#and i remember scrolling through the facebook post the news outlet made for our story and reading comments being like

[avianhasnodignity]

i remembered another anecdote from catholic school: in 9th grade in religion class before the bell rang some asshole was fucking around and made a joke about covid or was messing around with his mask or something and internally i was like "i gotta say something or else i'm going to kill him" so i snapped my head around to face him and said "my dad died of covid so can you shut up?" and the whole class went silent

[socialmedialearner]

Social Media & Participatory Culture

What is a participatory culture?

Social Media is not very social if there is a lack of participation. People posting new things, sharing creative ideas, and collaborating on issues makes Social Media interesting and productive for our culture. Jenkins et al. (2009) states that a participatory culture in social media is an area where creative expression is allowed with no limits, there is a strong focus on engagement, and where people feel that they are gaining meaningful social connections with one another. It is a culture where we become producers of online media instead of just viewing others content. The rise of a culture like this allows for us to become digital creators and encourage others to do the same. This is important because we can make meaningful connections with others who have the same vision as us when we create content. We also can learn new things when we decide to collaborate with someone who has been an inspiration for us. Many people scroll through social media, but without creators of content we wouldn’t be on social media at all. Supporting a culture where freedom of expression and creation is encouraged leads to more meaningful and diverse content on social media, and brings people together with common interests and ideas.

A producer vs consumer mindset: what is it? and how is it growing?

Consumers of social media content enjoy watching and sharing others' ideas, but producers of social media content drive our trends, leave lasting impressions on us, and help expand our learning. The article by Hinton and Hjorth (2013) states that producers all create content online and it can be anything from commenting on an article to uploading a video. They state that the real difference is that a producer intends to create content that will be shared and consumed by others. From this, we can look at producers as true contributors on social media platforms. Examples of contributors include podcast hosts, blog writers, and photographers. The list doesn’t stop there, and anyone who creates content to be shared and received by others can be looked at as a contributor on social media.

New contributions are happening everyday as I can see through many people creating podcasts. Younger people are creating content because they are inspired through seeing others have such a success in that role. The Ted talk by Jenkins (2010) shows that 65% of young people have created and shared digital content online, and that a third of them have shared it outside of their immediate community. This is fascinating because we can see that younger people have become huge contributors of social media. Personally, I can see it everyday on social media outlets. Famous You tubers who give out money to charity and Instagram influencers who bring new trends to us before corporate entities can create the trend themselves. However, I do hope to see more people contributing meaningful content on social media in the near future. Many of my followers like and retweet content but very few actually are contributing. I inspired my friend to start sharing fighting tutorials and videos because he is an MMA fighter and from him doing that he has inspired a couple people to actually start the sport. This shows that we need to become advocates of making this culture happen, because inspiring one person to share their passion can lead to others adopting that passion as well. 

My inspiration to create

I find inspiration to create based on the feedback I get from other people. I like to post short videos to my stories (Instagram and Snapchat) giving people tips on wellness, motivation, and fitness goals. I like to combine psychology and motivation to help people start their goals instead of just dreaming of them. My inspiration has come from people telling me that I made a difference for them. When I first started posting fitness and wellness tips I had a friend tell me that I motivated her to start getting active in her free time. For me that was a big inspiration to keep posting new things and made me realize that people are actually listening even if they don’t respond to you right away. I have continued to post things like this and have received feedback from people saying I helped them and they have shared my content with others. I have now been inspired to potentially create a podcast this summer with my friend where we discuss things related to psychology, relationships, fitness and how combining and using these concepts can help create a holistic viewpoint on wellness in your life. 

Creation of content during COVID-19

We have all seen new and interesting ways people are creating content during COVID-19. Celebrities are speaking to us through social media, Musicians are hosting live concerts from their living rooms, and people are starting new video blogs where they read to children. This is fascinating to me because during this situation people are becoming producers of social media and more importantly they are learning through social media now as well. I have seen teachers post on their Facebook about how they are using social media tools to engage with their students in a time where they are unable to gain a face to face connection with them. This is important because it can help the students regain a sense of meaning during this time where things do not feel quite right. This situation is not ideal and it has impacted almost everyone in a way that makes them either go to online learning, spend more time on social media, or use the internet to find updates about the situation. My hope is that this can lead to something great for the future of social media learning. What I mean by this is that I hope this can help shift thinking on how online learning can be greatly beneficial and that people can become more digitally literate during this time period. There are potentially going to be many changes to our society in which some may be negative, but I am hopeful that one of the long lasting positive changes is that people realize that online learning and digital creation will remain and become more prevalent after this situation. 

