Results: 10 day social media fast

[Avatar4321]

Thought I would invite anyone who participated in the social media fast to share some thoughts and or experiences that occurred while you were on it.

[The Mean Farmer]

Like I already knew, I didn't need it.

And it was nice to not have others in my home/family waste their time dropping selfies to me for no apparent reason.

 

I started reading Christs Empancipation of Women in the New Testament.  So far so good.

[RevTestament]

i got a mad client because I didn't respond to any of his text messages....  

[Avatar4321]

6 minutes ago, RevTestament said:

i got a mad client because I didn't respond to any of his text messages....  

What does that have to do with a social media fast?

[bsjkki]

Facebook is now a major communication tool. It was very hard to advertise ward activities, a last minute baptism and for the sisters to ask each other for help or wish each other Happy Birthday. I know there are others ways to do  this but Facebook is not just "social media" it is now like using the phone or email. It makes all of these things easier. I went camping last week so did not have service much of the time anyway and spent a lot of time hiking and biking. I did watch more TV because I tried to cut down on my use of the internet. Failed a bit but signed out of all my accounts and did not post. I still read too many political articles which is my true addiction. I read a couple of books for fun. I felt a bit more disconnected from my family and friends who live far away.  I  think I will find more spiritual benefits from reading or listening to the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. 

I liked this article about the media fast. The fast made me feel more alone.  https://bycommonconsent.com/2018/10/17/what-i-learned-in-the-silence/ 

I learned in the silence that many of us are lonely. I instinctively reached for the social media apps I deleted from my phone whenever I needed a break, craving adult conversation that I couldn’t find. Because I was the only stay-at-home mom at the park, and everyone I had texted or called was too scheduled or too indifferent to respond.

I learned in the silence that I need Mormon women. I need the baby pictures, the life updates, and, mostly, the posts where you get real and say it was a hard day. I relate.

Edited October 18, 2018 by bsjkki

[Jeanne]

I think everyone should habe left their big girl panties on...😋

[ALarson]

22 minutes ago, Jeanne said:

I think everyone should habe left their big girl panties on...😋

That's funny (LOL).

My wife cut back and tried not to be on her phone much.....but then she's not on it a lot anyway.  She still used it to stay in touch with family members over these last 10 days and keep up on the news.

One of the problems I saw was some members were trying decide what was "social media" and what was just staying in touch or using sites for work, etc.  Overall, I think most tried to at least cut back (as my wife did) and I feel it was up to each individual sister what they chose to do (or if they even participated).

Edited October 18, 2018 by ALarson

[rongo]

1 hour ago, bsjkki said:

Facebook is now a major communication tool. It was very hard to advertise ward activities, a last minute baptism and for the sisters to ask each other for help or wish each other Happy Birthday. I know there are others ways to do  this but Facebook is not just "social media" it is now like using the phone or email. It makes all of these things easier.

It does and it doesn't. It sounds cliche, but in a real sense, "we are more connected than ever before, and we are more alone than ever before."

It's a way to have nominal, superficial "constant contact," but it often makes getting results harder. I've noticed (and pointed this out to multiple people when they couldn't get volunteers to clean the church or set up for a RS activity) that, "when you talk to everybody, you're talking to nobody." Meaning, when you make an announcement to a group (in spades, on social media), people are free to pass the buck. This is also a problem with "passing the clipboard around for signups." I've told countless frustrated people that they can't put something on Facebook and expect people to just show up. You have to talk to people in person or call (not text) them on the phone. If it just goes to voicemail (common, these days), leave a message and keep trying. Don't be afraid to knock on the door. If you talk to someone in person, they are much more likely to respond and actually come. 

Quote

The fast made me feel more alone.

I think that's what President Nelson is addressing. We (most of us) live our lives almost solely online now. We feel lonely if we get off of the online network. I think he was encouraging us (women, this time; youth last time; men, next time) to begin living life in the flesh again, instead of online. 

Edited October 18, 2018 by rongo

[CV75]

4 hours ago, Avatar4321 said:

Thought I would invite anyone who participated in the social media fast to share some thoughts and or experiences that occurred while you were on it.

I did it and found that life goes on just fine!

[Veggie juicer]

 I hard core fasted 3 days and then went moderate.  

The results are that my creativity juices flowed, I cooked more and learned how to play the drums. I created an ad for an upcoming event.

My brain tends to be overdrive on creativity when I make space for it.  I'm reminded of my options, grateful for the nudge.  

[let’s roll]

If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God...

An invitation to which one young man responded by resolving to make the attempt...

My sincere attempts to accept that invitation have invariably yielded fruit.

I wholeheartedly endorse it and recommend it to all.

