Why the Internet Isn’t Fun Anymore

Chris Remington@beehaw.org to Technology@beehaw.org – 212 points –
Why the Internet Isn’t Fun Anymore
newyorker.com
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I can remember the first time I thought there was something seriously wrong with all the social media habits people were getting sucked into; that was probably like in 2008 or so, when some of my colleagues and I used to joke about how we could never get through any kind of interaction with another colleague of ours without her constantly scrolling her phone like 25 times a minute. It only got worse from there...

The biggest sigh of relief I have had in a long, long time was deleting my Google apps and account. I also deleted Facebook, Twitter, and lastly Reddit account over the summer. The only "social accounts" I have today are this one and my new e-mail account. I now use Startpage for searching if I need it, so no more "googling" things. I haven't subbed to cable since 2010, but I do sub to HBO (er... "Max" now ffs... I am considering dumping that too...), and The Criterion Channel which is still awesome. Rest of the time, I work, game, hike, or swim.

Getting rid of Google is sort of like trying to get all the fish out of the sea. They are everywhere, hooked into everything, and they constantly nag you. I had to give them another e-mail address before I could even delete the one I had with them, which really annoyed me. None of their business where I got off to... except it is. According to them. So, I had to trash that email account too afterwards just so I could stop getting stupid Google spam.

Anyway, it is definitely possible to unplug just takes some effort. The internet is a lot more pleasant without all that nonsense. :)

@Leafeytea it's an effort I'm still struggling with, sadly.

Criterion

I heard it's an amazing platform, but I sadly don't have access to it. I still use Netflix, but I also have a subscription for TIFF Unlimited - a streaming platform with independent movies.

@admin

I have family in EU and they have been able to watch using NordVPN and also with Apple. They have been watching for a couple years now without issues.