I felt this post. Going on social media these days feels like having a cigarette for my brain! It makes me dumber, more anxious and occasionally less bored. I need to find a way out.
I decided yesterday during our conversation that it’s time to go. I first contemplated it a year ago, when I learnt Meta was training AI off our public posts without opt-out in Australia, but yesterday I decided it’s time. I think a six to 12 month transition period is what I will enact. And I am ready to workshop the crap out of how it will work with whoever is ready to workshop it with me, and support the efforts of others to do the same. If we need a slogan, a profile pic, a hashtag, a team effort, a campaign central, let’s bloody do it.
Love this. I too am in the transitioning off socials phase, and it's definitely something that needs a thought process behind it. Love the idea of workshopping it. I'm not keen on simply joining a different social media platform but rather building relationships on a smaller, more impactful scale. Still processing!
Unless it was a dedicated platform connecting readers with authors! I tell you, if I had the time, money, patience and know-how I'd almost develop one myself! A social-media platform ONLY for authors and readers!
I think we're all feeling this Rach. But you're right, it will only have impact if it's a mass exit and breaking up with social media is tough. I'm actually implementing my break up with social media plan right now. It's been a long process though and one that, for me at least, needs to be done in stages. I've been feeling a discontent with socials for a long while now, so I know it's time. By mid-year I hope to be gone. But, as an author, or any business owner who has connections on socials, it's more than just deleting an app. So at the moment I'm working on how to mitigate this. I've been listening to a podcast called 'Off The Grid' which has been helpful. I'm definitely happy to give MZ the finger on the way out.
Yes, I've been thinking about it for a while too. It's my book club that makes me stay really - so I'm looking at possible other ways to keep that going that people won't feel is just another thing to join. Hard. And also takes time I don't have right now. Thanks for telling me about Off The Grid, I'll definitely give it a listen! x
I’m now 2 months into deleting Facebook and Instagram, and to be honest, I don’t miss the hold it had over my time and how I would unconsciously open it up at all times of a day. The con is the connection with so many wonderful people I’ve met over the years. But then is that for me to reach out in other ways and make real connections or instead of a heart or like, it’s a consciously written text, email, or, shock horror, a phone call.
I suppose what fills my heart is the fact that I don’t feel alone in this anger towards the ‘need’ Meta feeds me.
I definitely don't think I'd miss it personally either. I do wonder about the affect in MIGHT have on me professionally, at the same time, I'm not even convinced social media makes THAT big a difference to sales. Good point re reaching out in a way that makes a real connection with those people we care about! x
It’s hard to think about giving something up that I do actually enjoy participating in. I don’t doom scroll, I limit my time on socials, and I love supporting writer friends on my writer platforms, I enjoy reaching out to my customers on my business platforms (admittedly most of my posts over there might be seen by half a dozen people), and seeing family & friends on my personal page (when it’s not being swamped with Gordon Ramsey videos 🤷🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️)
But the fact that it’s owned by people who openly steal from my writer friends, friends who wrote those words from the heart, friends who count in those words for their livelihoods, is really starting to sour my experience.
I would definitely consider moving to another platform (never heard of Lemon 8??) and am looking forward to learning what else is out there.
Meta has had it too good for too long, and now it seems they think they can do whatever the heck they like & we’ll all just go along with it like blind little sheep 🐑
Perhaps it’s time to look for better pastures, folks.
Great letter, Rache. You’re right, they wouldn’t read it & even if they did, they wouldn’t care. The only thing they care about is money, and the only way we can affect that is by enough of us removing our presence.
As a retired academic and having worked in universities for over 20 years and published papers I know how and what this feels like. We don’t get paid (some do) for published work because it mostly sits in university library archives to be used for referencing (sadly) so it’s mostly for professional reasons we publish. Academics have had work plagiarised for decades and it hurts. AI has stolen academic papers too in the latest “plagiarism plague” as I call it. I know it really hurts fiction writers though, (and non fiction) because books are an author’s living. University lecturers get paid primarily for lecturing and tutoring and publishing is just one of the steps in that work (unless publishing for the general public) but fiction writers write and sell books for their income. I hope this stops. We need the government to step in, big time!
