Social Media and Mental Health?

I deleted my X (formely known as Twitter) account. I only use Facebook once or twice a month, if I feel like it. I don't see myself opening another social media profile/account, there are way too many and it's getting worse by the year. From toxic culture, misinformation, AI slop, scams, etc. Don't forget the recent lawsuits in the United States following the payouts to families who's children were affected by social media usage. Overall, some of us including myself prefer to go back to a simple time. What's going on right now, wasn't like this 15+ years ago.

Thank you for that, Hannah Fry is a favourite of mine also.  I've just added your recommendation to my podcast list.  Now all I need is time to listen to everything I have.  :-)

Yes, I agree.

I no longer use Reddit ig Facebook or threads and my life has improved 

Good point. My response was only from a personal perspective. There are so many flavours of autism that I found it unusual to find such commonality.

Ah! I did wonder "what the bait was that caught the fish" Thank you for explaining.

I wonder whether it could be related to having a different theory of mind. That is, assuming the description you quoted is a general autistic feeling (which may not be).

Tim Harford also has a brilliant podvast sereis on the BBC website called "Cautionary Tales". You might also appreciate Hannah Fry's podcast on data and discovery, although there are few (and brief!) episodes. 

The consumer programme I listen to regularly is the BBC podcasts "You and Yours", which is about the failures of firms and organisations to meet consumer expectations, along with frauds and scams. I'm not into programmes advocating consumer products as I regard them as little better than advertising.  Advertising doesn't work on me as I prefer to do my own research before buying something. I understand the basicis of advertising and PR from the professional, but it amazes me that so many people fall for it. Mind you, it explains why so many people fall for propaganda. Honestly, sometimes I think NT people need an autistic guardian to protect them from their gullibility. 

I think having Facebook locked down is important. I recall about a decade ago getting loads of friend requests from overseas users who I had never met before. 

I have stopped listening to news broadcasts too. I think a safe bubble is a good thing when there is so much negativity in the world 

Facebook can be quite agressive, I only use it in small doses 

I'm almost never online and never use social media, but this site is great.

I've only ever used one other site than here and that ones closed down ages ago.

I never saw the attraction of facebook and the others came along after I'd moved somewhere with no mobile signal and poor broad band. I wouldn't know how to keep myself safe on something like facebook and would only use it for looking up trades and finding kittens and the like.

I'm a fan of 'More or Less'.  It's factual and humorous at the same time, and very well presented.    Consumer programmes are anathema to me, as I worked in an approvals laboratory for five years and learnt much about comparative testing, which consumer programmes often fail to do with any scientific rigour.  Their emphasis on comparative costs rather than comparative value seems wrong to me.  That said, I understand that I am in a minority in that view and would never want to persuade anyone that my view (in this arena) was the right one. 

Holding a minority view is very common for me; for instance, I am a republican and believe that royalty is something that should be abolished.  But the vast majority of British people disagree, which is something I do not understand at all, and therefore I choose not to engage in the argument, which tends to be made on emotional grounds rather than factual.  

I haunt the BBC website. I'm also signed up to numerous news podcasts there, but I choose which episodes I listen to. I prefer to stick to consumer programmes, finance, history and the wonderful Tim Harford. 

Hi Alexa,

I am perhaps luckier than you.  News sites like the BBC are useful for me to see what's happening in the world, whilst social media has a toxic way of interacting with news and facts.  There was a time quite recently when I would debate facts and figures.  But it's clear that so many are not interested at all in being factually correct, and no matter how one debates, there is no way to 'win' the argument with a closed mind.  So, the better-quality news sites are fine for me, but social media has become a no-go place, especially as my ability to keep silent is limited!

FB definitely has a role for family connections and local news.  But it is so toxic these days that I cannot stay there now.  That's why I am setting up alternate ways to connect with friends and family.  I will miss those interactions, as I said, and the local news where I live, but my well-being trumps it all, especially now that I understand a little of how autism affects me.

The only social media I've used is Facebook. That's locked down so only my friends see my posts and I hardly ever engage on public posts of the pages I follow. Those pages tend to reflect interests of mine - for example maps or fact verification. Other than that, I'm on a very few highly specialised groups. I spent 5 months off Facebook and have taught myself not to comment on a lot of friend's posts, when I know they won't welcome me pointing out flaws and falsities. As a result, I hardly get into any distressing arguments. On the other hand, it's boring, but that's easier to deal with than stress. My main activity these days is checking whether some claims in FB posts are true, mostly for my own amusement.

My own mental health has made me stop watching or listening to general news broadcasts. I can read articles that interest me on certain news websites instead. I don't care if I'm living in a comparitive bubble. I know the bad stuff is out there, but that doesn't mean I have to be in constant helpless anguish about it.

That is very true, social media requires very hard hitting, fast "takes" on such complex topics. 

I do prefer email too, I give that out when people want my contact details as I can read it multiple times and craft a response back. 

Hi Oscar,

You don't sound patronising at all, thank you for your kind words! 

It is quite tricky as you do get a dopamine buzz when you use it, or even when your not using it. 

Hi lago, that is fantastic to hear that it has worked for you.

I find sites such as X or other scrolling, high engagement sites to be the worst. I am on LinkedIn still but tbh I have no idea how to use it so very rarely find issues on there. 

Ironically I find Instagram the least worst for, I know a lot of people find photo sharing sites the worst. But that is a platform which depends on how you use it i find. 

The problem with social media is sometimes it does feel needed, for example despite my views on Facebook I do need it when it comes to keeping in touch with family, road closures etc.