but because somethign in us has a desire to see or something on our phones/computers. This means thta fixing the problem means fixing oruselves, which can be a really tough pill to swallow. Anyways, I've taken up too much space, but this is important and I am glad you addressed it. Good day.
Is TH-cam not considered social media by you? I’m curious as to how the community aspect of TH-cam could make or break the perception of it as a social media platform, or are you generally staying away from it besides creating videos?
He said last month that he is not banning youtube because he is not as addicted to it as he is to twitter or reddit.
@@raeidm.raunak4927 I would expect being a creator for so long would also help you see the platform differently than someone who is just a viewer.
Pretty sure youtube is more of an entertainment platform with “social media”-esque features. But personally i dont go to youtube to use the social media features more than to actually watch videos.
2:25 feeding without nourishing and distract without enriching. Power statement. I'm excited for your crash course. It's been a long time coming for a lesson on how to decipher and filter all the useless information on the internet.
Oh god, I turned off my FB and IG yesterday and I just keep grabbing my phone and looking at it before I realize there's nothing to look at... it ridiculous how often I am looking at it.
I have GAD and Panic Disorder and one of the things that signals to me that I’m entering a headspace that’s unhealthy is my habits on socials. Refreshing constantly. Hopping out of an app just to load it back up a couple minutes later. I don’t even realize I’m doing it until I’m frustrated that I’m seeing all the same things and it clicks. “That’s because you were JUST in there.” That’s usually a good sign to put the phone in another room, as far from me as I can, walk away and deal with my thought patterns that led me there. It’s not that social media causes me anxiety, but constantly checking it is a symptom of it. It’s a crutch I use to distract myself. I need to throw away the crutch and work it out.
The confidence in avoiding misinformation is possibly the biggest way we can misinform ourselves
Love that closing line. I've noticed the same regarding boredom; it leads me to more engrossing thoughts than anything I find while browsing the internet.
Hi john. Thank you for a video today, any video. Thank you
Our internet connection has been patchy and slow all weekend, and it's really made me realise how much I depend on it for entertainment and information. Definitely helped remind me we have books. Good luck with the rest of the year, John!
What weirds me out about these sorts of videos John is TH-cam is for me what I suspect Reddit is for you.
I hear that. I think we all have different Internets. I do worry that even here I am contributing to this great Attention Land Grab of huge corporations. But on the other hand, I really like making TH-cam videos and I feel happy here. I dunno. -John
@@vlogbrothers I think the problems with this sort of thing are more complicated than that. To me having an unhealthy relationship with the internet is like an unhealthy relationship with food. Vlogbrothers is like, a pretty healthy but tasty meal that someone can certainly overindulge in rather than say the non-diet Dr Pepper some other TH-camrs are.
@@vlogbrothers I think there is a difference though. You talked about sites that 'feed without nourishing'. I definitely feel nourished after watching this. And I'm intellectually engaged, as evidenced by me typing this comment (although it's not *that* intellectual I guess..). Being truly engaging without being infuriating is pretty rare on the internet. And I find those qualities most often on TH-cam.
I think we need collaboration and we’re not using the internet to its full capacity..
We are in a post-industrial digital age of consumerism with a mostly (or becoming mostly?) thinking/service/entertainment economy due to programming. Start my own business looks like creating a dating website, being a video game streamer/entertainer or TH-cam star.. I hate to say it but we need to rethink economic policy as monetizing our assets with a focus on GDP growth isn’t enough? People learn faster than ever through the internet... we just don’t have enough.. collaboration.. for what means? People can start their own business still and private ownership, sure... but most of what we produce are wants and wanting to get rich by selling any product is a want too? We certainly don’t need GDP growth which competition drives..? Cyber security and medical are some needs. Also if companies go public via IPO’s then the company is already socialized/publicly owned if millions own shares/stocks? You have to admit most shareholders have no idea what direction the company should head or what upcoming threats there are... most just know they receive a consistent % return. Plus, the car was made in 1885... since, there has been rounds of additions and improvements. Shouldn’t the public own rights to the old intellectual property except the improvements? Does this mean other old intellectual property should belong to the public? Can we collaborate/educate on a global scale about any topic?
