01/17/2022
I remember when I first joined social media, practically a decade before the term was even coined. It all started w an email list serve for my fave band, Garbage, where I met people from across the globe, many of whom became real life friends who I could hug and meet up with during my, and their worldly travels. Then there were IRC chats and web forums for the dance culture I was immersed in, Livejournal, where everyone I’d already met could connect in a deeper way, on our time, and then the birth of Friendster, which was the first of its kind and we all know what’s happened since then. No one went to these places to get “news” or to take out their anxiety and rage on others, it was all just places to connect with people. Yeah the internet has always had garbage but it was pretty damn easy to avoid. I came to IG to share w my loved ones pictures and stories while I was living abroad, predominately in India, and then I got swept up into the amazing artist community that was the true foundation of this place. I’ve made such incredible friends here, friends I cherish, always!
Things have changed, not just IG but everywhere, and it’s apparent connection has taken a backseat to fear mongering, anger and shame inducing content where mistakes are no longer allowed and room for growth doesn’t exist. I, like everyone else, have been so isolated since COVID, but I also am physically isolated from my friends and family, living in a more beautiful rural setting with the love of my life, a choice I do not regret. I weathered the BS here bcs I *thought* I was staying connected but after a long phone chat w a long time friend, who 6 months prior gave up all social media, she asked, “have you thought about if you really truly feel connected or if it’s just blips of superficial connection and lots of lonelinesses in between?” (Cont in comments)