[Avatar4321]

I did it as well. Cut out Facebook and Twitter. I noticed I’ve been less angry and around the Spirit more

[Robert F. Smith]

11 hours ago, Avatar4321 said:

Thought I would invite anyone who participated in the social media fast to share some thoughts and or experiences that occurred while you were on it.

Maybe a social media fast can be hard to take. I don't know.  But my internet access went out for several days not long ago, and I was beside myself.  Luckily it was repaired within a few days, but not before I suffered withdrawal.

[bluebell]

I really enjoyed my fast, and realized that I’m much more productive and therefore much less stressed without spending so much time on social media. I also did more things with my kids, which was fun. 

 

[Okrahomer]

I saw this report on NBC about Colorado teens who have formed a group called “Offline October”.  The group formed following 2 consecutive suicides at their school.  According to their website, they are encouraging teens to “Don’t Post a Story, Live one”

It’s interesting that this idea of taking a break is catching on in other contexts.

[Avatar4321]

3 hours ago, bluebell said:

I really enjoyed my fast, and realized that I’m much more productive and therefore much less stressed without spending so much time on social media. I also did more things with my kids, which was fun. 

 

I was back on social media earlier. Found I don’t like it as much no. Go figure

[nuclearfuels]

Not really a fast for me...gave up all that addictive unhealthy social media time-wasting websites a long time ago.

I doubt people will be comfortable admitting how uncomfortable this fast made them, as FB is designed to be incredibly addictive

Edited October 19, 2018 by nuclearfuels

[Avatar4321]

4 hours ago, nuclearfuels said:

Not really a fast for me...gave up all that addictive unhealthy social media time-wasting websites a long time ago.

I doubt people will be comfortable admitting how uncomfortable this fast made them, as FB is designed to be incredibly addictive

I didn’t have a problem with Facebook. Twitter though...

[smac97]

I thought this image . . . apt:

[bluebell]

13 minutes ago, smac97 said:

I thought this image . . . apt:

It's clever, but I don't find it all that accurate.  I don't see much good in pretending that each of those applications is entirely negative. I'd rather deal with an accurate portrayal of social media.  I think that's more helpful.

[bsjkki]

13 minutes ago, smac97 said:

I thought this image . . . apt:

So,..one of my husbands past complaints about his High Priest Quorum lessons,  is that they would frequently devolve into a rant about technology and millennials.  http://mentalfloss.com/article/52209/15-historical-complaints-about-young-people-ruining-everything

7. "A Mere Amusement of a Very Inferior Character"

In its July 1859 issue, Scientific American rallied against a wicked game that made both the mind and body weaker—chess:

A pernicious excitement to learn and play chess has spread all over the country, and numerous clubs for practicing this game have been formed in cities and villages...chess is a mere amusement of a very inferior character, which robs the mind of valuable time that might be devoted to nobler acquirements, while it affords no benefit whatever to the body. Chess has acquired a high reputation as being a means to discipline the mind, but persons engaged in sedentary occupations should never practice this cheerless game; they require out-door exercises--not this sort of mental gladiatorship.

13. "A Progeny Yet More Corrupt"

In Book III of Odes, circa 20 BC, Horace wrote:

Our sires' age was worse than our grandsires'. We, their sons, are more
worthless than they; so in our turn we shall give the world a progeny yet more
corrupt.

[Veggie juicer]

I think as a human race there are many people who feel safer in the zone of black and white thinking.  Religion is attractive to such people because it offers structure for that paradigm. 

In truth,  it's much harder to think for and regulate ones self.  

We love to be told what and what not to do.  If culturally it becomes a rule that we not use social media I will be very disappointed.  But not surprised. 

[bluebell]

9 hours ago, Veggie juicer said:

I think as a human race there are many people who feel safer in the zone of black and white thinking.  Religion is attractive to such people because it offers structure for that paradigm. 

In truth,  it's much harder to think for and regulate ones self.  

We love to be told what and what not to do.  If culturally it becomes a rule that we not use social media I will be very disappointed.  But not surprised. 

Religion is also attractive to those who don’t feel safer with black and white thinking though. 

[Garlicllama]

I enthusiastically joined the challenge immediately after women's session. As I use social media very little, I blocked the games on my device, and some other websites that I had noticed taking up far too much of my time. I also started in on reading the BofM from the beginning. I even made plans to go to the temple later in the week.

A couple of days in some health problems arose, and I had to go to the hospital for 5 days, and I did not have access to my devices for that time. So my fast was enforced very strictly. I don't know if it was because of the fast, but I went into the temple wondering if there was a God, and I came out with a firm testimony that He exists and is very mindful of me. So I'm claiming success on the fast. (And I was able to go and do sealings after I was discharged, so win, win, win!)

[Veggie juicer]

3 hours ago, bluebell said:

Religion is also attractive to those who don’t feel safer with black and white thinking though. 

Yes of course.