I would also like to share some ways that I have become a producer of new content during the COVID-19 situation. I have made a couple Facebook posts giving people tips on how to be less anxious or depressed if they are struggling in this time of isolation. A few people gave me good feedback and shared it with their friends. This made me feel good and has inspired me to continue to give some tips every week on how to stay well during this time period, mentally and physically. I have also been going outside and taking pictures again as well and sharing them with people too. Nature is the one thing we can experience alone that helps you gain more meaning in life rather than just sitting in the house all day. I hope that myself and all others can continue to share meaningful and inspiring content during this tough time, and that we continue to do so even after we go back to our normal lives. 

In closing, we must remember that even though we must be physically distant during this time does not mean we have to be socially distant. Social media still gives us a platform to connect, create, and share with our friends no matter the distance from one another. 

References

Hinton, S., & Hjorth, L. (2013). Understanding Social Media.

Jenkins, H. (2009). Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture. doi: 10.7551/mitpress/8435.001.0001

Jenkins, H. (2020, March). Participatory Culture TEDxNYED.

[everconstantcuriosity]

Echo Chamber... Fake News... Intellectual Dishonesty... What’s the difference?

So unless you are completely unhooked from the world, and living in a cabin off the grid(To which I say... Respect), You probably have heard of this fake news controversy floating around. There were a lot of different places my brain went to when I first read about the different aspects, just in case you are one of those heroes of mine living the life of Ron Swanson I described earlier, i’ll give you a brief overview of the turf: After Donald Trump won the election, there was some outrage about how someone like him could’ve came out on top. So naturally, most of the media and the politicians attacked news companies and personalities who were apologetic of trump, and his behavior. Now a label of fake news signifies a “scarlet letter” which discredits any source of news that the media and political elite see fit. I am trying pretty hard to be objective, but I am sorry, I can’t look past the problematic point of censorship. 

Now let me get something straight; I was an opponent of Trump during the election. If you don’t believe me, read some of my earlier posts. I think those that ignored the dumbfounding behavior from our president-elect through this election cycle should do some self-evaluation. But on the other side of the coin, I do not sympathize with the #notmypresident trend, just like I did not sympathize with it 8 years ago. That attitude is counterproductive. I feel pretty disgruntled with just about everyone’s behavior pre and post-election. This fake news business is, dare I say, just another version of the already-coined phenomenon, the Echo Chamber. This is where a person slowly shuts out people and sources of information that they disagree with until all they see and hear are things that they agree with. This is something that we all have done at some point, so no one in particular is getting called out... But everyone is getting called out. Sorry. We all have a point of view, which comes from experience, choices, and upbringing. The mutual understanding I try to have with people is that if I want my views and opinions to be respected and heard, then I have to offer that same courtesy. So if you are still with me (If you are not...Join the club), then let’s continue the line of logic of human subjectivity and list those who are guilty of dispensing fake news: Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, Wall Street Journal, The Blaze, New York Times, your Facebook feed, my Facebook feed, every journalist or common person on this planet. The fact is, if we are defining fake news as a thought, story, or any piece of writing or speech that seeks to prove our own biases, then we are all guilty. Let us all be stamped with that bright red letter “F” for fake news, and be forever shunned! 

That was the second reference I have made about the scarlet letter... I am sorry. I’m thinking that’s two too many. Plus, a big red “F” would probably not be the most prudent mark. But as I am typing, I realize I am putting too much thought into this. Either way, I promise to leave the nasty business of Hester Prynne and her adultery out of this blog forever more.

