#curating what content they experience/are exposed to online

[it-lives-within-the-dark]

Look, I'm not a Sebaciel shipper. I'm not an anti, but I just read the manga and enjoy what's going on without reading too much into it (I'm also old and come from a time where the master word was "ship and let ship"). And I can tell you, the antis are fucking annoying (it was not that bad in the beginning of the manga/and then anime.... I daresay it was almost non-existent, Sebaciel was almost a given at the time). They're the ones spamming the tags with their hate when I just want to look at fanarts, gifs, edits, analysis, etc.... I swear, I see the Sebaciel posts and it's (most of the time) not those posts written in big font about how a part of the fandoms is crazy or should die or whatever else (and those hate posts can be several times a day, it's exhausting). I could have send it to an anti but they would have dismissed this message as a Sebaciel sending them hate or something and hurled more insults and I'm not in the habit of talking to walls. Anyway, you guys are chills and I'm going to finally blacklist the anti tag, never thought I would see the day.

Hey Nonny!

I agree, it's horrible what fandom spaces have turned into. I gotta say, when I fist saw the notification for an anon ask, my first instinct was that I had finally annoyed the wrong person and gotten my first anon hate message. How happy I was to be proven wrong, but I'm also sad because that is what the current state of fandom has done to us.

I've been in fandom for a long, long time; I grew up reading and writing fanfic in the don't like don't read/no flames/ship and let ship era. However, this is really my first time being an active participant in a fandom community and it sure is...something. But that being said, I also sort of get it. Because I too very nearly fell down into that moral purity cesspool about 10 years ago. It's so easy to fall into when that's what you've either intentionally or unintentionally surrounded yourself with. I was lucky to notice before I got too deeply entrenched in it and stopped looking at that kind of content.

The antis would say differently, but I don't care how someone reads/interprets Sebastian and Ciel's (canon) relationship as long as they have evidence to back up their claims; literature is subjective but that doesn't mean you get to say whatever interpretation you want and have it be valid. (Fanfic is another thing entirely - do whatever the hell you want with them and have fun).

Anyway, all this to say: good for you, Nonny, in taking the appropriate steps to curate your online fandom experiences. Life is too short to purposefully expose yourself to things that upset you or make you angry. I think more people could stand to follow your example.

[messiahzzz]

you are grown adults. you curate your own online experience. no one is forcing you to engage with any user or seek out topics that pose active triggers to you. you choose to repeatedly seek out my blog. it is YOUR RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY to overview and determine what type of content you wish to consume. if certain content causes you any amount of distress or triggers other strong emotional responses, by the love of all that is holy, don’t repeatedly and intentionally expose yourself.

your mental health remains your own responsibility. take care of yourself.

[rainbowsky]

HEY RB, I have a weird ask which I’ve been thinking about for the past few days, what to do when you like the creative content of a persons blog but the rest of the stuff they post is off-putting? would you continue to follow them for the content you like or unfollow for the stuff that really puts you off?

Hi Anon,

Well, a lot depends on how off-putting it is, but in general, if I find someone's takes off-putting, it's a no-brainer. I will not follow them. In some cases I will even block them. It doesn't matter what other things they're posting that I might like.

I feel that the more we expose ourselves to things we hate the more resentful we begin to become, and it shifts not just our experience of fandom, but also our attitudes and the threshold of what we will accept/put up with from other people. It can really deepen divides and distort our perception of what the fandom is like.

If we give something real estate in our news feed we are giving it real estate in our heads - space that could be taken up with something else. Something more positive, more aligned with what we are into.

We should also consider the impression we are giving others about who we are and what we're into. If someone is liking and reblogging posts from a TERF, others are going to get the impression they, too, are a TERF or are OK with TERF attitudes, even if the content is just a pretty illustration of a puppy rolling in a field of flowers.

There's that old saying, "You are known by the company you keep." (As unfair as that might sometimes feel.)

And the thing is, steeping in things we dislike can really distort our perspective of the fandom. If we're seeing a post or two every day or even week of something we truly hate, that gives us the perception that X percentage of the fandom is like this. It can artificially inflate our perception of how prevalent those attitudes are.