It's shocking that all the hard work of academics has been stolen as well. It's just as unfair that they take all these works without payment. So angry!
Oh no - I had no idea FB was this bad! Thanks for letting us all know, Rach! If you find a safe and ethical spot for an online group to meet, I’ll also try to shift my retirees - I am admin for a group of 4000 members, but they’re not all tech savvy. It’s hard because people have created service spaces we thought were safe, and easy to manage and members know how to use it, and change upsets people. But do we rest on our laurels? No! We shouldn’t! Proactivity is uncomfortable, but having integrity and seeking justice means we’re human!
Thank you - I just wish I had the time to properly find and set up the space. There were a few option I looked at early in the year, but I just don't have the ability to set it all up atm. x
Rach, thank you for saying this, I’m totally on board!! I’ve been down to Facebook only for a couple of years, and have wanted to be off it, but hang on for the reasons you’ve listed (and because publisher has asked me to, although that was a couple of years ago now and things have changed!) My only hesitation is that without Facebook there’s literally no way for me to reach readers to give them news. Although like you said, my posts reach barely any of my followers now anyway! I am also quite reliant on Messenger to keep in touch with friends and colleagues, so I’d need to replace this somehow. But then again I think - people who really need to get in touch can find my email on my website, and maybe, like pre social days, I don’t need to be this available to anyone??! So much to think about, but cheering on your post, thank you again for saying (and oof, 38 stolen books! so sorry! It’s 4 for me) and totally count me in on a mass delete of Meta!!!
Yes, I think my publishers wouldn't be very happy if I left Insta and FB either... unless we can convince the readers to come with us! I know I spoke to one of my publishers yesterday about this and she said as a consumer herself, social media is where she gets her info about books and where she follows her fave authors. Everyone's inbox's are so full of junk mail these days that she worries author newsletters get lost and aren't as affective as we'd like to believe. Sigh! x
I can totally understand that re newsletters! (Although I love getting email newsletters now! And publishers seem to be the one cohort still convinced that social media presence is essential for authors, hehehe.) I can also see how as a consumer much joy can be taken from seeing fave authors on socials, BUT I do wonder, if it comes at the expense of an author’s time, energy, mental health and ability to write, would consumers still like it? If all authors magically disappeared from socials, would consumers really lose ability to find info about authors and book releases, or stop buying books? It’s such a worthy conversation and I think it’s really worth examining the subtle (or maybe not so subtle?) expectation that authors should also be in some way visible to the public most of the time. Social media may still be great for consumers but if it’s increasingly hurting (and literally stealing from) our creators, can we still enjoy it? I don’t know! It’s tricky. And thank you again for speaking out! xx
Great letter - I love the analogy that meta has been like the unsavoury boyfriend, red flags everywhere but we have all invested so much of our lives in it that we find it hard to leave.
Terrific post, Rachael. I would love to abandon Meta. My FB account was hacked last year. Scammers changed my password (Yes, I did not have 2FA and that was stupid of me) then they stole thousands from my Meta advertising account and Meta did absolutely nothing to help me. No customer service AT ALL, even though I have spent plenty of money on ads and boosted posts with them. I really would like to walk away but I feel like publishers won't be happy if we all jump ship. I feel they expect authors to be there. Thoughts?
That was just awful. And the fact that they didn't help is appalling. Big hugs. And re the publishers, I don't think they'd be hugely happy but maybe it should be THEIR publicity departments that stay on and push our books if they think this specific social media so important. x
But I'm looking for a new location for general interests, promotion and networking. I'm wondering if the old Pinterest might be worth exploring.
It sounds laborious to pack everything up and move. I don't know if I'll find the people I've connected with already there - maybe we'll be lost to each other forever without insta.
But, maybe, that's how meta's neuroscientist and data scientists want to us to feel. Like they can strip us of our humanity, then make us rely on them to keep it.
I think the idea of leaving meta is especially difficult for those who don't live in cities where you can meet your writing buddies in person, and randomly bump into them at events.
Writing is so isolating and meta has provided human connection and support. And the pure magic of getting along with someone online, eventually meeting them in person, and that friendship deepening, is something to fear losing.
