US Social media

[poptart]

For those who are still active or semi active on US social media, have you noticed a drop?  I deleted all of mine years ago, while I still have a few throwaways my presence tends to be more on Japanese, Chinese and more EU based platforms as those are where the lions share of my personal interests tend to be, starting to look at apps like Line.  Anyway, how is it here?  When I did have a legit presence I noticed the arguments, politics, nastiness and what was the final nail in the coffin, doxing/witch hunts.  Not saying I haven't seen this on places like Mixi but still, nothing quite like I saw here.  Have to wonder how that's affected things here, the few people from the mainland I have regular communications with either still have it for career/family or just leave a social media page out there as an outpost of sorts.  A Japanese friend just came back from Niigata and it's just family photos, food and nature, that's about it.  Same with a Taiwanese friend, besides visiting home it was a few pics of temples/shrines from Kyoto, that's it.  

Curious how it is for you guys, cheers.

[Calm]

I only do FB and rarely post there.  Mostly health stuff, maybe follow two friends right now.

[poptart]

13 minutes ago, Calm said:

I only do FB and rarely post there.  Mostly health stuff, maybe follow two friends right now.

The friends I have here who do have social media are somewhat like that now, one has it because he's in comp sci so it's in his interest to have a presence.  Is there still a stigma if you're not on it?  One friend I still have, he gets a bit indignant whenever social media comes up.  Usually comments like "You'd know if you were on it".  Anymore I get the impression for some social media is like a high school "cool kids club" except the membership is mostly bitter adults angry that they had to grow up, at least physically....

[Calm]

38 minutes ago, poptart said:

The friends I have here who do have social media are somewhat like that now, one has it because he's in comp sci so it's in his interest to have a presence.  Is there still a stigma if you're not on it?  One friend I still have, he gets a bit indignant whenever social media comes up.  Usually comments like "You'd know if you were on it".  Anymore I get the impression for some social media is like a high school "cool kids club" except the membership is mostly bitter adults angry that they had to grow up, at least physically....

Never ran into that.  In the beginning when it became available there was some difficulty with some assuming everyone would use it because it was so easy, but I think in my circles by now everyone gets it that social media isn’t for everyone and uses multiple ways of passing on info.

 I do follow my husband’s family FB page, as that has the family gettogethers and not much else on it; my side isn’t so organized so we just have a massive texting group for that purpose that gets busy about twice a year. 

Edited August 14, 2024 by Calm

[poptart]

59 minutes ago, Calm said:

Never ran into that.  In the beginning when it became available there was some difficulty with some assuming everyone would use it because it was so easy, but I think in my circles by now everyone gets it that social media isn’t for everyone and uses multiple ways of passing on info.

 I do follow my husband’s family FB page, as that has the family gettogethers and not much else on it; my side isn’t so organized so we just have a massive texting group for that purpose that gets busy about twice a year. 

I did unfortunately.  Anymore I think a lot of it may have been cultural, I started fixing my Japanese a few years ago and returning to the culture I grew up around.  Needless to say, that fixed a lot of problems.  The 2000s/2010s were amazing for social media here, maybe a lot of the changes happened when things like Facebook making it to where you could have an account without a school email?  

A lot of my circles did the same thing, we do group texts.  For me part of it is language, I'll receive things in kana/kanji and discuss things like meetings, food, movies etc.  It's the friends here that I almost always get either a look of confusion or one of slight disgust for not having a presence.  

Interesting observation about US internet and social media, if you go to some Japanese language sites it's a bit more old fashioned.  A lot more text, not nearly as many flashy ads etc.  I have adblockers on my browser, had a friend show me what facebook and youtube here looks like with ads, I couldn't get over it.  

Edited August 14, 2024 by poptart

[Calm]

5 minutes ago, poptart said:

have adblockers on my browser, had a friend show me what facebook and youtube here looks like with ads, I couldn't get over it.  

Yeah, it’s why I only get on either a couple a times a month.

[poptart]

27 minutes ago, Calm said:

Yeah, it’s why I only get on either a couple a times a month.

The ads make the sites almost unusable, I can only imagine how many times a browser must crash.  That and the analytics, the personalized ads and everything else.  It's so aggressive....

I'll go to Japanese sites to practice my kanji/kana/reading etc.  I'm older now but geez, 10+ years ago I don't remember things being as different as they are now.

