My experience of the internet.
How my consumption of the internet has changed in the recent days.
Dear Friends
I was in the mountains last few days to take a break from the screen and work and now it feels good to be back home with a fresh wave of energy.
My close friend circle has suddenly decided to quit social media and stay away from it, I tried to talk to them about why they took this decision and I wanted to share with them my secrets of having a positive internet experience. I realised the conversation should be put out in this week’s newsletter too. Before I start writing about it, I want to share a very important news, it’s been a year I am writing this newsletter!
For one year I have been sending this email to you all every Sunday, and from November onwards this is going to be a paid subscribers only newsletter. I will share more details about it in the next week’s post but just want to give you all a heads up. I will also give away the paid version of this newsletter to 10 people absolutely free which will be based on how much we have interacted throughout this last year of writing emails to each other. More details about this next week, but let’s get to the topic at hand now.
Instagram or any other social media
I have a clear policy when it comes to using social media, as soon as I see news or ranting on anyone’s post or story I immediately unfollow or mute that person. Now all that I see on my timeline is friends having fun in Mussoorie or Lonavala or entrepreneurs sharing some brilliant insights about the business world.
We choose our family on the internet and we create the environment to uplift or empower each other.
This is not because I don’t agree to certain opinions or I don’t support a particular side, it’s just that I don’t think this social media activism is leading to any effective change or action in the system so why rant about it?
You choose whether you want to feel good on social media by watching memes and dog videos or you choose to feel dissatisfied by thinking I am not doing enough for this country or the society.
Social media can be a positive learning space but YOU have to create that space.
WhatsApp Groups or Chat
I strictly do not engage in any group chats or even personal chats about anything political or rape case or economy or even sex chat. I use WhatsApp to connect with my friends & family or for work related stuff, but man I immediately leave the group once the work is done or the conversation are of no value to me. In fact we at Platform For Artists have never really liked the idea of a WhatsApp group, if we want to communicate something then we prefer the community newsletter instead of WhatsApp groups.
Personally I have been at a state of mind where I avoid unnecessary conversation or arguments, if someone says elephants can fly, I am like yes I agree, you are absolutely right.
Email or Work Related Internet Space
The only way I am able to manage two different jobs, creating content, learning, traveling, pet parenting, being a son, a brother, a friend is if I manage my time well and if I respect my time.
So when a random unknown number calls me I don’t pick up, If somebody sends me an email saying I want to collaborate or want to get on a quick call, I strictly ask them to set a agenda to the 15 minute call and I end the call no matter what after 15 minutes. This sometimes makes people think I am being rude or ignorant towards them, but I am absolutely fine with that, because not everyone likes The Dark Knight. LOL.
Plus having a work mode on OnePlus phone really helps as from 10 AM to 7 PM everyday automatically all the notifications are off, so when someone sends me a DM on IG or Twitter I have no clue about it and I check it only post 7 PM.
We need to get rid of this FOMO, nothing really happens on the internet that you will miss out on, try it one day.
Most of the information or news on the internet doesn’t directly affect your life as such, it will affect your caste/ gender/ religion/ society but not directly you unless there is a natural calamity. Then God save you, not your internet friends.
Humans have lived in an era where there was no telephone or such quick access to information via google and I think we can survive this internet explosion as well.
It is a lot like how you quit smoking cigarette.
In order for me to know about how other people have their internet experience, I asked some of my friends about it, here is what they have to say.
“The internet has been a getaway from real life to me, a gateway to every virtual experience I could ever wish for” - Hiya Khatri
“The internet is both a blessing and a douchebag at the same time. It can be extremely helpful to those looking out a way for creativity but equally harming. But, so far, it is worth it all!” - Akshaj Shetty
“My experience with the internet is just similar to when you meet your relatives.” - Sanskar Rai
What I have been reading this week?
Facebook finally put out a statement about the movie ‘The Social Dilemma’ and they have explained their side of the story. Here is the link to the PDF
Microsoft as a company is so big and the impact they have is also huge, read this blog from their site which says how they are impacting lives.
The Founder of Coinbase says keep your political views outside the office, read here what they have to say about this move.
Forget about Penguin, Bloomsbury and other publishing houses, new age media is the way to write fiction or novels now. Read here about this
Here are some more ways of how you can take control of your internet experience.
How to wait well? Instead of fuming in subjugated irritation, turn wait times into chances to connect, muse and think big about the future
A theory about conspiracy theories. Conspiracy theories are as old as human society, of course, and in the days when communities were small and vulnerable, being on guard for hidden plots was likely a matter of personal survival.
The technologies that powers America’s 2020 election campaigns.
Take Care you all, I have been super busy past few weeks and now I am finally back to the normal pace of life, hope to read more, write more, create more and share more.