Quit Social Media (2016)

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Growing numbers of people are questioning whether time on ad-driven social platforms is worth the trade-offs in privacy, attention, mental health and the quality of their relationships. Commenters describe benefits from quitting or sharply limiting mainstream services like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X and TikTok, but also note real downsides, such as weaker social ties, dating challenges, and the difficulty of promoting small businesses or accessing niche communities without them. Many advocate for narrower, intentful use (e.g., forums, RSS, Mastodon, HN) or paid, non-surveillance-based models, arguing that the core problem is not online socializing itself but engagement-maximizing business incentives and compulsive consumption.

Overall attitudes toward quitting

  • Many commenters report quitting “big” social platforms (FB, IG, X/Twitter, TikTok, Reddit) and feeling calmer, less distracted, and more present.
  • Others maintain selective use (e.g., for airline support, research, niche subreddits) and argue the problem is overuse and passive scrolling, not social media per se.
  • Some regret quitting entirely (especially Facebook), having lost decades‑long weak ties they actually valued and didn’t have a “problem” with.

Specific platforms & current landscape

  • Facebook/Instagram: often described as enshittified, ad‑ and algorithm‑heavy, no longer simple chronological feeds.
  • Twitter/X: praised for real‑time and “ahead of MSM” news, but criticized for misinformation, lack of moderation, and outrage dynamics.
  • TikTok/shorts: seen as hyper‑optimized time‑wasting; debate whether they’re “social” vs pure entertainment.
  • Reddit: some see it as less toxic than others; others call it a normie ad cesspool after power users left.
  • LinkedIn: widely mocked as self‑parody.
  • HN: repeatedly debated as “also social media,” but with fewer ads, slower pace, and stronger moderation.

Information value vs “breaking news”

  • Many argue minute‑by‑minute “breaking news” almost never improves life, is mostly brain‑tickling noise, and worsens attention and mood.
  • A minority insist early exposure and real‑time discourse provide useful context and critical perspective, especially on underreported or controversial topics.

Business models & alternatives

  • Strong hostility toward ad‑based, surveillance‑driven platforms; some broaden this to all ad‑based media.
  • Interest in paid/co‑op or barrier‑to‑entry communities (forums, federated platforms, private trackers) as healthier models, but examples often remain small and financially fragile.
  • Various self‑help tactics: hosts/DNS blocking, custom scripts to fade pages over time, RSS, newsletters, forums, and group chats.

Social, psychological, and dating impacts

  • Recurrent themes: attention fragmentation, doomscrolling, manufactured outrage, and “brainrot.”
  • Some criticize anti‑social‑media commenters for elitism or contempt toward mainstream users.
  • Social media absence can be isolating: needed for dating apps (Instagram), local events, school/club coordination, or small business marketing.
  • Others treat lack of social media as a filter: if someone insists on IG or similar, they’re not a compatible partner/friend.