End rant.
I am 2 weeks social media free as of today (besides the Life’s Library Discord app) and I have to say that how I read books and engage with others has changed SO much. My attention span was truly terrible and I didn’t even notice that until I read a book that would normally take me a week in two days. I feel like I am taking my time more with tasks and am losing that social media “gimme gimme now” mentality that scrolling gives me. Rosianna mentioned in our chat room that she also deleted Instagram over the weekend and I’m just so glad to see that we are trying to work towards human interactions and away from the digital era a bit....there’s more life outside of the screen! -I say as I type away on my tiny box of light thing called a phone
Less time on the social meeds
Is exactly what John Green needs
It's hard, yes
But it is for the best
You may type Reddit, Twitter,
Tap Instagram or Tumblr
However all these things have been put to slumber
So for a year, we shall wait
For John to come back through the internet's gate
This is great
this is just wonderful
ı wonder how long it took to write this as well as why you end up writing such a great thing :D did it come to you out of the blue?
NICE!
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Talking about how social media fills your time without actually enriching it resonates with me. You've inspired me to spend less time on social media this year! I'm not banning it, but I am trying to reduce the amount of time I spend just sitting around and browsing Reddit. Sure, it's a fun way to kill time, but there are far more relaxing and/or fulfilling ways to spend an hour than scrolling on my phone. Sometimes it can be a useful tool if I am anxious (as it can quickly take my mind off of my anxiety), but at the same time, it can also give me anxiety in some situations. I'm going to try to find a better balance between using it when I need a quick distraction and using it for extended periods during my free time at home.
Wow 2veritasium talked about anti social media this week as well. It's interesting because a lot of people around me is feeling the same way as john and a ppl on this comment section. I guess it's really becoming this decade's biggest problem. If it's not a problem it's sure is a challenge for us humans. I personally feel that a lot of ppl are gaining awareness.
I deleted all social media apps about 2 months ago, and I do agree that I can find myself bored in my own home, but more so in social settings. I didn't realize how often people are on their phones, even in a group of people, until I wasn't. I found connecting with people right in front of you was just as, if not, harder than on any social platform. As someone who was absolutely glued to their phone from when they woke up, right until they went to sleep, it's still hard to separate myself from my device. I'm not on it nearly as much as I used to be, but I still catch myself scrolling through news feeds, trying to converse with people I wouldn't usually talk to, going through useless apps, and so on. I will continue to try and fill those empty voids with maybe volunteer reading at my local library, getting more physically active, or visiting places in my city that I've always wanted to but 'never have time for'. I'll post an update on how it's going in about 3-4 months. Just to see if ditching social media actually made any improvements on my daily life.
"THE internet is not the problem; MY internet is the problem."
Well said, sir.
Crash Course Navigating Digital Information is going to be a great series! I can't wait to watch and share.
I too am on a social media diet - though not as extreme as yours. It's been pretty great thus far. More diet to come.
Thanks for being part of the inspiration.
Me: Quits social media
Me: Posts on social media to let everyone know I've quit social media
I left social media in July 2018, and haven't looked back. I occasionally check my husband's facebook to keep up with school events for my daughter, but omg, it has drastically reduced my anxiety, my "wanting" for things (don't see it, don't want it), etc... It's just all around great. I hope your experiment is still going well. I think it's a worthwhile thing. I'm an addict to social media, and I was disgusting myself. Thankfully there was a cure for that!
It would be cool if you could give us an update in another month/when you’ve learned something else
Hearing about you quitting social media for a year on your podcast with Hank inspired me to do the same this year! Like you said, its not a permanent fix, but it has greatly helped my mental health and I feel better for it! 😊
If I weren’t actively trying to kickstart a career on social media, I would be doing this.
I think that every time I come across people who talk about reducing or removing social media time in their lives.
