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The effect of deactivating Facebook and Instagram on users' emotional state

(www.nber.org)
506 points imakwana | 4 comments | 21 Apr 25 04:24 UTC | HN request time: 1.21s | source
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young_unixer ◴[21 Apr 25 07:15 UTC] No.43749177[source]▶
Recently, I've been thinking about creating an Instagram account. I've never used it before, and I dislike it in general, but because of recent circumstances in my life (a breakup that almost gave me depression, and some other things), I need to go out more and meet new people IRL, and Instagram is the de facto way to meet people in my country, at least for those of us under 30, to the point that you're seen as weird if you don't have one.

But I know that once I create an account, I'll get hooked to the feed, to uploading pictures, etc. because I know myself.

I don't know if the positive social aspect (meeting people, or creating a lasting connection with people that I meet once IRL) is going to offset that addiction and the general anxiety that comes with having an account.

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1. PaulRobinson ◴[21 Apr 25 08:04 UTC] No.43749426[source]▶
There are people out there - probably many people - in your country under the age of 30 who feels the same way about Instagram as you do. These are the people you want to meet, not the people on Instagram.

If you hate Instagram and the anxiety it gives you, the people you meet on there will never be really on your level, or you on theirs. You will waste your time and effort on shallower relationships that can't get deep because you want to engage with life differently and not be on social media.

Dig deep into the hobbies that give you joy, and go to as many meetups and social occasions around them as you can. Leverage your friend and family network - the people who know you, and get you - and build on it.

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2. systemz ◴[21 Apr 25 08:54 UTC] No.43749718[source]▶
Those are good tips but what to do when you are new in location and your family/friends doesn't have contacts with people that like your hobby? Joining new social circles isn't that easy for less social ones.
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3. jjulius ◴[21 Apr 25 17:36 UTC] No.43754414[source]▶
This is hobby-dependent and YMMV of course, but...

... go and do your hobby. Whatever it is. You're likely to meet people along the way who are also into whatever it is that you're doing. Even in the less sociable hobbies, you're bound to encounter like-minded folk at some point (take it from me, the not-so-social backpacker who likes going to remote places). You might not know where the groups are yet, but you'll figure it out, just like you figured out everything else about being in a new location - where the grocery stores are, where the good restaurants are, where whatever it is that you need might be located.

4. PaulRobinson ◴[21 Apr 25 17:55 UTC] No.43754595[source]▶
Not sure there is a shortcut. You're just going to have to go do your hobby and look out for opportunities to meet other people who are into it too.

The thing about moving to a new location is you're consciously choosing to start over: that has positives and negatives, but either way it's a ton of work to get re-established. Be brave, you'll find people the more you look for them.