So, haha, to answer your question maybe I'll be wandering around alone on Pinterest.. unless someone can suggest a different one?
My other author friend suggested Pinterest as well!! I'm not so worried about my writing friends as I email, Vox, message, Zoom with them - I'm more worried about my readers, which is why I'm encouraging them to follow me here. x
I think Pinterest might be a better place for bookstagrammers too.
Yeah, I guess I meant more for people who are just starting out. I have 'real world' writing support, and I've exchanged phone numbers, but it took time to get there.
I don't have any work out there being stolen by Meta and while I will hate to lose the Insta connection with all the lovely writers and historians, we can't support that grubby man with more content to steal and make money from. Hopefully this place and maybe BlueSky will provide an opportunity for everyone to reconnect. (Although, I have to say that BlueSky was lovely until all the Twitter-refugees turned up post-Trump election and it has become just as Trump-filled as the Muskified place. It's hard to find the writerly and historical connections amongst the anti-Trump, anti-Musk, anti anti anti stuff. It's all so depressing.
Yes, I haven't ventured onto BlueSky yet and not sure I will. I don't really want another platform that is so similar to Twitter. I've not been on Twitter for YEARS anyway.
I felt this post. Going on social media these days feels like having a cigarette for my brain! It makes me dumber, more anxious and occasionally less bored. I need to find a way out.
That's a really good description of it!
I decided yesterday during our conversation that it’s time to go. I first contemplated it a year ago, when I learnt Meta was training AI off our public posts without opt-out in Australia, but yesterday I decided it’s time. I think a six to 12 month transition period is what I will enact. And I am ready to workshop the crap out of how it will work with whoever is ready to workshop it with me, and support the efforts of others to do the same. If we need a slogan, a profile pic, a hashtag, a team effort, a campaign central, let’s bloody do it.
I’m in. Me and my clients want off Meta
I would love to help workshop this too. Because of my book club, it needs to be a transition for me too I think. x
I'd be keen to workshop this, Emma! And thanks for sharing your letter, Rach! It articulates so much of how I've been feeling ...
Thanks for reading. x
Love this. I too am in the transitioning off socials phase, and it's definitely something that needs a thought process behind it. Love the idea of workshopping it. I'm not keen on simply joining a different social media platform but rather building relationships on a smaller, more impactful scale. Still processing!
I’m the same - I don’t want to switch one platform for another!
Unless it was a dedicated platform connecting readers with authors! I tell you, if I had the time, money, patience and know-how I'd almost develop one myself! A social-media platform ONLY for authors and readers!
This is actually a great idea..
I think we're all feeling this Rach. But you're right, it will only have impact if it's a mass exit and breaking up with social media is tough. I'm actually implementing my break up with social media plan right now. It's been a long process though and one that, for me at least, needs to be done in stages. I've been feeling a discontent with socials for a long while now, so I know it's time. By mid-year I hope to be gone. But, as an author, or any business owner who has connections on socials, it's more than just deleting an app. So at the moment I'm working on how to mitigate this. I've been listening to a podcast called 'Off The Grid' which has been helpful. I'm definitely happy to give MZ the finger on the way out.
Yes, I've been thinking about it for a while too. It's my book club that makes me stay really - so I'm looking at possible other ways to keep that going that people won't feel is just another thing to join. Hard. And also takes time I don't have right now. Thanks for telling me about Off The Grid, I'll definitely give it a listen! x
Hear hear!
I’m now 2 months into deleting Facebook and Instagram, and to be honest, I don’t miss the hold it had over my time and how I would unconsciously open it up at all times of a day. The con is the connection with so many wonderful people I’ve met over the years. But then is that for me to reach out in other ways and make real connections or instead of a heart or like, it’s a consciously written text, email, or, shock horror, a phone call.
I suppose what fills my heart is the fact that I don’t feel alone in this anger towards the ‘need’ Meta feeds me.