Which has an impact on how we feel about the fandom, has an impact on how much joy we have, has an impact on how we start to feel about the people who have those kinds of takes.

I know, for example, that there are people out there with really offensive takes about DD's personality. In reality the people with those takes are pretty rare, but they're out there. If I followed those people I'd be seeing those takes regularly, and I'd start to think the fandom is just full of that attitude when actually it's not.

I really feel that a lot of the intolerance of other people's approaches to fandom - a lot of the inability to 'live and let live' - ironically comes from opening our experience to things we hate. Comes from people's unwillingness to curate their online experience, and cut down on their exposure to things they dislike.

They stew in a bunch of content they dislike and it makes them bitter, whereas if they just cut that out of their lives then on the rare occasion they did stumble across something like it, they'd find it much easier to scroll past, and they might not be as hateful or judgmental toward the person posting it.

When we're regularly exposed to things we dislike, we start to focus on it more, we start to think about it more, we start to hate it more.

When I talk about 'staying in our own lane', that's not just about staying out of solo spaces. It's about staying out of any space where we are not among like-minded people. Staying out of any space where negativity is bred, where conflict stews, where bitterness takes root, where our souls are shaped toward hate.

Anyway, this is just my take on it. Of course, everyone gets to pick their own approach and make their own choices about these things.

My advice to you is to listen to your body, look for any tension or discomfort. It will tell you if this is the sort of thing you want in your life. Listen to your heart. What is it telling you about how exposure to that content is changing you or changing your perspective?

You might also find my fandom survival guide helpful.

I also talked a bit about how what we focus on shapes who we become here.

[leedongwook]

seeing the other anons on here, regarding the whole reblog vs. like debate on tumblr, is interesting to me. and i must say that i'm a bit amused by the fact that getting blocked apparently causes so much anxiety in people that they simply refuse to use tumblr as intended. i was anxious when i got my first anon hate or when i was first blocked by someone 10+ years ago when i was still a teenager myself, but i'm glad that i always understood that none of this was a me problem. haters be hating, trolls be trolling. there are millions of bored, dissatisfied people who come online just because they think it's funny to make other people angry. this is why getting blocked and blocking others is a daily occurrence for every normal blogger on here, just as it's normal to meet people in real life who simply do not and will never like you for reasons x, y, and z. it's par for the course, it's life, baby, but nothing you should take personally because, in the end, we're all strangers here and none of this determines your value as a human being!

also, blocking is one of the most important tools to curate (a) your dash, (b) the tags you frequent, and (c) the interactions others have with you. it's quite literally the most polite, respectful, no-drama way to ensure that you do not start unnecessary online fights that are nothing but a big waste of time. the most efficient way to ascertain that you do not expose yourself to people, blogs, and content that you know make you angry, sad, or anxious. blocking is not a hateful action (well, if can be, but i think we should appreciate silence and keeping a respectful distance to each other over open hostility, flaming, and cancel culture). blocking is the tool we use to prevent trolling, cyberbullying, arguing, and cognitive dissonance. and that goes both ways! if somebody blocked you, always assume they have a reason for it, even if it may an incredibly simple or vague one. there must be one. and that's okay, and probably good for both of you. if the other person knows that you two will not get along, then trust in that decision and move on with your life.

like, this is the internet, with millions of strangers (many of them very young, and many more of them simply stupid af) who have very strong opinions on the most banal things you could never dream of arguing about. the other anon said they received hate for reblogging things: welcome to the club! i do point to what i already said above and want to ask directly: did you know that you can block anons in your inbox? did you know that you can disable the anonymous option in your inbox or even disable the entire inbox if necessary? did you know that you can disable comments and reblogs on your posts and that you can curate who is allowed to hit you up via chat function? did you screenshot the anon hate and share it privately with a friend so you can make fun of it together, as god intended? i promise that handling hate and curating your user experience aproperly gets easier the more you use all the tools that tumblr offers you.