I have done this about 3 month except the only TH-cam. It was like everything just fine and I felt like reborn in such a new day, or new life.
I think I'm really out of those social media for the whole 2019.
It's time to make something real in TH-cam.
Yesss! I love that you decided to do that because I really do think it frees up so much time and allows you to do what you truly want! I just posted a 1 minute poem about the realities of Social Media and I'm super curious to know what you think about it since you have committed to take a detox from social media.
I'll check it out.. thanks
My 100-day twitter hiatus is ending soon and I have many mixed feelings about coming back to it. Which yes, was the idea, but it's odd since twitter used to be a huge part of my time online and where I interacted with friends the most
Well...no one is making you go back.
@@MagnusSkiptonLLC the trials and tribulations of being a millennial who works online: work kinda is making me go back
John, you certainly caught my attention when you brought up the topic of boredom. I too have been struggling with my social media fixation and I recently realized that I'm just bored. I was being really hard on myself saying "What happened to you?" and "You never do your artwork anymore." This realization only gave me more anxiety about my current situation and state of being. But when I finally understood that I was just bored, that gave me a proper wakeup call to give myself more projects to do with my time. Things that make me happy. This way, I feel like I have more value and substance to my life, rather than how many likes I got from one tweet. Thank you. DFTBA
Alternative title: I Quit Social Media So You Don't Have To
I was so influenced by this and I started doing this because I am starting at university and it has helped me so much to keep focused. Thank you so much John!!!
You look and feel more like 2012 John from Crash course
way to go and good on you, john!
i try to plan for two offline-and-without-news days each month. not as impressive as your goal, but it helps me to keep in touch with the real world now and again.
If it can still order food, it's all good :)
Crash Course hooked me on obtaining internet knowledge about two years ago.
I've seen much genius since but you were the first and I'm happy for the positive update.
I look forward to your new format that all You Tubers are inventing to survive. And I too read a book without a Face.
That reminds me, Crash Course should start offering languages!
Quitting social media is a thing I’ve been considering for a very long time but you’re definitely right John, the problem is how I’m using the internet. I’m not entirely sure how to go about fixing my relationship with the internet (because cold turkey just isn’t going to work) but I’m going to keep trying different things.
I look forward to this new crash course! Any information i can learn about using the internet more intentionally will be helpful!
isn't youtube technically social media?
Not really for me? But it is for some people, I know. My relationship with YT is vastly different from my relationship with twitter or reddit. I don't really browse here. (But I'm at risk of STARTING to browse now that I can't access those other platforms!) -John
@@vlogbrothers it starts with browsing and next thing you know, youtube's rated one and a half stars on the next episode of The Anthropocene Reviewed.
That is a great question and I’d have to agree with John that my relationship with TH-cam is incredibly different to any other platform. There’s a lot more effort that goes into video creation than slapping some sentences into twitter or Facebook status or a reddit forum. TH-cam is a lot more creative and also introspective because the time it takes to film, then edit, then upload should give a person enough time to be self aware enough to remove anything that could be construed as ignorant or ill informed. (Keyword: ... should. Plenty of people on TH-cam aren’t this way but you get the point). I’d personally be more likely to say something hot headed and feisty on twitter than to creative a video and upload.
So I've never joined reddit or Twitter and I think I'm addicted to TH-cam, so I don't know what to now....
I can't even say that I'm happy but I don't think that social media makes people unhappy.
I think it's good for you John that you're taking a break and finding it worthwhile.
The longest I've been without social media since I started actively using it in 2014 is a month. What I realised when I came back in social media(Instagram &Facebook) is that things happened in others lives that I did not know about and I did not care. I was surprised at how easy it was to go back to old habits and the FOMO kept me coming back 💙
Last october, after a serious political disapointment (I'm brazilian), I left Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and Twitter in the same day. As a result, TH-cam took over my life.