Let’s get real for a second. Ignoring different sources of news and information is not how you stop the flow of fake news. That’s merely how you create your own brand of it. Do you know who I blame for the start of this whole problem? Whoever it was who read an article from The Onion(a satirical news site), misunderstood the subtleties, took it as fact, and then threw an entitled tantrum when they found out it wasn’t real. (If that’s you, I am sorry. This post is for you.) By letting the elite members of politics and the media make these decisions of what is real and what is fake, we relinquish the responsibility of processing and filtering information for ourselves. Here is something that I learned in my entry-level Biology Lab: Check for credible sources. It’s the only way for us to be intellectually honest. If we deem all of the actions of one person good because of the limited scope we take, then we are being dishonest with ourselves. The truth is, the world and the people living on it are far more complicated than we want to admit. Every person, policy, political party, leader, or anything else will have good and bad to it, and it’s up to us to be objective and honest. President Obama was not the socialist villain from Kenya that was portrayed by some... But he was not a perfect president, and has had a hand in the partisan politics that has helped divide our country. President-Elect Trump may be the physical manifestation of the mountain troll Harry, Ron and Hermione faced in the Hogwarts bathroom, but he isn’t even the president yet! He can’t be blamed for all of the problems that we are facing. I was guilty at different points of being blind to what good President Obama could offer, and I am trying to be better with my objectivity. But we all have our own stumbling blocks of bias, that’s a human condition, indiscriminate. With most anything, there will be some good and some bad with issues that we discuss. And with those different parts of the issue, some news outlets will do a better job at presenting the facts, while they might not do a good job with another. The solution? Read everything. Most of us have the ability to scroll or scan the bottom to see if whatever we are reading is legitimate. There are some who blatantly spread lies and falsehoods, and it is up to us to know who they are. But the caveat to that is, I don’t think there is as much of that as we would think. People reporting contrary to our biases does not mean they are wrong. That is also intellectually dishonest. 99% of the time, when we read an article about any issue, we gain a sliver of visibility into the problem. With another article, another sliver of light. Some pieces may shed more light, others not so much. But the more we read, and consider, our views of the issues become clearer. Whether it slants liberal, or conservative, considering all points of view equally and openly is the only way of being intellectually honest. Please join me in taking back responsibility for what we read and learn. Creating an echo chamber of ideas, or contributing to more cultural echo chambers in our world is something I believe we really can’t afford. I promise to listen and consider where you are coming from, as long as you promise to consider and respect where I am coming from. If we have lost this basic level of civility, what then?

Be happy, be safe, and remember who you are.

Logan

[lindyhunt]

17 Inspiring Instagram Video Examples From Oreo, GoPro, BuzzFeed & More

Remember when Instagram first started allowing users to post videos back in 2013?

The first Instagram videos had to be recorded on your phone and could only be up to 15 seconds long. Those were the days that people compared Instagram video to its Twitter-owned counterpart, Vine.

Instagram has come a long way since then, and it's blown Vine out of the water. Like most of the other popular social networks, the folks at Instagram have made changes to its platform that make it easier for people to post and share videos.

In late March 2016, Instagram announced they'd start rolling out the ability for Instagram users to upload 60-second videos. For iOS users, they added that users will soon be able to make videos out of multiple clips from your camera roll.

Thanks to these changes, marketers can use the Instagram app to relate with their fans and customers, to communicate their business' personalities and brand stories, and to express artistic creativity.

There are a lot of brands who are posting great photos on social media. But what about videos? While brands have been slower to adapt to Instagram's video platform, many of the ones that are experimenting with it are doing it really well. Check out the examples below.

17 of the Best Instagram Video Examples

Click anywhere on the videos to play them, and click again to pause them.

1. Oreo

Oreo is known for its simple, creative social media content -- and its Instagram videos don't disappoint. The video below is a great example of a fun, creative video that works perfectly for the platform.

While we love the sound quality in this video -- how satisfying is the sound of pen on paper? -- it doesn't require sound to make sense. This is a really smart move because when you're viewing any video on Instagram, you'll hear sound only if your device's volume is turned on. If your phone is set to silent or vibrate -- which is the case for many people, especially when they're perusing Instagram in public -- then the video will play with the sound off.

Keep this in mind when you're planning your next Instagram video: It should either be eye-catching enough to draw people to turn on the sound within the first few seconds, or it should be able to play without sound.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by OREO (@oreo)

2. Burger King

Here's another Instagram video that doesn't require sound. In fact, it's completely silent -- and the reasoning is very clever. The Burger King (yes, that's the name of their mascot) is famously silent.

But on the 199th anniversary of National American Sign Language (ASL) Day, he broke his silence both on Instagram with the video below, and on YouTube with a longer video -- a great example of paring down a longer YouTube video to fit Instagram's platform.

In the video, the Burger King calls on their deaf fans to ask what the official sign for their famous burger, the "Whopper," should be. The video encourages fans to submit ideas via social media using the #WhopperSign hashtag.

When a winning hand sign was picked, here's how they changed their logo to celebrate:

Image Credit: AdAge

3. GoPro

If you know anything about GoPro, you're probably picturing the company's Instagram account accurately: extreme sports shot from GoPro's classic fish-eye lens. The video below is one of the few longer Instagram videos out there that you're happy to watch all the way through. Right from the still image before you press play, you know what's waiting for you.