most importantly, did you eventually manage to externalize the problem (i.e., realize that the real problem is the person who sent you hate) instead of internalizing it (i.e., thinking that you are not allowed to reblog/post anything anymore because some stranger on the internet was being an immature baby in your inbox once)? the last bit is essential. you have to learn that your blog is your house, and you can decorate it however you want, as long as you follow common netiquette regarding tagging and such. other are allowed to block you if that helps them curate their dash, as much as you are allowed to block them if that helps you to curate your dash.

if those are the big reasons why so many users are only liking posts but never reblogging nowadays, then i'm honestly unsure if you (@ the other anon, but also everybody else who might potentially read this and relate) should be on tumblr of all places. being able to handle some cognitive dissonance while you are blogging, whether it's because of something you come across while scrolling through tumblr or something that is directed towards you specifically, is essential. this is not instagram or twitter or tiktok, where the algorithm allows you to consume passively (i.e. liking posts) while remaining in your comfortable echo chambers and still contributing meaningfully to creative work, communities, and fandoms (i.e. your likes actually affect the algorithm in favor of the content you liked, which equals more exposure, which can even be turned into real life money).

tumblr is a content-centric website that is about curating your person dashboard and filling your own personal blog while not relying on a like-based algorithm. ergo, reblogs are the only currency on tumblr that truly counts because they are the only action that actively leads to the circulation of other people's content and facilitates the discovery of new blogs and users that you can connect/interact with. yes, liking is a quick form of appreciation, and we all use the like button for a variety of reasons that are all important in their own right, but you do not contribute to the survival of fandoms, to the real validation of creatives' works in form of more exposure (because unlike insta, tiktok, and co., likes and exposure are not linked here), and to the circulation of content by only using the like button. that passivity is not an issue on algorithm-based social networking sites because they do have an algorithm, but it surely is a problem on tumblr.

just to be clear: liking is not forbidden or frowned-upon in a general sense. but on tumblr dot com, unlike many other social networking sites, it's meant to be a side hustle at most.

if anyone feels unprepared or anxious to handle the tumblr-specific environment that was created for blogging (i.e you are meant to contribute by actually filling your personal blog with content that you either made yourself or that you reblog from others), then idk why y'all are here, in all honesty. i must ask this: do you even know what a blog is? it certainly feels like a lot of people all came here with the expectation that this is twitter 2.0, but the reason we're here is specifically because this is the blogging website. the website specifically made for blogging. why do people come to the blogging website just to refuse to reblog or post their own content? if all you want to do is use the like button, why aren't you literally anywhere else except here? nobody forces you to be here if that's not the type of social media experience that you enjoy. if you do not want to use the main feature of tumblr, which is Having Your Own Blog, then simply use sites where you do not have your own blog and are not expected to use said blog. it's as simple as that! don't complain when bloggers point out that you're simply invading their blogging space with foreign ideas of how netiquette must look like – tumblr has never been like the more popular sites, and that is a deliberate choice and something we love and appreciate it for! do you all also create wordpress accounts and then complain about having to use wordpress like it's intended to be used? do you also go to the gym and then complain that you have to actually use the dumbbells yourself instead of letting somebody else do all the work for you? i highly doubt it.

it makes absolutely no sense that so many people come to a place that has a specific environment only to refuse to adapt to how it works, which is why i find this entire debate so silly. we have so many websites we can choose from, but people choose to stay on the blogging website to complain about blogs and reblogs to the bloggers who have been blogging for years and actually know what blogging means.

meanwhile, the solution is so very simple: you could, instead, move the any algorithm-driven websites and click on every like button in sight until you die of old age! only liking posts does simply not meet the rightful expectations of the bloggers on tumblr who share their hard work on here and ask for no other reward except exposure, which is the same thing that every creator online wants, be it on twitter or insta or tiktok! exposure which you can only grant them with reblogs, because Liking Does Not Do Anything On A Website Without An Algorithm.

