Social media is the means through which both positivity and negativity spread. Most platforms are designed to play into this, which is why learning to use social media wisely is critical. Here are some simple steps to make social media work for you.
1. Get off Twitter, full stop.
Look, we know you want to make a difference and reach people. But do yourself – and your mental health – a favor and kill your Twitter account. The platform has become nothing more than rage bait and the occasionally entertaining leopard eating faces. You can make better use of your time, and why should you be another dollar sign in Elon Musk’s bank account?
2. Don’t play into Meta’s hands.
Facebook is the most guilty of seeing all users as a commodity to be exploited. Initially, their crackdown on misinformation was to be celebrated, but they’ve since gone completely hands-off, to the detriment of all users. It also tends to be the most difficult to platform to disengage from, often because it’s where people keep up with friends and family.
If you feel this way – like you can’t delete your Facebook account – but you’re on Instagram or Threads, cancel and delete those accounts. Give Meta fewer eyes to serve sponsored ads to. Numbers are power in social media because that’s what attracts investors and advertisers. Deprive Meta (and Twitter) of numbers.
Minimize your Facebook use wherever and whenever possible, unless it truly brings you joy and connectedness with others. Use it strategically to organize, but never put sensitive information on Facebook. Planning should be done in secure apps.
3. Don’t engage – all MAGAs are trolls.
It’s as simple as that. Even if you see something that makes you want to react, take a step back. There are other ways to handle the situation. First and foremost, if you do react, you will likely be attacked, accused of “TDS” and being irrational, accused of being mentally ill, etc. It doesn’t matter how articulate you are or the facts you present. These folks love a good gaslighting. Don’t let anyone weaponize your legitimate concerns.
Remember, these people wouldn’t recognize a communist or socialist if one bit them on the ass. They don’t comprehend the left-wing philosophy of treating people with decency, dignity and respect.
For the majority of Republicans and for all MAGAs, all relationships are transactional. They don’t get involved unless they are getting something out of it. If you treat them as they treat others – dismissively or downright ignore them and leave them hanging, they don’t like it. They also don’t like it when they don’t get attention. Like a schoolyard bully, they feed off of negative attention, so cut them off from it.
That means cutting off family, friends and neighbors when they start talking about politics. Get up and leave the room. Or, in this case, stop interacting with them on social media. You don’t even have to give them fair warning before unfriending and blocking. One way or the other, they will do mental gymnastics to ensure that you are the bad guy every time.
Remove the trolls for your own peace of mind, which is far more valuable than the “friendship” of people who don’t respect compassion, freedom, or humanity.