ソーシャル・ネットワーキング サービス [mixi(ミクシィ)]

Content and current events change but overall the experience I get at places like this haven't changed much.  US internet sites, social media etc. ?  Different story.  

[Tacenda]

5 hours ago, poptart said:

For those who are still active or semi active on US social media, have you noticed a drop?  I deleted all of mine years ago, while I still have a few throwaways my presence tends to be more on Japanese, Chinese and more EU based platforms as those are where the lions share of my personal interests tend to be, starting to look at apps like Line.  Anyway, how is it here?  When I did have a legit presence I noticed the arguments, politics, nastiness and what was the final nail in the coffin, doxing/witch hunts.  Not saying I haven't seen this on places like Mixi but still, nothing quite like I saw here.  Have to wonder how that's affected things here, the few people from the mainland I have regular communications with either still have it for career/family or just leave a social media page out there as an outpost of sorts.  A Japanese friend just came back from Niigata and it's just family photos, food and nature, that's about it.  Same with a Taiwanese friend, besides visiting home it was a few pics of temples/shrines from Kyoto, that's it.  

Curious how it is for you guys, cheers.

On my Facebook, I don't see many posts that are political, so that's good. 

[poptart]

8 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

On my Facebook, I don't see many posts that are political, so that's good. 

That was one of the things that made me wash my hands of things here, work on fixing my Japanese, reconnecting with my birth culture and just focusing on my old community.  I ended up just cutting ties with almost everything I knew here.  Funny thing, pretty much everyone from my old community remembered me, as far as the culture here?  It was like I never existed.   I was too involved, who knows.  All I know is my mental health is worlds better because of my choices.  

[Rain]

I have several instagram accounts. One is for personal use - friends and family.  I rarely see political things there. Mostly just pictures of what is going on in everyone's life. Pretty much those that have kids still at home mostly have kid's pics.  Those that don't have their hobbies and passions.  

One account is about creative things - mine or others.

One account is purely art stuff I'm following for inspiration.  One is purely travel stuff I'm following for inspiration.  I don't post anything on those. I just decided I wanted to separate these from my personal account and just look at them when in the mood.

I have one for the charitable thing I'm doing and the last is for my blog that I haven't posted on in years.  

So with all those instagram accounts I'm really not seeing anything you are seeing poptart. And the majority of the time I'm only on my personal account unless I have something specific for the others.

Then I have 1 facebook account. I defriended nearly all of my friends and family there. I just use it for groups - like an art product review group, an urban sketching group etc. It's extremely rare I see any of the stuff you mention and part of that's by choice - meaning if it's allowed in the group I usually quit following it.

[blackstrap]

Is OF considered social media ? Asking for a friend . 😏 ( ducks for cover )

[Tacenda]

16 hours ago, poptart said:

That was one of the things that made me wash my hands of things here, work on fixing my Japanese, reconnecting with my birth culture and just focusing on my old community.  I ended up just cutting ties with almost everything I knew here.  Funny thing, pretty much everyone from my old community remembered me, as far as the culture here?  It was like I never existed.   I was too involved, who knows.  All I know is my mental health is worlds better because of my choices.  

I do put myself in a toxic place by watching certain people's youtube and instagrams. It's totally my fault, and it adds to the continual fear of what can happen in this country, the USA. I've even become triggered by the US flag but I won't go into that, it might become political. I'm glad you were able to breakaway and find peace. I'm sad or disgusted that people in the culture here treated you like that. I feel the social media might be the whole culprit. We don't physically communicate like in the old days. Everything is online but I guess that's what modernization does and changes continually. I'll work on my habit of going online, when I think of this thread especially.

Edited August 15, 2024 by Tacenda

[poptart]

On 8/14/2024 at 7:59 PM, Rain said:

I have several instagram accounts. One is for personal use - friends and family.  I rarely see political things there. Mostly just pictures of what is going on in everyone's life. Pretty much those that have kids still at home mostly have kid's pics.  Those that don't have their hobbies and passions.  

One account is about creative things - mine or others.

One account is purely art stuff I'm following for inspiration.  One is purely travel stuff I'm following for inspiration.  I don't post anything on those. I just decided I wanted to separate these from my personal account and just look at them when in the mood.

I have one for the charitable thing I'm doing and the last is for my blog that I haven't posted on in years.  

So with all those instagram accounts I'm really not seeing anything you are seeing poptart. And the majority of the time I'm only on my personal account unless I have something specific for the others.

