I have long been a big user of social media. I signed up for Facebook when it debuted in 2005 and have been using it pretty much ever since. I have Instagram, Twitter, and used to stay in touch with friends almost exclusively through AOL Instant Messenger. In a strange change of pace, I haven't been using social media much this summer and I think it has been a good thing for me, in terms of sobriety. I went almost four weeks without using social media at all. Two nights ago, however, I decided to hop back on and see what was going on. I started reading through horror stories that friends were posting from the news, I noticed that the majority of peoples' comments were pessimistic and sarcastic, and I ended the night posting photos from the day.
A funny thing happened the next day (yesterday): Basically, it was crappy and I felt the urge to drink. I kept thinking about the news stories and dwelling on the darkness of it all, I thought a lot about how snarky my peers were and started feeling self-conscious, and I found myself compulsively checking to see if anyone "liked" my photos. I kept going back and forth between feeling pride that people liked my pictures and feeling annoyed that more people didn't. I started feeling so self-absorbed and distracted that I got irritable and ultimately having to end the day with a cup of chocolate chips.
I woke up this morning and decided to stay away from social media again, and I had a wonderful day. Obviously not everyone has this experience, but it made me realize that for years I have filled my head with garbage rampant with pessimism and sarcasm, and created conditions where dwelling on peoples' approval of me via witty posts and pictures has made me feel simultaneous self-loathing and self-aggrandizement.
I'm realizing that I am at a point in my life where I need to do two things in order to continue growing spiritually:
1. Fill my head with good stuff. AA meetings, AA literature, posts on this forum, positive books, uplifting TV and movies, and other sources of insight and optimism are doing wonders for my headspace.
2. Keep my ego in check in a BIG way. I hate the person I turn into when my ego feels empowered. My ego has gotten me into more trouble than anything else ever has. It's a giant piece of crap.
Just an observation about myself, and I think an important one.
-Adam
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When every situation which life can offer is turned to the profit of spiritual growth, no situation can really be a bad one.-Paul Brunton
Just so you know!!!!! ... I feel this to be VERY important!!!
Facebook Crosses The Line With New Facebook Messenger App August 7, 2014 6:18 AM Share on email51K View Comments (Photo by: JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images) (Photo by: JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images) Related Tags: 100.3 THE BULL, facebook, Facebook Messenger, Facebook Permissions, Facebook Privacy,houston, NIck Russo, Privacy, the Bull Nick Russo Nick Russo ... Read More
First, this is VERY important to read and understand. Im doing my best to look out for all the Facebook Users who arent as tech savvy as their kids or friends. Im trying to help explain whats happening because if I dontnobody else will!
If youre anything like your neighboryou probably use Facebook on your phone WAY more than you use it on a computer. Youve been sending messages from the Facebook app and it probably always asks you if you want to install the Facebook Messenger App.
Its always been OPTIONAL but coming soon to your Facebook experience.it wont be an optionit will be mandatory if you care to send messages from your phone. No big deal one might thinkbut the part that the average Facebook User doesnt realize is the permissions you must give to Facebook in order to use the Facebook Messenger App. Here is a short list of the most disturbing permissions it requires and a quick explanation of what it means to you and your privacy.
Change the state of network connectivity This means that Facebook can change or alter your connection to the Internet or cell service. Youre basically giving Facebook the ability to turn features on your phone on and off for its own reasons without telling you.
Call phone numbers and send SMS messages This means that if Facebook wants toit can send text messages to your contacts on your behalf. Do you see the trouble in this? Who is Facebook to be able to access and send messages on your phone? Youre basically giving a stranger your phone and telling them to do what they want when they want! Record audio, and take pictures and videos, at any time Read that line again.RECORD audioTAKE pictures.AT ANY TIME!! That means that the folks at Facebook can see through your lens on your phone whenever they want..they can listen to what youre saying via your microphone if they choose to!!
Read your phones call log, including info about incoming and outgoing calls Who have you been calling? How long did you talk to them? Now Facebook will know all of this because youve downloaded the new Facebook messenger app.
Read your contact data, including who you call and email and how often Another clear violation of your privacy. Now Facebook will be able to read e-mails youve sent and take information from them to use for their own gain. Whether its for personalized advertisements or if its for research purposes .whatever the reason..theyre accessing your private encounters.
Read personal profile information stored on your device This means that if you have addresses, personal info, pictures or anything else thats near and dear to your personal lifethey can read it.
Get a list of accounts known by the phone, or other apps you use Facebook will now have a tally of all the apps you use, how often you use them and what information you keep or exchange on those apps.
Hopefully, you take this as serious as I doafter reading more about it and studying the permissions I have now deleted the app from my phone and dont intend to use it ever again. I still have my Facebook app but I just wont use the messaging feature unless Im at a computer. Even then, I might not use messaging anymore.
With these kinds of privacy invasions I think Facebook is pushing the limits to what people will let them get away with. I remember when the Internet first began its march toward socializing dominance when AOL would send us CDs for free trials every week. On AOL, we made screen names that somewhat hid our identities and protected us against the unseen dangers online. Now, it seems that weve forgotten about that desire to protect our identity and we just lay down and let them invade our privacy.
There may be no turning back at this point because many people wont read this or investigate the permissions of Facebooks new mandatory app but at least I can say I tried to help us put up a fight. Pass this along to your friends and at least try to let them know what theyre getting into.
-- Edited by Pythonpappy on Wednesday 13th of August 2014 10:22:30 PM
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Its a good thing to get rid of the things that we think will not be beneficial. However you can always replaced them with the good ones. I wish you more luck.
Thank you all for sharing. It is helpful information regarding big brother. I have also had a change in my feelings towards social media. I am in early sobriety (73 days), and have noticed a stark contrast between what I now enjoy and find acceptable, and what I thought was acceptable. Now that the fog is starting to lift, I am seeing clearly just how many friends feel the need to either take pictures of, or be photographed with alcohol. I can only rationalize that they don't feel comfortable with themselves, and need to be seen with a common security blanket that allows them to look like everybody else. A mold that I am very happy I don't fit into now.
I haven't committed to removing myself from social media, as I can still see some of the benefits of it. I am not a big "poster", I tend to observe and only comment periodically. However! I am making changes to what I am exposed to. I am making conscious decisions to remove the negativity. I am now questioning and removing when necessary "friends" that are not good for my recovery. This is a program of change, and change is necessary.
I tend to observe and only comment periodically. However! I am making changes to what I am exposed to. I am making conscious decisions to remove the negativity. I am now questioning and removing when necessary "friends" that are not good for my recovery. This is a program of change, and change is necessary.
That's good practice for life in general...Not just social media. Are you working the steps with a sponsor Ceasar? That is how we change.
