Hello! I am curious if you think this is related not only to your business, but is it also, in general, an age thing (meaning, the need to be on social media and sharing so much of oneself?). I am older than you are (53) so did not grow up with a phone/technology etc. I spent a little time on Facebook from 2013-2016 aka reconnected with a few friends. The Trump election got me off all social (and am still social-free). It was/is a non-issue for me to not be on SM. But I often wonder if, because of the generational difference, people younger than me really have no other baseline of how to live a life without SM? The way I relate to that is I grew up in a rural area where we needed cars to do anything in life, therefore I cannot imagine my life without a car. It just doesn’t compute. Even when I lived in London I still “needed” a car to feel that I had “freedom” to do what I wanted, when I wanted without being restricted by public transport.
Yes I think that's a great observation. I would consider myself an elder millennial, born in 1984, so I very much know what it was like to grow up not online/on social media. I think that's why I am so highly aware of how much it has impacted my life (in good ways and bad). It makes me sad to think about younger generations who don't know any different, and how that impacts them, especially at such a young age when their brains aren't fully formed and they are so impressionable. I think there's greater awareness now for sure, but I've seen nothing meaningful being done to protect young minds (or anyone really) from the negative impacts of social media and algorithms.
Jess. I have always thought… one day I would take the leap and become a blogger, I was constantly thinking these same thoughts. I need a photo like this and wearing this but styled and shown off like this, a funny caption could be this. I never had the courage to do this so now I have a phone FULL of pictures, unposted, a husband who is definitely thumb tired from trying to get the shot. After having my son a few months ago I realized, I don’t need the perfect outfit anymore and the pictures are always going to just be for me to reflect on. I find comfort in your most recent posts as I am not alone in these overwhelming feelings of not living in the moment truly. I am also not alone in this vicious cycle of wanting to buy the next thing to keep up or fill a void. I am also trying for no new things in 2024. Something on my mind for a while now but with my favorite blogger also doing it with me, it’s all confirmation. Here is to enjoying all these special moments in life and not immediately reaching for the phone and swiping to open the camera app. *very seriously looking into getting The Light phone soon* that’s another topic for another time.
Motherhood certainly changes a lot, especially priorities. I am intrigued by the light phone. I do use my phone for pictures a lot, but it's an interesting experiment.
I was spending 5 hours per day scrolling on instagram watching other people’s lives and saving recipes I would never cook. I tried a few times to delete the app but didn’t help. I was impressed when Jess wrote she follows zero accounts. I even checked. Sorry, Jess!😁I thought if she did it probably it helped. And I did it! I told my close friends why I unfollowed everybody including my sister and guess what? It worked. The app is still on my phone but I’m not using it anymore. Because I don’t share memes or any stuff anymore I got a lot of time, less depression and unhealthy thoughts and so on. I watch and live my life now not other people’s. Thank you, Jess!
Hi Jess- I have been following you for years and absolutely love what you are doing here. I consciously gave up all social media about 10 years ago when my youngest was 1, and I have never looked back. I use LinkedIn for work and nothing else, and have zero regrets. It took me some time to get the confidence to be okay missing certain things, but I have channeled my FOMO into what we call "JOMO" in our house (Joy of Missing Out). Every time I hear about something I missed, I think of the book I had time to read, the silly movie or show I was able to focus on while cuddling my family, the walk or workout I fit in, or the extra sleep I got. My livelihood does not depend on social media, so it's a different beast for me than it is for you, but here to tell you I have never looked back, and I hope you can find a way forward without it. And the best part? My 14-year old daughter has taken a page from my book and has also eschewed social media, of her own volition. She is building the confidence to also experience that JOMO over FOMO and it's such a relief not to have to be a part of that struggle - it's a nightmare for parents and I am happy not to be partaking in that. I wish you so much luck on this journey and I can't wait to follow it!!!
Becky that's so amazing to hear, especially about your teenage daughter. Having a daughter was the biggest factor in my decision to move away from social media. Not just for her privacy (and my mental health) but to model healthy behavior around it. What an amazing thing for your daughter (and you) during such a formative time of her life. I'm so glad I don't have to navigate that yet, who knows were we'll be by the time my toddler is a teen.