About a month or so ago I deleted all of the social media apps on my phone and implemented obstacles to accessing them via computer. I've found that not only am I so much more mindful in everyday life, but I feel overall better about the thoughts I am having as, like John said, they're now... mine. This has greatly fostered the creativity I used to have and feared I lost, and has carved out time to sit with any discomfort that has long lived within me. Social media, at least for me, creates this sense of unwanted but seemingly inevitable urgency that even if followed, leads you nowhere. Or at least nowhere good... And I have found that with my thoughts being mine, and my updates' lack of urgency, I am actually able to formulate opinions that belong to me, as well as the ability to cultivate a healthier headspace that is not comprised solely of the way(s) in which I gather I am supposed to feel.
Project Cyclops spreads.
Oh hey Tim, hows it going
I deleted all social media with the exception of Instagram a little over a year ago. I float on TH-cam less and less these days as well. I found the first couple of months were hard and like you I realized how often I was tangled in so much stimulus because I wasn’t using social media and felt somewhat disconnected in a way I hadn’t quite contemplated. I find now that I spend more real time talking to friends face to face, by letters or phone and I feel more connected to those people as a result of that. I also find myself completing more art projects and projects around the house than I did before. When I go hiking I’m not stressed about getting a signal or checking my phone, actually enjoying the world around me. The hard part at the beginning was when people asked me if I saw this or that thing on Facebook, etc. and these days it doesn’t even phase me anymore. I don’t see myself ever going back to social media because my attention span is better and I’m less stressed. Best of luck to you on this journey and thank you for sharing it with us.
Love this ♡ Keep going, John. I'm doing 30 day challenges like wheezy waiter. December was no internet. January is no eating meals out. This is actually working for me. Cheers :)
Thanks for the update! I love to hear that you got some time back thanks to quitting social media!
Though I often have issues seeing eye to eye with you two. I’m always happy to be inflicted with your insights, no matter the validity.
Maybe it’s because of the dynamic between you two, or the fact that you both remind me so much of my brothers... anyway it’s not important. You’ve hit on something extremely important, the year of no social media will do you wonders. I’d also encourage you not to view boredom as unpleasant, or at least figure out why you think it’s unpleasant and evaluate if you should keep with that concept or boredom.
My mother told me on more than one occasion that, “interesting people are never bored.” I now understand what she meant, let that imagination that I know you have (I’ve read a few of your books) stretch it’s wings without feeling like you’re wasting time, or that you could be doing something meaningful. You are already, depending on how you go about it, dwell on good things and relax, have fun. The better you become the easier it will be to actually focus when the time comes.
I recently deleted the Facebook app from my phone and installed StayFocused on my browser to limit my time on Facebook on my computer as well. It was SUCH a great idea. Thank you for this video!
This is IMO the best video with the best conclusion that I've watched regarding the dangers/bad things about Social Media. Love how you speak from your perspective, talk about what you like and what you dislike, and how you've done it. I feel like I should try yet I know there would be so much stuff I'd miss. I think I'd start with a less NUCLEAR option tho lmao, maybe from like 9am to 9pm and from midnight to 9 am.
I’m a senior in HS and I HATE what social media and phone addiction does to me. But I can’t stop. Like I’ve been posting Instagram and Snapchat stories more often lately. And It makes me have this really toxic mindset. It’s like I feel like if people don’t know that something is happening in my life, that that thing doesn’t matter. Which I know isn’t true. And I’m constantly checking to see how many people are seeing it or even worse how many guys see it. This isn’t the only issue I have but it’s a more recent one. But then I fear that if I get rid of it, then I won’t get to keep in touch with people. But I know I should be spending wayyy less time on it. Idk. I appreciate this video.
I have not cut down on my social media consumption (although after this, I'm starting to think maybe I should!), but I have attempted to spend some time actively away from it - i.e. reading after work instead of goofing around on the internet. It's SO HARD. And I love reading! But the distraction of my phone/laptop is so easy to give into. Thanks for making me consider "my internet" as well.
So happy you’re getting informed on Yemen! It’s so often overlooked. Also, I’ve blocked social media from 5am-12pm, and my mornings are so much better.