38 Comments
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Aron pop's avatar

Ive seen so many video essays on how the algorithm is literally erasing culture and giving us identity crisis because of trends. Its getting harder and harder for us to find things on our taste and not pushed down on us by corporations and media

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Minori's avatar

"Once I got my big girl job, I had little time or interest in greasing the wheels of my mind. Fighting a tiredness that lived in my brain and bones, I needed to get out of the world. Except now I’ve realised, it’s been this way for years. This is no longer a comfort and it hasn’t helped me in quite some time."

This. I used to allow myself to doom scroll because I thought I was unwinding, relaxing, taking time for myself after a long day at work. Not only was it actually a form of brain-rot paralysis, but it was actively prohibiting me from doing things that I loved or were good for me. I love your writing and this deeply resonated, lots of food for thought :)

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Carmen Van Kerckhove's avatar

I really felt this, I’m definitely chronically online too and trying to fix it, it’s such an important shift. One of my big goals this year is to read more actual books, which I haven’t done in way too long even though I used to be an avid reader. Loved this reminder to be more intentional.

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Shelley-Marie's avatar

Thanks so much for reading, I’m so pleased this resonated 💗 I have the same goal, to read more by choice! So far it’s going well and it’s been such an escape for me. 🥹

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Beth's avatar

I love this!! I've began to decrease my internet usage when I began to realise I couldn't watch a minute video without putting it in 2x speed (truly what is all this endless consumption doing to our brains?!). I still have a long way to go, it's such an addiction I've set time limits on everything and yet to uninstall but one step at a time but it's so comforting to hear how people like me who have grown up with the internet are trying to fix this issue🤍

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Figu's avatar

A very relatable post, not only on reducing the internet but also on housekeeping notes, photos etc.. I am the same 😂

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Penguin/Mom's avatar

Can't believe so few people liked and commented, it's a painfully apt description of Internet poisoning, which most of us suffer from. Thank you for writing this very necessary piece and I hope more come across it!

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Sarah Kmiecik's avatar

"What I find most upsetting is the lack of original thoughts I’ve had over the years. So many of my thoughts and opinions might have been put in my head for me, and I’ve just absorbed them over time. It’s given me a bit of an identity crisis, to be honest. I might have had so many great ideas by now, or maybe I wouldn’t. I don’t know what’s worse."

This! Wow! WOW.

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Cassie Marie's avatar

Honestly this is one of my favourite posts about our relationship with the internet that I have read on here!! Thank you so much for articulating it so well ☺️ I’ve written some similar stuff recently about the internet (the mirror world) and how a poet needs silence. I also write by hand and type it into the laptop too! It just feels the most natural to me (a fellow millennial too!)

Just wanted to say I loved every word of this, thank you thank you and can’t wait to read more of your work 😊💗

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Ester Marie's avatar

I really loved this. I restacked so many quotes. 😅

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Will's avatar

I recommend getting a phone safe/jail - I use apps too to block my phone but it’s nice to actually lock it away. Mine is called Mindsight

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Flavia Romandetto's avatar

We can’t always control where the food ends up or who feeds from it.- this was gold! Great work

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Hiba03's avatar

I started using social media in my early teens, and now in my 20s, I feel like I'm creating to be seen rather than being authentic. I've been considering quitting for a while, and after reading your article, I'm convinced. Have a wonderful day.

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dreamnetic's avatar

words cannot explain how much i love this essay

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Lena Stalmasińska's avatar

Maybe unrelated question, but I’m curious how you make this popculture collages? Element after element or perhaps there’s a special app / feature for this type of design?

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Shelley-Marie's avatar

I make my collages on Pinterest :) Any regular photos are my own but all collages are done on the Pinterest app :)

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Lena Stalmasińska's avatar

Awesome, thank you!😊🙏🏻

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Notes From A Somali Girl's avatar

Absolutely loved this! especially the part about lacking original thoughts. I don’t think our minds were built to consume this much content nonstop.

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Shelley-Marie's avatar

Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed it <3

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Katie Fair's avatar

All I can say is wow. So many lines I can totally relate to. I feel like my brain has been completely destroyed and it is so hard to have thoughts of my own. I’m only 24 but want to be able to think freely again

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