Hi comrades,

As the title suggests, how do you manage your time spent online? I personally don’t use any social media aside from Lemmygrad, but I’m still struggling with being online too much, even if it’s lurking here or on other websites. I try to focus on offline things, such as books mostly that I download. My biggest problem is the refresh feature, even smaller sites such as this one just become an issue because of refreshing for new posts or discussions.

As a Linux user, I can say I tried to make my desktop as offline-focused as possible. I don’t use any “cloud” services etc., though I still find myself dealing with this. Perhaps it’s the interface.

I do like the Small Web movement, especially protocols like Gemini or Gopher. From what I see, they’re filled to the brim with conservatives and anarchists, sadly. I do lurk on YouTube via Invidious, which is probably the biggest time-waste, though there’s much valuable niche content on there. Sometimes at least.

Speaking of this, I sometimes take breaks from politics to not get overwhelmed. To get updates, I usually use RSS and the Hexbear News Megathread. For the most part, it’s enough. Though FOMO (fear of missing out) hits here too, as what if I’m not up to date with something important globally.

What’s your experience with this, comrades?

  • egonallanon@lemm.eeEnglish
    7·
    1 year ago

    For me the biggest change I did for myself was finding ways to manage my fomo and just learning it really isn’t important if I’m not up to date with latest events or whatever as if it matters enough I’ll find out eventually. This ultimately manifested for me in just simply spending less time online and doing hobbies and activities that didn’t involve the Internet as honestly without the fomo feeling I found my desire to use the Internet plummeted unless I need a specific thing or desire.

    • Chay ☭@lemmygrad.mlOPEnglish
      3·
      1 year ago

      if it matters enough I’ll find out eventually

      Yep! The thing is, I want to be ready to actually engage in meaningful conversation with people once they hear about a news segment, that means I should research it beforehand, not just inform myself from unreliable third party sources to say so.

      without the fomo feeling I found my desire to use the Internet plummeted unless I need a specific thing or desire.

      Yeah, thinking about the Internet as a tool you use for a specific purpose instead as of an all-encompassing utility really helps here.