So long social media

As the kids say, it’s not me. It’s definitely you.

The day has come. I’m leaving social media for good. Not a “break,” not a “digital detox,” not a “see you when I feel less angry.” No, I’m deleting my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts (I will never call it X). Gone. Deleted. Vaporized.

It’s been entertaining. I’ve spent years showing the world how clever, insightful, caring, and occasionally maddeningly opinionated I am. And frankly, if you don’t know that about me by now, I don’t know what to tell you.

But let’s be honest: nothing good is coming from doom-scrolling myself into a sleep-depriving tailspin every night. On these platforms, we’re not the audience — we’re the product. Every click, every like, every second of our attention vacuumed up and monetized. Knowing that, even passively, is exhausting.

Then there’s the rest of it: the bots, the MAGA morons, the performative outrage, the endless, joyless churn of noise and nonsense. It’s all gotten so depressingly predictable. Social media has become like junk food for the brain — cheap, addictive, and guaranteed to make you feel worse afterward.

So I’m cutting the cord. Not deactivating — deleting. Accounts gone, apps deleted, notifications silenced.

This is going to probably take a few weeks. I want to archive my accounts, take a last look around and make sure everyone who wants to stay in touch has a way to. I used to think that because I was in advertising I had to be on these accounts all the time to have my finger on the pulse of what was going on. But as I see what’s going on online, I have the undeniable feeling I might be better off not knowing.

Besides, I’m sure somehow the news will filter down to me in other most likely more reliable ways.

So I’m taking back my time, my focus, and possibly my last remaining shred of optimism.

To everyone who’s followed, commented, shared, or stuck around through the chaos — thank you. You’ve been the bright spots in an otherwise bleak digital landscape.

But don’t worry, assuming you were. I’m not disappearing. I’m just moving to a quieter neighborhood. You’ll still be able to find me here at RotationandBalance.blogspot.com. Since I won’t be losing hours scrolling through other people’s hot takes, I might actually post more of my own. I’ll still be reachable on LinkedIn and by email — if you know my first name, my first and last name, and how to add a dot com, boom! Look at us, we’re talking. And like I said earlier, this process will be a long goodbye over a few weeks.

Take care of yourselves, and if you can, give your own screens a little break too. There’s a lot more life outside the algorithm.

As they like to say in the Senate, I’m reclaiming my time.