The video's first-person point of view gives you an intensely intimate experience that any business page desires to give to its followers.

  4. Reebok

Inspiring content tends to do very well on social media, especially Instagram. This video is clearly the work of professionals, which not every brand has the resources for. But the message, which is part of a larger campaign shared across their website and other social networks, is both beautiful and shareable: You have 25,915 days: What will you do with them?

5. BuzzFeed Tasty

The videos BuzzFeed Tasty puts out on Instagram and Facebook are simply perfect for those two platforms: They're visual, helpful, shareable, light-hearted ... and, best of all, they're simple. When I watch these videos, I want to save them somewhere so I can refer back to them when I want to make the recipe myself. (Plus, I love the music they use.)

"We want people to be able to watch the video and feel like they can pull it off at home," Andrew Gauthier, creative director of BuzzFeed Motion Pictures, told CBS.

The folks at BuzzFeed have published more than 500 "Tasty" videos since last July, and they've been viewed 14 billion times, mostly on Facebook. But these videos are perfect for Instagram's visual platform, too. Thanks to Instagram's decision to extend video length to 60 seconds, BuzzFeed is able to post full recipe videos along with a caption explaining exactly how it's done.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tasty (@buzzfeedtasty)

6. Livia Sala

Here's another food- and recipe-related Instagram video that took a different approach than BuzzFeed Tasty. In this video, Milan-based food stylist Livia Sala captured the process of making ravioli on video, complete with cute "commentary" from some of the ingredients on the list.

Instead of using fluid video, Sala uses a series of still shots, one after another. This is called a "stop action video" from still photos, which you can create by taking still photos and uploading them to iMovie on your computer or phone. This is a great video because it's delightful and fun -- are you seeing the trend here? The post was a Shorty Award finalist for Best Instagram Video in 2013.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by liviasala (@liviasala)

7. Allstate

Think insurance companies are limited to boring content? Allstate has always set themselves apart from the crowd with their entertaining commercials and social media presence.

But they don't just put out the same videos on every one of their social outlets. Instead, they carefully cater their content to the platform they're publishing on. (For example, this YouTube video of theirs looks like a normal commercial, but turns into a "choose your own adventure" type game.)

On Instagram, some of the videos they post are video memes -- this is a meme format we haven't seen many brands use. People love memes on Instagram because they're funny and shareable, and folks tend to tag their friends in the comments, thereby expanding the post's reach. That's exactly what happens with Allstate's video memes, like the one below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Allstate (@allstate)

8. Ikea

Here's an example of a short, snackable video that showcases a product in a funny way. In this case, Ikea's showing off its anti-slip mat with a scene of a dad chasing his son (who happens to be wearing a hilarious monster costume).

This video is great because it doesn't just show what the product looks like. In fact, you barely see the product itself. Instead, it shows the product's benefits -- and in a way that lets viewers see the brand's personality. Instagram users love seeing personality behind Instagram content, which is why it does so well for engagement. So the next time you want to showcase a new product, consider showing it off in a humorous way.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by IKEA UK (@ikeauk)

9. Camp Brand Goods

This Canadian outdoor adventure apparel company consistently posts great content on Instagram. Not only is their Instagram content always high quality, but they use it to showcase the lifestyle they build around their products, not just the products themselves.

"[On Instagram,] it’s less about the product than it is about sharing good times," said Camp Brand Goods' Leslie McNeilly. "We tend to post an even mix of scenery shots and product shots. We created our own hashtag [#keepitwild], and we award a T-shirt weekly to an Instagram user who is caught keeping it wild."

While they haven't done many videos, the one below is a great one. It has the same look and feel as their photos on Instagram, especially with that vintage, faded look, with perfectly matching music.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Camp Brand Goods (@campbrandgoods)

10. Ben & Jerry's

Here's an example of a great product announcement video on Instagram from Ben & Jerry's. We love that the video shows a fictional way the product was made -- as if it were as easy as putting cookie dough and Oreos in an empty pint and shaking it up. It's another great way for a brand to show its personality using short videos.

The video's playful tone is perfect for Instagram -- and so is the length. Although Instagram is starting to allow longer videos, it's important to remember that users are often scrolling through their feeds when they come upon a video, and many may not want to watch for more than ten or twenty seconds. This would've been a great video to share on Facebook, too, because of that playful tone and short length.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ben & Jerry's (@benandjerrys)

11. Wistia

How-to videos are a popular video format for many brands -- but the key is making these videos interesting enough for the Instagram platform. The folks at Wistia did a great job of using cool angles along with text to capture viewers' attention right away -- without them needing to turn the sound on. (In fact, this video doesn't have sound at all.)

