I honestly believed that deleting my tumblr would end my compulsion for mindlessly sharing items across the net and perpetuation of digitalized self, and of course that did not happen. Tumblr is one of many web platforms that I used to use, and instead, it seemed that I funneled my “reblogging” habits into “likes and sharing” on Facebook. I used to have a habit of deleting my Facebook content (statuses, links, notes, etc) after the timeline feature came through (because of my paranoia concerning the imaginary looming boss demanding to illegally go through all your facebook posts); after a few months of neglecting to do an office sweep, when I finally attempted to do so, I was disappointed by how much I posted: too much and too often and several times a day, like tumblr.
Although I’m sharing these links and stories and pictures and funny things with my Facebook friends, what is the point, honestly, when you talk to each other off the net? When they already agree with your point of view? To portray how scholarly and well-read you are? Or maybe its an indication of how bored I am at work.
With each new update, privacy settings with any web platform, but especially Facebook, are more difficult to sort through and provide a false sense of security – because they own your content, they get to share it with whomever they wish to, permitting annoyance everywhere you surf – it has been frustrating to realize that you must log out from google everytime you blog, because otherwise, google has you logged into to gmail, youtube, and other services indefinitely. Like Facebook, google tracks your content in order to provide you personalized ads so you can buy more stuff. Interestingly enough, because of the usage of keywords in a specific order, it’s hit and miss (example: I am critical of the Obama Administration, but I’m a lefty. Result – Facebook advertising  racist right-wing conspiracy websites about Obama’s origins).
I think I just want to move into purposeful internet usage (along with becoming frightened after my professor pointed out to my history class that we were zombies with our digital devices/there are bad habits that come with that; aka how many of us automatically check Facebook on our phones once we wake up?). Do we really need to share everything? To be internet friends with everyone? To hit the like button on everything? Does Facebook need to intersect with my personal and private life? Why don’t I have a central spot if I just want to share stuff and why did I stop using this tag????
I’m revisiting a few helpful tips from Julia. 

  • just because you like someone as a person doesn’t mean you have to follow them online – this also applies to loving what someone writes on their blog, but hating their twitter, etc. zero obligation here, remember that
  • unfollow tumblrs that post things without credit, constantly (even if they post really cool shit)
  • think about engaging more directly with fewer people online than feeling the need to engage with tons of people vaguely – that’s how you roll in real life (making a small amount of people my priority when it comes to love/friendship vs. wasting time with on the surface social butterfly acquaintance bullshit)
  • spend more time sending messages and emails to people you respect and admire than talking to/about the people who piss you off
  • when getting wrapped up in an online comment debate, step back. it doesn’t matter who gets “the last word.” if someone refuses to see your point, wasting another 10-15 minutes trying to reiterate your point won’t do any good. if you feel you’ve expressed yourself clearly, move on. (why yes, this is directly about this)

Am I sick from Internet 2.0? Yep.