this weird passivity shrinks exposure to laughable sizes (200 notes max on a gifset that took hours, and 80% of those notes are likes?!), destroys creatives' motivation to create and share their work in the future, and inevitably deteriorates entire online communities and fandoms. if everyone was unwilling to blog on tumblr, this website would be empty. zero posts. empty dash. then what? you wouldn't be pressing any like buttons at all if everybody brought this attitude to the blogging website that was created specifically for sharing content. google dictionary on "sharing": have a portion of (something) with another or others; use, occupy, or enjoy (something) jointly with another or others. you enjoying a meal alone in your room (liking posts and not reblogging) is not the same as putting the meal on the table (reblogging it to your blog) and enjoying it with others (followers seeing your reblogs on their dash).

it's stupid. imposing algorithm-rotted expectations on how tumblr is supposed to work even though (a) it is fundamentally different from other social media sites and (b) has no fucking algorithm is stupid.

tl;dr tumblr netiquette does not have to adapt to you; you are the ones who have to adapt to the tumblr netiquette. people who have been here for years are rightfully angry at you for not adhering to the easily understandable social contract between creators and consumers.

I’m just gonna leave this here ✌️

[micahdraws]

Well since my last post on the Dislyte sexualization discourse, some ignorant jackass insists on arguing with bad faith assumptions. So I did a little research into because I was curious and who knows. Maybe I was wrong about my own understanding.

First, they liken being horny on main to "sexual harassment," which it's not. Yes, it makes some people uncomfortable, but it's not harassment to witness a sexual conversation that has nothing to do with you outside of a workplace. People are allowed to talk about their sexual fantasies openly and in public areas outside of work. There is nothing inherently wrong with that. If you're out with your friends and you want to talk horny topics among yourselves, that's not harassment even if others overhear.

Second, in online spaces, everyone is responsible for their own experience. So crying "sexual harassment" and "what about the children????" is not only disingenuous, it echoes the same conservative talking points being wielded in places like Florida and Texas. It's gross, insidious, and ultimately not about the children, but about that person not wanting to take proper responsibility and curate their online experience so they can be more comfortable. Nobody is forcing them to continue exposing themselves to the unwanted content, and the main difference between seeing horny on main content and "sexual harassment" is that online you have the power to immediately cut it out of your perception, full stop.

Also, speaking of "what about the children," you don't get to lump "young adults" into that. Either something is appropriate for adults or it's not. Young adults are not children. They're adults. Don't pull people in their late teens/early 20s into this mess.

The other thing that was thrown at me was a "common sense" assumption that the majority of gacha players are "extremely likely" to be teens. Source: trust me, bro, it's "common sense" because nobody with a full time job and money is going to be playing a gacha. Which...okay, that's a take.

Anyway, here's where I was really curious and did some quick research. This took all of like 5 minutes to compile. This post is already getting long so I'll put the rest under a cut but the TL;DR is the average gacha player is most likely in their 30s.

According to Google Play demographics, the average age of mobile game players is 36.

According to this 2023 study, here is the breakdown by generation:

79% of Gen Z

Millennials are second with an unstated percentage

68% of Gen X We know that somewhere between 68% and 79% of millennials play mobile games, so for the sake of this discussion, we'll assume 74% of millennials play mobile games, putting them squarely in the middle between Gen X and Gen Z.

Estimated population by generation:

Gen Z: 2.56 billion (69.58 million in the US)

Millennials: 1.8 billion (72.24 million in the US)

Gen X: 1.025 billion (65.37 in the US)

Estimated number of players by generation:

Gen Z: 2.02 billion (55 million in the US)

Millennials: 1.33 billion (53 million in the US)

Gen X: 697 million (44 million in the US)

If you look at the totals worldwide, Gen Z only makes up about half of the estimated number of players. And currently about half of Gen Z is adults, so we can assume about 1 billion of this number is not children. That means of the about 4 billion number of players, about 75% of them are adults. In the US alone, millennials and Gen X make up nearly double the number of Gen Z players, and that's even before we cut the Gen Z number in half to account for adult Gen Z-ers.

So yeah, the average gacha player is not "extremely likely" to be a child. The average gacha player is, in fact, far more likely to be an adult.

But hey, I'm sure the "for the children!!!!" people are gonna find some way to explain why this is wrong and/or you still shouldn't be horny on main because they're running out of pearls to clutch with their weird conservative talking points. So whatever.

Bottom line is if you are seeing something you don't like, just fucking block it or mute it or unfollow it or whatever. Grow up.