I’m open to any suggestions as well of what else…
I definitely don't think I'd miss it personally either. I do wonder about the affect in MIGHT have on me professionally, at the same time, I'm not even convinced social media makes THAT big a difference to sales. Good point re reaching out in a way that makes a real connection with those people we care about! x
It’s hard to think about giving something up that I do actually enjoy participating in. I don’t doom scroll, I limit my time on socials, and I love supporting writer friends on my writer platforms, I enjoy reaching out to my customers on my business platforms (admittedly most of my posts over there might be seen by half a dozen people), and seeing family & friends on my personal page (when it’s not being swamped with Gordon Ramsey videos 🤷🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️)
But the fact that it’s owned by people who openly steal from my writer friends, friends who wrote those words from the heart, friends who count in those words for their livelihoods, is really starting to sour my experience.
I would definitely consider moving to another platform (never heard of Lemon 8??) and am looking forward to learning what else is out there.
Meta has had it too good for too long, and now it seems they think they can do whatever the heck they like & we’ll all just go along with it like blind little sheep 🐑
Perhaps it’s time to look for better pastures, folks.
Great letter, Rache. You’re right, they wouldn’t read it & even if they did, they wouldn’t care. The only thing they care about is money, and the only way we can affect that is by enough of us removing our presence.
Interesting times ahead.
This is why it isn't easy. Cos there are lots of benefits to social media. If only FB and Insta were owned by a more ethical company! x
If only!!
As a retired academic and having worked in universities for over 20 years and published papers I know how and what this feels like. We don’t get paid (some do) for published work because it mostly sits in university library archives to be used for referencing (sadly) so it’s mostly for professional reasons we publish. Academics have had work plagiarised for decades and it hurts. AI has stolen academic papers too in the latest “plagiarism plague” as I call it. I know it really hurts fiction writers though, (and non fiction) because books are an author’s living. University lecturers get paid primarily for lecturing and tutoring and publishing is just one of the steps in that work (unless publishing for the general public) but fiction writers write and sell books for their income. I hope this stops. We need the government to step in, big time!
It's shocking that all the hard work of academics has been stolen as well. It's just as unfair that they take all these works without payment. So angry!
Oh no - I had no idea FB was this bad! Thanks for letting us all know, Rach! If you find a safe and ethical spot for an online group to meet, I’ll also try to shift my retirees - I am admin for a group of 4000 members, but they’re not all tech savvy. It’s hard because people have created service spaces we thought were safe, and easy to manage and members know how to use it, and change upsets people. But do we rest on our laurels? No! We shouldn’t! Proactivity is uncomfortable, but having integrity and seeking justice means we’re human!
Thank you - I just wish I had the time to properly find and set up the space. There were a few option I looked at early in the year, but I just don't have the ability to set it all up atm. x
Me either! fully understand, and also, sometimes it’s the case of “if it’s working, leave it be!” x 🥰🌻🌸
Rach, thank you for saying this, I’m totally on board!! I’ve been down to Facebook only for a couple of years, and have wanted to be off it, but hang on for the reasons you’ve listed (and because publisher has asked me to, although that was a couple of years ago now and things have changed!) My only hesitation is that without Facebook there’s literally no way for me to reach readers to give them news. Although like you said, my posts reach barely any of my followers now anyway! I am also quite reliant on Messenger to keep in touch with friends and colleagues, so I’d need to replace this somehow. But then again I think - people who really need to get in touch can find my email on my website, and maybe, like pre social days, I don’t need to be this available to anyone??! So much to think about, but cheering on your post, thank you again for saying (and oof, 38 stolen books! so sorry! It’s 4 for me) and totally count me in on a mass delete of Meta!!!
Yes, I think my publishers wouldn't be very happy if I left Insta and FB either... unless we can convince the readers to come with us! I know I spoke to one of my publishers yesterday about this and she said as a consumer herself, social media is where she gets her info about books and where she follows her fave authors. Everyone's inbox's are so full of junk mail these days that she worries author newsletters get lost and aren't as affective as we'd like to believe. Sigh! x
I can totally understand that re newsletters! (Although I love getting email newsletters now! And publishers seem to be the one cohort still convinced that social media presence is essential for authors, hehehe.) I can also see how as a consumer much joy can be taken from seeing fave authors on socials, BUT I do wonder, if it comes at the expense of an author’s time, energy, mental health and ability to write, would consumers still like it? If all authors magically disappeared from socials, would consumers really lose ability to find info about authors and book releases, or stop buying books? It’s such a worthy conversation and I think it’s really worth examining the subtle (or maybe not so subtle?) expectation that authors should also be in some way visible to the public most of the time. Social media may still be great for consumers but if it’s increasingly hurting (and literally stealing from) our creators, can we still enjoy it? I don’t know! It’s tricky. And thank you again for speaking out! xx
You're so right. I think we need to re-examine all the things we have been assuming for a long time. We have to create the reality we want.