Then, they used the caption to point viewers to the link in their bio for the full instructional video. (Note: When you ask people to follow a link in your Instagram bio, make sure you make that link trackable.)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wistia (@wistia)

12. CBRE

Nothing like a breathtaking time lapse to mesmerize your followers on Instagram. You might not think a commercial real estate and investment services firm like CBRE would have beautiful content to post, but it's videos like this that have the ability to showcase the more visually pleasing sides of the industry.

Even if you work for a "boring" industry, you can come up with creative ideas that cater to what type of content your audience wants. One key thing to keep in mind -- especially on Instagram's platform -- is to make your content relatable and approachable. In other words, make it human. No one who's scrolling through their Instagram feed wants to see a cut-and-dry product update. They'll scroll right past it and on to their friend's video of his cat.

Instead, produce videos that help you form an emotional connection with your fans, as CBRE did with this stunning video, the beauty of which anyone can appreciate.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CBRE (@cbre)

13. Califia Farms

Califia Farms is another brand that consistently creates awesome Instagram content. They tend to post a solid mix of photos and video content, including fun, playful videos and GIFs like the one below. Here, they're announcing a new product with a sort of "slow reveal" -- but one that's visually compelling enough for users to stick around.

If you like the idea of posting animated videos to your own Instagram account, they aren't actually all that difficult and expensive to create. Here's a list of 10 easy-to-use tools for creating animated photos and videos to get you started.

14. Flixel Photos

Here's a stunning image from Flixel Photos. ... Or is it a video? It's actually something called a "cinemagraph," which is kind of a combination of the two. A cinemagraph is a file format used to create short, infinitely-looping animations for the web that look like images with a moving component. The effect is really cool: It's like experiencing a living moment.

Creating a cinemagraph isn't as hard as it looks. Here are seven tips from Flixel photos on making your cinemagraphs remarkable.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Flixel Cinemagraph® Pro (@flixelphotos)

15. Dunkin' Donuts

A video doesn't have to be long to be successful. In fact, the video below from Dunkin' Donuts is literally three still images put together into a video. This is another example of a "stop action video" from still photos, which you can create by taking still photos and uploading them to iMovie on your computer or phone.

While this video is super simple, what makes it great is its timeliness (in celebration of Mother's Day) and that it's funny, unexpected, and therefore shareable. Donuts given like flowers? Yes, please.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dunkin’ (@dunkin)

16. WeWork

Another great use case for Instagram? Showcasing your company culture. Instagram's a great platform for positioning your brand as a friendly face and building a voice and personality to build a relationship with followers. It doesn't hurt for recruitment, either.

Here's a wonderful and whimsical video that cuts together short clips from WeWork's company party. Kids breakdancing, someone dressed up as a snowman, employees talking and laughing ... they did a great job of showcasing the employees' personalities and making the party look really fun.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by WeWork (@wework)

17. Saturday Night Live

The American TV show Saturday Night Live produces great video content by its very nature -- but that's not the only reason why their Instagram videos are so good. They have their Instagram promotion down to a science.

"It's found a successful formula for extending each show way past the broadcast date, and for re-purposing TV content for the online generation, with micro-video playing a huge part of that," writes Carla Marshall for ReelSEO.com. "Take the 2nd April show, which featured Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage, and singer Gwen Stefani. Both appeared in a very odd little sketch called 'Space Shorts/Pants' which SNL then uploaded to Facebook, and YouTube, and to Instagram, where it generated over 70K views. By using its social media presence, the brand was able to extend the buzz around the sketch for days, even weeks, after."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl)

Struggling to create short but sweet Instagram content that drives engagement with your business? Download some inspiring Instagram post and story templates below to improve your game.

[punkwhodrinkstea-blog]

sOcIaL mEdiA

What’s up my fellow mammals. As you can tell by the title I have a bone to pick with Social Media. Now it’s not all bad however I will be taking action in my own life and I’ll explain more later. For now I just thought I’d say that the colleges here in Canada, Ontario have been on strike for 4 weeks now and it’s likely that there will be a 5th week. I personally have no problems since I am changing my major and school had been hell for me up until the strike. I now value sleep more than I ever have and I value proper meals and food more too. Everything is good for now even though at some point this strike will come back to bite me in the butt. Anyway let’s get to the topic at hand.