[kiokodoodles]

"showing pedo ships to kids is grooming" yes as much as "showing murder and gore to kids is a form of abuse". What annon is missing is that the wrong part is that a REAL PERSON would be making a REAL ACTION of exposing a REAL CHILD to an inapropriate subject. Creating or engaging with a FICTIONAL subject is not a problem if you (an adult) consent to engage with it. People forget Fiction is a place where you can safely engage with feelings of rage, disgust and fear. Murder should not be seen as "cute" either, yet there are plenty of serial killer content out there…

Yeah, nowhere in the reblog does it say anything about condoning real life behaviors/actions. It's a post about curating your online experience (which is what I have been actively been doing for a long while now! so not much discourse comes my way ^^) and not seeking people who make things that you're uncomfortable with and wishing them harm.

[briannamwood]

Week 4: Insights from the Oxford Internet Institute

The Oxford Internet Institute recently shed light on the three primary reasons behind the rapid dissemination of junk news across social media platforms: algorithms, advertising, and exposure. In this blog post, I will delve into each of these reasons and discuss their implications, along with strategies to navigate these challenges.

1. Algorithms

Algorithms play a significant role in shaping our online experiences. Social media platforms utilize complex algorithms that curate our feeds based on our past behavior and preferences. While these algorithms aim to keep users engaged, they can unintentionally promote junk news by prioritizing sensational or polarizing content.

For example, I mostly follow fashion influencers, models, and creative content producers on social media. Often I will get "suggested" accounts to follow and most of the time it will be content that I do not want to see.

What to Be Aware Of:

Algorithms tend to prioritize clickbait or emotionally charged content.

Echo chambers can form as algorithms reinforce existing beliefs.

How to Respond:

Diversify your social media following to expose yourself to a broader range of perspectives.

Be mindful of content that promotes strong emotions and fact-check before sharing anything.

2. Advertising

Online advertising has transformed the business models of many social media platforms. While advertising revenue is essential for these platforms to operate, it can inadvertently stimulate the spread of junk news.

On Instagram, I get ads saying that if I download "BingoCash" or similar apps, I will get paid. I download just for the fun of it, and it is false information. Those apps companies are actually the ones getting paid by people downloading the app rather than paying the people who use the app.

What to Be Aware Of:

Click-driven revenue models encourage sensational headlines.

Advertising may be placed on websites that promote junk news.

How to Respond:

Support platforms that prioritize content quality over quantity.

3. Exposure

The more a piece of content is shared, the more it is exposed to different users, potentially reaching a vast audience. Unfortunately, this exposure also means junk news can rapidly gain traction.

What to Be Aware Of:

Viral content often relies on emotional appeal.

Misinformation can spread rapidly due to the exposure effect.

How to Respond:

Encourage sharing responsible content and educating others to do the same.

Conclusion: By diversifying online interactions, promoting responsible content sharing, and supporting platforms that prioritize content integrity, we can contribute to a more informed and reliable digital landscape. Together, we can combat the spread of junk news and promote a healthier online environment for everyone.

Best wishes,

Brianna W. :)

[medieval-modern-cme]

repatriation, and the problem with the British Museum.

If you are part of the museums world, you have likely heard the word “repatriation.” Repatriation is the return of something (or someone) to its original country, and has become a buzzword in recent years as more and more museums are being rightfully called out for the pieces in their collections that do not rightfully belong to them.

Museums have historically partaken in the cycles of colonization that have led to cultural and traditional erasure among countless groups, and have directly benefited as a result, as they have taken artifacts, artwork, and even human remains as their own to display.

Not all museums have been complicit in the harboring of stolen items, and it is unfair to group all museums as one- some, like the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, have taken steps towards repatriation and acknowledged the issue. They explain that curators work closely with Indigenous tribes and will return items, including human remains, upon request.

