“Later, Meta.” Breaking Up in Favor of Bluesky and Flashes

“Meta, how do I loathe you? Let me count the ways…”

This past Sunday’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver added to my disgust, which technically started before the Meta rebrand, when it was still just Facebook and Instagram. However, the disquiet probably started in 2019. Maybe even a year earlier than that. But by 2020, I could no longer ignore the relationship red flags.

Back then, Netflix’s The Social Dilemma triggered a crisis of conscience. Continuing to participate on Facebook basically amounted to approving of the toxicity it created.

However, I was torn. Was it possible to operate without social media? I mean, I had friends who did…but they also didn’t have blogs, podcasts, or books that they were trying to promote.

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

Maybe it was the lack of control and all the pent up frustration back then. (Remember those days? Covid, lockdowns, election year drama?) In the end, I decided to give life without Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter a try.

Five years later, I’ve only been on Facebook a handful of times to check things related to Haunt Jaunts. Although, that said, until recently I also had it set up where my posts auto-published.

But as far as actively being on Facebook. Nope. A few times a year for Haunt Jaunts. Even fewer for my personal page.

I briefly ventured back to Twitter, pre-Musk taking it over. Since then, I’ve deleted my accounts. Threads made that easier, which I was at first thrilled about. Of them all, I used to like Twitter the most. I missed it. It was nice to have a Twitter-like platform again.

Until it wasn’t.

I found myself using Instagram more, but I wouldn’t say regularly. It annoyed me every time I was on it because I knew it was a Meta product and therefore it benefitted Zuckerberg. (Or Fuckerberg as I’ve come to call him.) That was the same issue I had with Threads, which muted my enjoyment and desire to be active on it.

My Case Against Meta: The Three Strikes Rule

The Cambridge Analytica scandal aside, Meta is shite as a good social media steward. Hence, part of the reason for their rebranding from Facebook to Meta.

Strike 1

Sure, they claimed to make some changes to improve user experience and content quality, like being more aggressive about fact-checking, which they’ve since abandoned.

That means mis- and disinformation is likely to ramp up. Especially considering, as ProPublica reported, “Meta is revamping a program that has paid bonuses to creators for content based on views and engagement, potentially pouring accelerant on the kind of false posts it once policed.”

Basically, that’s an invitation for bad actors to sow even more damaging seeds that will spread further distrust and cause more chaos and divisiveness.

Strike 2

Then there’s the issue of how, as the Wall Street Journal reported, Facebook knew Instagram was toxic, especially for teen girls. They didn’t feel pressured to act on that until multiple states sued Meta, accusing Facebook and Instagram for purposely “fueling” a youth mental health crisis.

Strike 3

But most concerning of all is Zuckerberg’s personal rebrand, which is spilling over into Meta. During a chat with Joe Rogan, he embraced his inner misogynist and the overall cultural trend towards misogyny, as well as his fresh new anti-DEI stance. He whined that corporate America has been “neutered” and needs more “masculine energy.”

Unsurprisingly, at least now one female ex-employee filed a lawsuit alleging Meta promotes a “toxic pattern of silencing women.”

“You’re out!”

To use a baseball idiom: “Three strikes, you’re out!”

Men don’t buy, Zuck. Women do. I’m taking my business elsewhere.

Bluesky and Flashes

Even before John Oliver presented Bluesky as a Facebook, Instagram or Twitter replacement, I was there. The trouble is, I’m so very frustrated that I tend to dump out all of my negative thoughts, so I wasn’t using it much. I didn’t want that to be my footprint.

Lately, I’ve reconsidered that stance, however, because cancer taught me that keeping emotions bottled up is bad. Expressing them and getting them out is crucial.

Since I don’t have any followers, I’m basically screaming into the void at this point. That’s okay. I’m used to not being listened to and dismissed. At least I’m purging my frustrations. Hopefully my content will shift to more positive topics, like what I’m writing, reading, and my expatcapades.

Then this week during one of my Bluesky visits, I made an exciting discovery. Someone posted about Flashes for Bluesky, an Instagram-like alternative. I went to check it out and I already like Flashes better than Insta because it has a reshare option. I like that aspect of social media most.

Yes! Halleluah! Do you know how many photos that I want to post but haven’t because of my Meta loathing issues? Well, that’s now been resolved. Wahoo!

John Oliver’s Meta Episode

Chime In

What are your favorite social media platforms? (If it’s anything Meta-owned, don’t worry. No judgment or shaming here. I appreciate you suffering through my diatribe about my issues with it, though.)