I really enjoyed reading about your transition from LA to Vancouver and all its implications - I absolutely love to see people working in the entertainment industry who opt for a different path re. social media and not for that they miss out on job opportunities and such. 👏🏻💖
Loved reading this and the Atlantic is the absolute best vibe in media these days. Couldn't agree more here.
While reading, I copied out so many lines to quote in a restack. This truly resonated with me, as someone who also hustled until I simply couldn't anymore. I love that you made Instagram your own, I have recently decided to move away from it completely, but it has left a huge gap somehow. But going back seems wrong too, because I am constantly angry when seeing all the Ads. Why are there so many Ads?
Thank you so much for reading and sharing and reaching out. It’s so wild… I wrote this awhile back and am still struggling with IG. I did gut my posts there though opting for a “less is more” footprint. I often want to leave it completely but I connect with a lot of my good friends there so Idk if I’ll totally leave. That said, the amount of ads is INSANE. I am so tired of it and tired of so much of social media in general. I actually put together a Google doc that I was going to post as a Substack about AI and the artist etc… but I just didn’t want to add to all of the noise about it all online, but here’s the link if you’re interested. It’s basically just a doc with tons of great links:
Thank you for that document, I will definitely give it a look. The thing is, I miss Instagram, the old and authentic Instagram that made sharing your life fun. That allowed you to connect with others from all over the world. But its not like that anymore, at all. I think I have a hard time accepting that we will never get that version of social media back...
Huge yes to coming back to ourselves, Helenna! I quit Facebook in 2020, Instagram in 2023, and never got on the rest of it. I do find myself scrolling Substack Notes, but less so than those other platforms. Being off social media feels like a weight lifted; I like this feeling too much to go back.
Oh, and I’m a writer and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Leaving social media (other than Notes) has only impacted my work and income in positive, helpful ways.
I feel like we may be hanging out at the same emotional/spiritual space, my friend. Here was one of the quote of the days I posted (i’m on social media less, but still more than I like)
“Thus we are busy people just like all other busy people, rewarded with the rewards which are rewarded to busy people!”
This has been my experience, too. I always wonder: is it just age? A normal part of maturing and embracing the slower, less flashy aspects of existence? Or is it indicative of a larger trend away from social media across all demographics?
Such a good question. It seems like Gen Z is definitely not as hyper-online as Millennials or "elder Gen X", and that's definitely a piece of it. I also think that the entrepreneurship push and the GaryV "hustle - work 24 hours a day" mentality that was so prevalent for a long time, has really messed people up. Then add the entertainment industry on top of it all and it's just ripe for massive exhaustion and burnout. We definitely came up at a time when online presence really seemed to matter to forge a career ahead, and now it's finally swinging in the other direction in a major way.
I really enjoyed reading about your transition from LA to Vancouver and all its implications - I absolutely love to see people working in the entertainment industry who opt for a different path re. social media and not for that they miss out on job opportunities and such. 👏🏻💖
Thank you so much for reading and for the feedback ❤️❤️❤️
Loved reading this and the Atlantic is the absolute best vibe in media these days. Couldn't agree more here.
While reading, I copied out so many lines to quote in a restack. This truly resonated with me, as someone who also hustled until I simply couldn't anymore. I love that you made Instagram your own, I have recently decided to move away from it completely, but it has left a huge gap somehow. But going back seems wrong too, because I am constantly angry when seeing all the Ads. Why are there so many Ads?
Thank you so much for reading and sharing and reaching out. It’s so wild… I wrote this awhile back and am still struggling with IG. I did gut my posts there though opting for a “less is more” footprint. I often want to leave it completely but I connect with a lot of my good friends there so Idk if I’ll totally leave. That said, the amount of ads is INSANE. I am so tired of it and tired of so much of social media in general. I actually put together a Google doc that I was going to post as a Substack about AI and the artist etc… but I just didn’t want to add to all of the noise about it all online, but here’s the link if you’re interested. It’s basically just a doc with tons of great links:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ch13hWOhUFTEYlQ1IKiCdMd5Qu_IRI_VBGepxqvVHQE/edit
Thank you for that document, I will definitely give it a look. The thing is, I miss Instagram, the old and authentic Instagram that made sharing your life fun. That allowed you to connect with others from all over the world. But its not like that anymore, at all. I think I have a hard time accepting that we will never get that version of social media back...
I feel this SO HARD
Huge yes to coming back to ourselves, Helenna! I quit Facebook in 2020, Instagram in 2023, and never got on the rest of it. I do find myself scrolling Substack Notes, but less so than those other platforms. Being off social media feels like a weight lifted; I like this feeling too much to go back.
Oh, and I’m a writer and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Leaving social media (other than Notes) has only impacted my work and income in positive, helpful ways.
The glorification of the hustle. I’m so tired. I love you deeply. ♥️
Yup. Totally. and Me too on both things xoxoxoxoxoxoxox
I feel like we may be hanging out at the same emotional/spiritual space, my friend. Here was one of the quote of the days I posted (i’m on social media less, but still more than I like)
“Thus we are busy people just like all other busy people, rewarded with the rewards which are rewarded to busy people!”
—Henri Nouwen
I feel this... "i’m on social media less, but still more than I like" YUP.
This has been my experience, too. I always wonder: is it just age? A normal part of maturing and embracing the slower, less flashy aspects of existence? Or is it indicative of a larger trend away from social media across all demographics?
Such a good question. It seems like Gen Z is definitely not as hyper-online as Millennials or "elder Gen X", and that's definitely a piece of it. I also think that the entrepreneurship push and the GaryV "hustle - work 24 hours a day" mentality that was so prevalent for a long time, has really messed people up. Then add the entertainment industry on top of it all and it's just ripe for massive exhaustion and burnout. We definitely came up at a time when online presence really seemed to matter to forge a career ahead, and now it's finally swinging in the other direction in a major way.