However, some museums (cough cough, the British Museum) have been…extremely complicit in the harboring of stolen items, despite widespread attention and a very vocal audience that has been addressing the issue for some time. The British Museum is one of the world’s most famous museums, housing artifacts like the Rosetta Stone, the Benin Bronzes, and the Elgin Marbles. What all of these have in common is that they were stolen, and have been denied requests for repatriation. For years now, the museum has hidden behind the “British Museum Act of 1963, a national statute which prohibits the institution from returning works” as a reason why, hey, we can’t do anything about it!

I was lucky enough one year ago to partake in a 12-day study abroad trip to the United Kingdom, and our journey started in London. On day three, my group boarded the tube and traveled to Holborn to see the British Museum. I had never before traveled further than a state away, and was so excited with all of the new experiences surrounding me, that I had no idea of the legacy haunting the British Museum. I will not lie– I thoroughly enjoyed the museum. It wasn’t until returning home that I learned more about the museum’s history and no longer felt such joy when looking at the photos I took, one of which was a close-up of the Rosetta Stone. The actual Rosetta Stone, inches away from me, behind glass. 

When I got home, one of the first things I saw online was a video from creator Blair Imani, who makes some amazing short-form content to educate about important issues. She posted a TikTok about the museum and it’s dark history of colonization and stealing of cultural items, which led me to look more into repatriation as a whole. The British Museum is not the only museum to be at fault for the refusal to return stolen artifacts to their rightful homes, but it is currently the most notable for the items it houses.

Below, I want to highlight some important articles, videos, and general resources about repatriation that discuss the issue in a way much more eloquent than I could, because this issue is truly important. 

The UK Has a 60-Year Old Law Prohibiting Repatriation of Art. Is That About to Change? (The Observer)

The British Museum is full of stolen artifacts (Vox)

The British Museum’s heartless repatriation policy exposed

And, for fun, here are some photos I took at the museum. Despite the history of the museum, it truly was an experience I am thankful for, and I do look back on these photos fondly!

[endious]

one thing mfs rllllyyyy cant seem to do is separate reality from fiction... "taboo" kinks and fanfic topics will always exist. dark romances and dark erotica always will. these will be the same mfs telling you to kys over writing non-con scenarios and then picking up a book like hooked or even a fucking colleen hoover one.

these will sometimws even bw the same people with taboo kinks themself - piss, whatever the fuck. cnc is as much of a kink as others !!!! you seriously DO NOT have ro tell ppl to kts over ir!!! it is not that serious i PROMISE you!! ESPECIALLY when its in fiction too.

your fanfictions would only be truly hurtful if they, you know, actually hurt someone — which is mostly impossible because if someone even happens to read a thirst of yours, they'll know to either back off because its not their thing or to indulge in some more since they like it. by continuining to reading ur fics, and getting hurt by it, thats THEIR fault because they had their warning.

you have rhe rules page for a reason, if someone ignores it, thats their fault. consuming media of topics that are harmful to you will always be your fault if you get hurt by it, since mosf times there will be content warnings for things. (this is different for media with obvious taboo topics that have no warning whatsoever - which can definitely happen and is unforrunate.)

all in all - dont tell people on the internet to kill themselves over fiction. over jeff the killed thirsts. over jeff the fucking killer fanfiction. you are chronically online and need help!

anyways. how u doing cadie <3 i hope ur doing well!

-🔪 nonnie <3

i couldnt have said it better myself honestly. thank you for putting what ive been thinking this whole time into words ! i’ve always been of the mindset that people need to curate their own experiences. if something makes them uncomfortable or triggers them just stop interacting with those themes ! block people, block tags, block content — there’s things you can do to protect yourself but if you’re purposefully exposing yourself to themes that you dont like who else is to blame but yourself ? there’s a reason i have warnings on my blog and warnings on each fanfic i post bcus it is important for people to know before reading something that it will contain things that might make a majority of people uncomfortable. so i dont know what else i can do when i have done every thing i can to make people aware of what i post. the only ones at fault are the dumb asses making themselves triggered and uncomfortable by reading my stuff when they know they arent comfy with the themes from the start.

pushing that aside bcus i dont want to feel bad today, IM DOING GOOD ! ! definitely needed sleep that fixed my mindset and mood by so much honestly <3 i hope you’re doing good too babes ! ! im still waiting for my jtk plush -_- but it was finally sent out to ship or whatever like ? ? ? 8 or 9 states away LMFAOOA so it probably wont reach me for a while unfortunately but im excited regardless ANDJAODOWM how are you ! ! tell me anything i missed while you were gone 😞

[deathbyotpin123]

How to improve your time on the internet; A (hopefully) helpful guide

Step 1: Delete all social media accounts.