Absolutely!
You make SUCH good points!
Great letter - I love the analogy that meta has been like the unsavoury boyfriend, red flags everywhere but we have all invested so much of our lives in it that we find it hard to leave.
I really feels that way! Makes me feel a bit sick. x
Oof. Incredible letter. I feel this so hard.
Thank you! It sucks BIG TIME! x
Terrific post, Rachael. I would love to abandon Meta. My FB account was hacked last year. Scammers changed my password (Yes, I did not have 2FA and that was stupid of me) then they stole thousands from my Meta advertising account and Meta did absolutely nothing to help me. No customer service AT ALL, even though I have spent plenty of money on ads and boosted posts with them. I really would like to walk away but I feel like publishers won't be happy if we all jump ship. I feel they expect authors to be there. Thoughts?
That was just awful. And the fact that they didn't help is appalling. Big hugs. And re the publishers, I don't think they'd be hugely happy but maybe it should be THEIR publicity departments that stay on and push our books if they think this specific social media so important. x
Currently setting up my greener pastures as week speak 💚
I think substack is a great option for writers.
But I'm looking for a new location for general interests, promotion and networking. I'm wondering if the old Pinterest might be worth exploring.
It sounds laborious to pack everything up and move. I don't know if I'll find the people I've connected with already there - maybe we'll be lost to each other forever without insta.
But, maybe, that's how meta's neuroscientist and data scientists want to us to feel. Like they can strip us of our humanity, then make us rely on them to keep it.
I think the idea of leaving meta is especially difficult for those who don't live in cities where you can meet your writing buddies in person, and randomly bump into them at events.
Writing is so isolating and meta has provided human connection and support. And the pure magic of getting along with someone online, eventually meeting them in person, and that friendship deepening, is something to fear losing.
So, haha, to answer your question maybe I'll be wandering around alone on Pinterest.. unless someone can suggest a different one?
My other author friend suggested Pinterest as well!! I'm not so worried about my writing friends as I email, Vox, message, Zoom with them - I'm more worried about my readers, which is why I'm encouraging them to follow me here. x
I think Pinterest might be a better place for bookstagrammers too.
Yeah, I guess I meant more for people who are just starting out. I have 'real world' writing support, and I've exchanged phone numbers, but it took time to get there.
Yes, that’s a very good point. I would recommend any romance and women’s fiction writers join the Romance Writers of Australia.
What are your greener pastures going to involve? x
En masse is definitely the key. Great letter! Great idea to write the letter too!
We need some really big authors to make a stand.
It is plagiarism at its best.
I wish I could think of a solution where we could all be in a collective author-reader platform outside of meta.
I really feel for our beloved authors.
That would be wonderful! X
Well written - have no suggestions for alternatives but keep us posted.........................love following you/seeing what you're up to :)
Thanks. Here is definitely the safest place to follow me now! x
I don't have any work out there being stolen by Meta and while I will hate to lose the Insta connection with all the lovely writers and historians, we can't support that grubby man with more content to steal and make money from. Hopefully this place and maybe BlueSky will provide an opportunity for everyone to reconnect. (Although, I have to say that BlueSky was lovely until all the Twitter-refugees turned up post-Trump election and it has become just as Trump-filled as the Muskified place. It's hard to find the writerly and historical connections amongst the anti-Trump, anti-Musk, anti anti anti stuff. It's all so depressing.
Yes, I haven't ventured onto BlueSky yet and not sure I will. I don't really want another platform that is so similar to Twitter. I've not been on Twitter for YEARS anyway.