Hello! I am curious if you think this is related not only to your business, but is it also, in general, an age thing (meaning, the need to be on social media and sharing so much of oneself?). I am older than you are (53) so did not grow up with a phone/technology etc. I spent a little time on Facebook from 2013-2016 aka reconnected with a few friends. The Trump election got me off all social (and am still social-free). It was/is a non-issue for me to not be on SM. But I often wonder if, because of the generational difference, people younger than me really have no other baseline of how to live a life without SM? The way I relate to that is I grew up in a rural area where we needed cars to do anything in life, therefore I cannot imagine my life without a car. It just doesn’t compute. Even when I lived in London I still “needed” a car to feel that I had “freedom” to do what I wanted, when I wanted without being restricted by public transport.
Yes I think that's a great observation. I would consider myself an elder millennial, born in 1984, so I very much know what it was like to grow up not online/on social media. I think that's why I am so highly aware of how much it has impacted my life (in good ways and bad). It makes me sad to think about younger generations who don't know any different, and how that impacts them, especially at such a young age when their brains aren't fully formed and they are so impressionable. I think there's greater awareness now for sure, but I've seen nothing meaningful being done to protect young minds (or anyone really) from the negative impacts of social media and algorithms.
Jess. I have always thought… one day I would take the leap and become a blogger, I was constantly thinking these same thoughts. I need a photo like this and wearing this but styled and shown off like this, a funny caption could be this. I never had the courage to do this so now I have a phone FULL of pictures, unposted, a husband who is definitely thumb tired from trying to get the shot. After having my son a few months ago I realized, I don’t need the perfect outfit anymore and the pictures are always going to just be for me to reflect on. I find comfort in your most recent posts as I am not alone in these overwhelming feelings of not living in the moment truly. I am also not alone in this vicious cycle of wanting to buy the next thing to keep up or fill a void. I am also trying for no new things in 2024. Something on my mind for a while now but with my favorite blogger also doing it with me, it’s all confirmation. Here is to enjoying all these special moments in life and not immediately reaching for the phone and swiping to open the camera app. *very seriously looking into getting The Light phone soon* that’s another topic for another time.
Motherhood certainly changes a lot, especially priorities. I am intrigued by the light phone. I do use my phone for pictures a lot, but it's an interesting experiment.
I was spending 5 hours per day scrolling on instagram watching other people’s lives and saving recipes I would never cook. I tried a few times to delete the app but didn’t help. I was impressed when Jess wrote she follows zero accounts. I even checked. Sorry, Jess!😁I thought if she did it probably it helped. And I did it! I told my close friends why I unfollowed everybody including my sister and guess what? It worked. The app is still on my phone but I’m not using it anymore. Because I don’t share memes or any stuff anymore I got a lot of time, less depression and unhealthy thoughts and so on. I watch and live my life now not other people’s. Thank you, Jess!
That's amazing Anastasia. So cool to hear that it's impact your life in a positive way. It's so nice to hear.
Jess! have you read this letter? it's exactly this. so so good. https://www.freyaindia.co.uk/p/you-dont-need-to-document-everything
I had not seen that! Thank you for sharing. Spot on.
Wow, I really enjoyed reading this Jess. I'm looking forward to reading more from you via this avenue - perhaps a book is in your future? x
Thank you Courtney. I have a lot to unpack. Maybe, we'll see... xx
Hi Jess- I have been following you for years and absolutely love what you are doing here. I consciously gave up all social media about 10 years ago when my youngest was 1, and I have never looked back. I use LinkedIn for work and nothing else, and have zero regrets. It took me some time to get the confidence to be okay missing certain things, but I have channeled my FOMO into what we call "JOMO" in our house (Joy of Missing Out). Every time I hear about something I missed, I think of the book I had time to read, the silly movie or show I was able to focus on while cuddling my family, the walk or workout I fit in, or the extra sleep I got. My livelihood does not depend on social media, so it's a different beast for me than it is for you, but here to tell you I have never looked back, and I hope you can find a way forward without it. And the best part? My 14-year old daughter has taken a page from my book and has also eschewed social media, of her own volition. She is building the confidence to also experience that JOMO over FOMO and it's such a relief not to have to be a part of that struggle - it's a nightmare for parents and I am happy not to be partaking in that. I wish you so much luck on this journey and I can't wait to follow it!!!
Becky that's so amazing to hear, especially about your teenage daughter. Having a daughter was the biggest factor in my decision to move away from social media. Not just for her privacy (and my mental health) but to model healthy behavior around it. What an amazing thing for your daughter (and you) during such a formative time of her life. I'm so glad I don't have to navigate that yet, who knows were we'll be by the time my toddler is a teen.
Hopefully we will have a lot of this figured out by the time your daughter is older! In the meantime, thank you for being such a positive voice!