Then I have 1 facebook account. I defriended nearly all of my friends and family there. I just use it for groups - like an art product review group, an urban sketching group etc. It's extremely rare I see any of the stuff you mention and part of that's by choice - meaning if it's allowed in the group I usually quit following it.

I had a very different experience.  To be fair, it was years ago.  Also, depending on your friends/family, unfriending people is a great way to make bitter enemies, people are petty.

I do have a few throwaway accounts, anymore I do the same thing you do, I still like to ask questions so I can adjust my internet habits in ways that benefit me.  I'm focusing more on using the tool vs. being controlled by it, the feedback is welcome.  When you take responsibility for your life, things are easier to manage.

On 8/15/2024 at 9:27 AM, blackstrap said:

Is OF considered social media ? Asking for a friend . 😏 ( ducks for cover )

It does take two to tango.  Also, I do remember reading how Jesus hung out with sinners.  When I see the amount of hate many people in the USA seem to have for a lot of this stuff it's like the Sanhedrin 2.0.  Haters gonna hate I guess, I think Taylor Swift made a song about that....

On 8/15/2024 at 9:48 AM, Tacenda said:

I do put myself in a toxic place by watching certain people's youtube and instagrams. It's totally my fault, and it adds to the continual fear of what can happen in this country, the USA. I've even become triggered by the US flag but I won't go into that, it might become political. I'm glad you were able to breakaway and find peace. I'm sad or disgusted that people in the culture here treated you like that. I feel the social media might be the whole culprit. We don't physically communicate like in the old days. Everything is online but I guess that's what modernization does and changes continually. I'll work on my habit of going online, when I think of this thread especially.

Something I've noticed with a lot of YouTube stuff, it's kinda worthless.  Outside of my own interests the few YouTube guys I do watch are like, CPA's/CFA's, scientists etc.  You really have to look for the good stuff, when I find something good I save it and subscribe.  Not saying it's all bad but geez, it's like the 80/20 rule on hard mode, so many grifters out there.  Also, I really don't watch a lot of US based YouTube stuff, anymore over half either isn't in English or it's English mixed with something else, usually Japanese/E.Asian.  Concept I re-adopted in my own life from Shinto, garbage in garbage out.  If I see something is toxic I do my best to remove it, in the end I am in control of what I see online and how I choose to react.  

When I think of the US flag, it's tragic.  It was the unity of people that made this country the best place in the world to live in at one time, no more.  (I think anyway....) The persecuted minorities, from Baptists, Lutherans and Latter Day Saints to refugees from Vietnam, it was things like that which made the USA magical.  When I see some of the things people say online I think they don't understand the full consequences of their actions.  The freedoms people here have?  They seem to have forgotten that freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from consequences.  When you treat a group of people who aren't like you horribly?  They not only leave they also run their mouths off to everyone else about how bad the area they had to flee was.  That's nothing new, when the nazis chose to go after anyone who wasn't "Aryan" enough?  They ended up destroying their own country and culture, they drug a lot of good people down with them.  

I remember growing up seeing videos of Detroit and other Midwestern cities that were in varying states of decay.  The homes, churches and everything else were still gorgeous, the kind of Old World craftsmanship you can't get here anymore.  When people get that nasty, things fall apart and that's that.  Considering some parts of the country are losing their healthcare, infrastructure and everything else you need to run a society a lot faster than others, I think a lot of people who chose to be nasty are going to reap the whirlwind, if not them then their children/grandchildren.   I suspect it's going to start with property taxes/cost of goods.  These politicians don't care at all about their voter base, they will fleece them for everything they can before they up and leave with their money as things collapse around them.  

 

Edited August 17, 2024 by poptart

[Tacenda]

1 hour ago, poptart said:

I had a very different experience.  To be fair, it was years ago.  Also, depending on your friends/family, unfriending people is a great way to make bitter enemies, people are petty.

I do have a few throwaway accounts, anymore I do the same thing you do, I still like to ask questions so I can adjust my internet habits in ways that benefit me.  I'm focusing more on using the tool vs. being controlled by it, the feedback is welcome.  When you take responsibility for your life, things are easier to manage.

It does take two to tango.  Also, I do remember reading how Jesus hung out with sinners.  When I see the amount of hate many people in the USA seem to have for a lot of this stuff it's like the Sanhedrin 2.0.  Haters gonna hate I guess, I think Taylor Swift made a song about that....

