16 Reasons I Signed Out of Social Media

Byeeeee social media!

Here's WTF is going on.

The pull to close down social media has been there for a long, long time.

There’s even a chapter in my book, Unfussy Life about leaving social. Here’s a snippet:

“If I’ve been on social media since 2007 and I spend an hour a day until I’m 100, that’s 73 years, 365 hours a year on social media, 26,645 hours of my life. That’s 3.03 years.”

I’ve paused scrolling and posting for months at a time when focusing on my book or a big blogging project. Several years ago, I deleted my Instagram account only to land back there again.

And every time I’ve paused, I’ve felt extremely uncomfortable at first. Like when you’re at a party and have nothing in your hands to anchor you when everyone’s holding a sweaty glass or small plate of hors d'oeuvres.

I may as well be standing pantless on a stage.

As the grooves of discomfort dissolve from being social media-free, I find something else — peace.

Yes, I love how social media offers connection, staying in touch with friends, and meeting new ones.

For now, my accounts are still active and more private than they were before. I've scrubbed and deleted many posts.

I’m sure you’ve seen horror stories. While I’m not into fear, you probably know at least one person who was hacked, canceled, stalked, or all three.

Some accounts are still online, I’m just not using them.

Here are some additional actions I've taken:

• Reviewed IG followers and removed anything weird, fake, or icky feeling. Which is a good idea to do regularly — I removed several hundred accounts (obviously I didn’t do this enough)

• Changed my IG account to personal, so followers need to request to follow. I deleted any posts where I had images of clients or friends. No one can tag me here now.

• Archived blog posts where I featured my clients

• Locked my tweets

• Archived FB posts (I had already limited who could find or friend me and tag me)

• Removed FB friends who are no longer in my life

• FB Biz page — removed posts that had pics of the kids (I forgot that IG was auto-posting here), and deleted videos

• Removed any mention of the region I live on all platforms

• Removed last names and company names from testimonials on my website — this was a big A-HA and I never want my clients to receive any unwanted attention

• Deleted my Google Business Page

• Deleted my Goodreads account

• Deleted my Next Door account

• For private chats, I use Signal

• LinkedIn I added additional privacy — I’m not sure how I’ll use LI going forward. I’m connected with most people there for a reason, and LI isn’t personal.

There are a small number of communities I love that use social media, so until they bounce, I login for those, and those only.

Now, you may love social media, spending money on ads, connecting, sharing, and all that goodness. That’s great. Only make changes here if you want to.

Here are the top reasons I signed out of social media:

1. Work is going to call for less presence from my family

2. I’m moving the Unfussy Writing Community to a new platform, which I've been exploring for a while. Changing algorithms mean group conversations don't get eyeballs on them like they used to, lots of other members leaving FB and social completely, and many business owners thinking of FB as a “necessary evil” and having a love-hate relationship with it. And especially, for a group whose focus is to do our writing, being on social can too easily slip into distractions — even with news feed eradicator, timers, and being intentional

3. The 365 hours a year thing if I'm on there an hour a day.

4. I can't say I'm a good mom if I'm scrolling around my kids.

5. The brain space it consumes when going about my day and thinking, “Oh, I could do a story about this.” I’d like my hijacked brain back, please.

6. Using it as a distraction for boredom — 10 minutes in line at the grocery store, eating a snack, time to scroll!

7. The kids aren’t allowed to use it, so why should I?

8. Time to create, curate, post, and engage (even if I'm super-efficient)

9. So I can read more books

10. So I can write more books (I just drafted my latest in November during a successful NaNoWriMo)

11. Ever seen the Social Dilemma? When a product is free, YOU are the product. Also, I’ve spent exactly $0 on ads and have no intention to.

12. 99.9% of my clients and community members come from referrals

13. 100% of the services I invest in come at the recommendation of someone I know and trust.

14. I’m gaining more focus than ever and going deeper into being radically present for my life.

15. My business doesn’t NEED it — 99% of my clients come from other amazing clients.

16. I freaking LOVE email. I’d get rid of my website before I stop using email. I love receiving, sending, and writing emails.

I’m exploring this social-media-free business world and sharing what I learn with people who have signed up for regular email updates.

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