Curating Your Feed: Finding Signal in the noise
Over the years I’ve changed how I consume information. My relationship with social media and news feeds has also shifted considerably over recent years to the extent that especially for the prior my usage has all but dwindled down to zero.
The final jump away from socials was largely due to personal events and the passing of a loved one. I’m the quintessential ambivert; put in the right environment, mainly work related I can be outspoken but generally I’m introverted, self-reflective and happier in my own thoughts. At a time of such loss, I didn’t turn towards outward support or social media posts and instead left behind the remaining semblance of what was already diminishing usage of social media platforms.
I still retain a Facebook account although I haven’t logged in to it for maybe 2 years now. I’ve kept it as I have old or international friends that I’m connected to although at this point my inactivity is probably more a cause of concern for them if anything. More than likely no ones even noticed my step back into obscurity. I use X to a small degree for tracking macro-economic news but don’t actively engage on there. Any remaining footprint I have is largely for professional purposes.
Stepping back from social media wasn’t exactly ‘liberating’ as that feels a bit too strong a description but it certainly helped with a few things. Firstly, if you’re not opening social apps then you can’t look up and realise you’ve just lost half an hour mindlessly scrolling through relatively useless posts. Second, dependent on the platform it takes only a bit of scrolling to find yourself lost the dark matter of people shouting into the abyss more interested in combative keyboard warrior behaviour than anything remotely useful. Reducing exposure to the algos also helps to avoid misery feeds of constant depressing news on how the world is ‘falling apart’
I stay well versed in current events, political and economic news as well as all relevant goings on that matter to me. I do however seek to do so through feeds that I’ve curated over time. As a heavy podcast listener even my listening feed needs to be trimmed from time to time. It feels as though even when you find insightful content it’s only a matter of time before clickbait titles kick in or some form of political leaning bias pushes the presenters down avenues that lose relevance to me.
The world is noisy and it’s not easy keeping away from the misery industry intent of trying to spread depression for clicks. Morning news shows are filled with talking heads who seem to increasingly know less and less. Worse yet they’re paired with former politicians which is maybe an anti-qualification for expertise on specific subjects let alone on a broad range of them.
“If it bleeds it leads”
Although everyone has the right to their opinion, always follow the incentives. Often the incentive is just to trigger people for engagement and clicks, which obviously is in someone’s interest i.e. management, shareholders etc but it’s not really in yours. Careful what you give your attention to as it can affect you more than you realise until you step back and take stock.
Nowadays my daily intake consists of the latest economic and financial news. Yes, of course, some bias comes into it especially in light of current geopolitical events but the focus is more on what it means to markets than personal feelings. Alongside that I selectively pick audiobooks that pique my curiosity alongside long form podcasts that do the same or some of my mainstays across the realms of philosophy, business, history, physics and psychology.
Time is precious and what you can give your time to is finite therefore it seems a worthwhile exercise to regularly review and curate the information you’re taking in and from what sources:
Is it good for you?
Is it helping you?
Is it supporting self-development?
Is it entertaining or making you happier?
Only you know what ‘good’ is for you but if its just sucking away your time with little to show for it and worse yet quietly affecting your mood or wellbeing then some things maybe need to change and get thrown out of your consumption diet.
A fast from social media isn’t for everyone and I’m sure I probably frustrate friends and family by not sharing key events in my life. That doesn’t take away for a second the deep meaning life events hold for me. It’s exactly that though; what it means for me not what it needs to mean for everyone else.
If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: every so often, check your information diet. Make sure what you’re consuming is still relevant, healthy, and worth your attention.
Good luck finding the signal in the noise.