Something I've noticed with a lot of YouTube stuff, it's kinda worthless.  Outside of my own interests the few YouTube guys I do watch are like, CPA's/CFA's, scientists etc.  You really have to look for the good stuff, when I find something good I save it and subscribe.  Not saying it's all bad but geez, it's like the 80/20 rule on hard mode, so many grifters out there.  Also, I really don't watch a lot of US based YouTube stuff, anymore over half either isn't in English or it's English mixed with something else, usually Japanese/E.Asian.  Concept I re-adopted in my own life from Shinto, garbage in garbage out.  If I see something is toxic I do my best to remove it, in the end I am in control of what I see online and how I choose to react.  

When I think of the US flag, it's tragic.  It was the unity of people that made this country the best place in the world to live in at one time, no more.  (I think anyway....) The persecuted minorities, from Baptists, Lutherans and Latter Day Saints to refugees from Vietnam, it was things like that which made the USA magical.  When I see some of the things people say online I think they don't understand the full consequences of their actions.  The freedoms people here have?  They seem to have forgotten that freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from consequences.  When you treat a group of people who aren't like you horribly?  They not only leave they also run their mouths off to everyone else about how bad the area they had to flee was.  That's nothing new, when the nazis chose to go after anyone who wasn't "Aryan" enough?  They ended up destroying their own country and culture, they drug a lot of good people down with them.  

I remember growing up seeing videos of Detroit and other Midwestern cities that were in varying states of decay.  The homes, churches and everything else were still gorgeous, the kind of Old World craftsmanship you can't get here anymore.  When people get that nasty, things fall apart and that's that.  Considering some parts of the country are losing their healthcare, infrastructure and everything else you need to run a society a lot faster than others, I think a lot of people who chose to be nasty are going to reap the whirlwind, if not them then their children/grandchildren.   I suspect it's going to start with property taxes/cost of goods.  These politicians don't care at all about their voter base, they will fleece them for everything they can before they up and leave with their money as things collapse around them.  

 

Thanks for your opinion, I align a lot.

[Rain]

5 hours ago, poptart said:

I had a very different experience.  To be fair, it was years ago.  Also, depending on your friends/family, unfriending people is a great way to make bitter enemies, people are petty.

Before doing it though I made announcements that were public, shared I would be moving personal stuff to instagram, told everyone on the family group chat and said I would be happy to see people there. Then I waited awhile before doing it so people had time to see it. As far as I am aware I made no enemies from it - I've yet to hear a single negative thing, except that some people don't do instagram. Those I told I would be happy to chat by text. If I made any enemies then that's their own problem.  

5 hours ago, poptart said:

I do have a few throwaway accounts, anymore I do the same thing you do, I still like to ask questions so I can adjust my internet habits in ways that benefit me.  I'm focusing more on using the tool vs. being controlled by it, the feedback is welcome.  When you take responsibility for your life, things are easier to manage.

It does take two to tango.  Also, I do remember reading how Jesus hung out with sinners.  When I see the amount of hate many people in the USA seem to have for a lot of this stuff it's like the Sanhedrin 2.0.  Haters gonna hate I guess, I think Taylor Swift made a song about that....

Something I've noticed with a lot of YouTube stuff, it's kinda worthless.  Outside of my own interests the few YouTube guys I do watch are like, CPA's/CFA's, scientists etc.  You really have to look for the good stuff, when I find something good I save it and subscribe.  Not saying it's all bad but geez, it's like the 80/20 rule on hard mode, so many grifters out there.  Also, I really don't watch a lot of US based YouTube stuff, anymore over half either isn't in English or it's English mixed with something else, usually Japanese/E.Asian.  Concept I re-adopted in my own life from Shinto, garbage in garbage out.  If I see something is toxic I do my best to remove it, in the end I am in control of what I see online and how I choose to react.  

When I think of the US flag, it's tragic.  It was the unity of people that made this country the best place in the world to live in at one time, no more.  (I think anyway....) The persecuted minorities, from Baptists, Lutherans and Latter Day Saints to refugees from Vietnam, it was things like that which made the USA magical.  When I see some of the things people say online I think they don't understand the full consequences of their actions.  The freedoms people here have?  They seem to have forgotten that freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from consequences.  When you treat a group of people who aren't like you horribly?  They not only leave they also run their mouths off to everyone else about how bad the area they had to flee was.  That's nothing new, when the nazis chose to go after anyone who wasn't "Aryan" enough?  They ended up destroying their own country and culture, they drug a lot of good people down with them.  