For those of you who don’t know, since the rise of social media there has been a drastic increase in mental health issues. Often people get into a routine of sharing the best side of themselves online. We all generally only post the good things, the stuff that makes us look good and for obvious reasons. Now since we do this, therefore we only see great selfies and stuff that is on some level trying to make ourselves look better. This ends up almost like a competition and we compare ourselves to each other. We try to be liked only to see others be more liked than ourselves and it only hurts our self image and confidence. Social media also is the fastest way news travels along with gossip. I don’t remember the last time I watched the news and saw something positive. I hate the news it’s either another american shooting or another natural disaster in a 3rd world country. We show off things and try to find acceptance in those we have on facebook or instagram when we don’t truly need it. Heck it’s not even healthy to try.

Now social media on it’s own is not bad, theoretically social media should be great. But it’s not and it never will be because I doubt there will ever be a trend of people showing both the good and the bad of one’s life on the internet. There is a small trend that people try and post “uplifting” news like saving a cat or something. Sadly this also implies something bad happened in the first place or it’s simply not enough to compensate for all the negative things on the news. But social media can be great if you’re trying to reach a wide audience and spread the word about something. Social media is a tool like every other, it can be used for good things and it can do harm. Sadly I have come to the conclusion that it’s doing more harm. Also don’t get me started as to how much time we spend on it. I mean it is usually in small doses or the odd time you end up scrolling through social media or memes for hours which is... such a waste to be honest but I’m guilty of it too. The point is I understand that it doesn’t seem to take up much time but trust me it adds up fast. It also doesn’t help that there are so many social media outlets now. I mean back in the day there was only one thing at a time. First MSN, then myspace, then facebook. However ever since facebook we’ve accumulated Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Tumblr and I bet there are more that I don’t really know of. (and Pintrest but it’s not technically social media since it’s not meant to be social).

I read this blog post written by a 17 year old boy who decided to delete all of his social media accounts. He felt that they were mostly a daily dose of something that messed with his self image, confidence and caused social anxiety. No doubt he was right. I know the feeling and I know everyone under the age of 25 does too. He went on to say that because he wasn’t self advertising that he was quickly left out of events, party invites, and other social outings. He described it as being the last kid to be picked for a team sport. This is the new modern day equivalent. He was quickly made an outsider and he also quickly found out who his true friends were. Instead of the 10 plus people who all were his “friends” he was left with 2 or 3 friends… real friends. These two friends didn’t forget about him when erased himself from the internet because they cared enough to keep in touch with him without him needing to advertise himself on the internet. He write more about how much less anxiety he’s had since removing his social media accounts and how much time he’s saved by not posting his own stuff or reading, scrolling through other people's stuff and trying to write comments or reply to other people's’ dumb posts.

Anyway I bring this up because I have decided to remove all of my personal social media accounts other than my facebook due to the reasons I mentioned earlier. I decided to keep  my facebook because it’s helpful for my school stuff, church stuff and Messenger is a key piece of communication for me, my girlfriend and a few other friends who are important to me. I also do  like to post my artwork on there aswell but I’m not really one to post selfies or about my wonderful day or vacation so I’d like to think I’m not adding to the problem. Also I unfollowed everyone on facebook other than my girlfriend and those close friends. Facebook does have a few good practical uses so I guess I’ll keep it. I do feel bad for removing my instagram account because now I can’t see my girlfriend’s posts and like them… ya know the way a good boyfriend should haha. I’m kidding my girlfriend will survive just fine. Plus after reading this she’ll know why I am no longer posting to instagram or liking her posts. Next I am keeping my social media outlets for TheMasklessBoy because honestly I never use it. I have never once scrolled through looking at things and liking things and whatever. I only post and as you can tell if you’re following me it’s the odd tweet or a legit blog post like this one. The only reason why I follow people on these social media accounts is so that if someone looks at who I am following they can get a decent idea of who I am. Also if I don’t follow anyone then twitter or Tumblr will keep poking me telling me to make friends and connect… it’s annoying. Also kind of a funny story but I almost entirely stopped using twitter the day my dad decided to stalk me on it. So I just stopped using twitter on my personal account so giving it up isn’t hard but as you can probably tell I like being able to through my random thoughts onto the internet, hence why I have twitter account under this name. So I can do exactly that without someone I know in real life freaking out on me.

Anyway I’m getting tired and It’s late and like most of my blog posts I did not proof read this one. Meh. I’m tired and have lots to do tomorrow. I hope my comments about social media doesn’t ruin social media for you. I don’t dislike social media but I think I’d be better off without it. Peace out folks and have a good night, or morning or whatever.