I remember growing up seeing videos of Detroit and other Midwestern cities that were in varying states of decay.  The homes, churches and everything else were still gorgeous, the kind of Old World craftsmanship you can't get here anymore.  When people get that nasty, things fall apart and that's that.  Considering some parts of the country are losing their healthcare, infrastructure and everything else you need to run a society a lot faster than others, I think a lot of people who chose to be nasty are going to reap the whirlwind, if not them then their children/grandchildren.   I suspect it's going to start with property taxes/cost of goods.  These politicians don't care at all about their voter base, they will fleece them for everything they can before they up and leave with their money as things collapse around them.  

 

 

[Stargazer]

On 8/15/2024 at 2:59 AM, Rain said:

I have several instagram accounts. One is for personal use - friends and family.  I rarely see political things there. Mostly just pictures of what is going on in everyone's life. Pretty much those that have kids still at home mostly have kid's pics.  Those that don't have their hobbies and passions.  

One account is about creative things - mine or others.

One account is purely art stuff I'm following for inspiration.  One is purely travel stuff I'm following for inspiration.  I don't post anything on those. I just decided I wanted to separate these from my personal account and just look at them when in the mood.

I have one for the charitable thing I'm doing and the last is for my blog that I haven't posted on in years.  

So with all those instagram accounts I'm really not seeing anything you are seeing poptart. And the majority of the time I'm only on my personal account unless I have something specific for the others.

Then I have 1 facebook account. I defriended nearly all of my friends and family there. I just use it for groups - like an art product review group, an urban sketching group etc. It's extremely rare I see any of the stuff you mention and part of that's by choice - meaning if it's allowed in the group I usually quit following it.

Once upon a time, I created a Facebook account just to stay in some contact with some relatives, and it had the side benefit of helping me to reconnect with old friends I last saw decades ago. I wasn't very active at all, maybe checked it two or three times per month. My now late wife had no interest in using a computer or a smartphone, but I wanted to be like some other people, and feature my spouse's name in my FB profile. So I created a FB account for her, something that she never looked at except on the day that I showed it to her. When she died I turned her page into a memorial.

When I met my now wife online, for a time I became active on FB. Mainly for the purpose of interacting with her friends and family. Now I'm back to checking it two or three times per month.

Except that, like you, I've found Facebook Groups to be of some value! So I participate a bit in those, including in my ward's FB page.

I've never been able to figure Instagram out, though I do have an account there. It's a mystery to me. 

As far as Twitter/X is concerned, I visit there about twice a day to see what people whom I politically disagree with are posting, and refute their nonsense. I don't know any of them personally, and I'm not convincing anyone to agree with me -- it's just a hobby. I don't get into conversations.

[Stargazer]

22 hours ago, poptart said:

 

 

I love Schwarzenegger's message here. Unfortunately, the people to whom it is most directed are the one less likely to listen to it. Or, so I fear.

[Rain]

5 minutes ago, Stargazer said:

Once upon a time, I created a Facebook account just to stay in some contact with some relatives, and it had the side benefit of helping me to reconnect with old friends I last saw decades ago. I wasn't very active at all, maybe checked it two or three times per month. My now late wife had no interest in using a computer or a smartphone, but I wanted to be like some other people, and feature my spouse's name in my FB profile. So I created a FB account for her, something that she never looked at except on the day that I showed it to her. When she died I turned her page into a memorial.

I created facebook and instagram accounts for my husband because in doing so he could get more frequent stay points at some hotels.  I follow it and he "follows" mine, but except on the very rare times (twice in the last 10 years) where he has checked into a certain hotel he does not log into them.

5 minutes ago, Stargazer said:

When I met my now wife online, for a time I became active on FB. Mainly for the purpose of interacting with her friends and family. Now I'm back to checking it two or three times per month.

Except that, like you, I've found Facebook Groups to be of some value! So I participate a bit in those, including in my ward's FB page.

I've never been able to figure Instagram out, though I do have an account there. It's a mystery to me. 

As far as Twitter/X is concerned, I visit there about twice a day to see what people whom I politically disagree with are posting, and refute their nonsense. I don't know any of them personally, and I'm not convincing anyone to agree with me -- it's just a hobby. I don't get into conversations.