I won't go into how social media is evil because all it's geared for is selling you things through algorithms that respond to whatever generates the most traffic and often it's people getting upset... Because we all already know that. So, unless you really absolutely need social media - yeet it from your life.

Problem: How to keep in touch with friends?

Solution: Create groups through messaging apps or use Discord. This type of connection is more meaningful in any case. Keep in touch with each other and ask how it's going. Organise hang outs in person with those who live in your area. Get to really talk about your interests and life events.

Problem: But my friends won't talk to me outside of social media apps, and I have family members that live across the world, and I need social media for my job and-

Solution: Ok, fine. Read below the cut how to make your life more enjoyable while still using these apps.

Tips for specific platforms will be in the reblog.

Use social media for messaging only

This is if you want to use it to stay in touch with friends, but don't have to actively use apps to browse or post content.

Set up the notifications for messages and turn them off for everything else. This way, you can keep the apps installed on your phone, off your home screen and see only when your friends message you.

You can't get hooked on the social media apps if you don't use them. And if you don't get hooked then you won't doom scroll and if you don't doom scroll you won't end up annoyed. Simple as that. But if you do want to browse the content or you have to use these for job networking...

How to improve your experience on social media

You get to control what you see on social media.

You get to curate your experience. The algorithm will still try to send you trash you don't care about and there might be some limitations to what you see (e.g. Instagram) but ultimately, it's up to you to make your online experience enjoyable. Here are some general tips, and after that I'll go separately through the major social media platforms.

1. Follow the content you like

I can't stress this enough. If you curate your feeds so that they include only the things you enjoy, your time on these apps will be enjoyable by default. Find things that interest you, ignore the things that don't.

2. Don't let things upset you

I know this is hard. But try not to take to heart everything you see online. It's often not that deep. And you're often only annoyed because this was supposed to be your happy place and then it wasn't. I talk more about this in the "Mute accounts" section below..

3. Limit your time

Set a fixed time during the day or the week to go through your feeds or specific accounts you follow. This won't give you the time to doom scroll and since you'll be looking for specific things, you're less likely to get stuck on meaningless drama or things that don't interest you.

4. Delete the mobile apps if you can

Again, you can't get hooked if you don't use these apps. And if you don't have the apps on hand all the time, then you won't pick them up out of boredom either.

5. Mute accounts

For the people you follow that post content you're not interested in or that makes your blood boil, remember that you can always mute them. They won't know you muted them, and you can still go into their posts when you want to check on the content they posted without being exposed to it daily.

For example, if you have an aunt that won't stop posting about something you hate, but she also posts pictures of your Grandma that you love - when you decide it's Grandma's pics you want to see, sit down at a moment when you're not annoyed, prepared to skip over the things you dislike. It won't be that hard because you will already be focused on finding those pics you came for.

What I found annoys us most when browsing social media isn't so much the content as it can happen that we see it at a time when we're not prepared for it. This is why you might not get so agitated when you see certain things on the street or at your job but they can piss you off online. So if you're prepared ahead to sift through things you dislike, you will find it easier to skip them or maybe even have a laugh about it.

6. Unfollow and block

If you feel no obligation to follow an account - simply unfollow the account. If others you follow still share from that account or it shows up in searches/feed/suggestions - blocking the account on certain apps will make it so you don't see shared content.

[katsukidynam1ght]

okay i’m not gonna make this long and i don’t have the energy to argue it fully but i just need to vent abt the internet again

none of you on polarized sides of “fiction dictates reality” and “fiction doesn’t affect reality” are correct. all brains work differently. what affects one person one way might affect someone else some other way. you can’t make a blanket statement on that kind of thing.

yes problematic or disturbing content can in fact influence people. it can have all sorts of effects. and some people get desensitized to it and start thinking “oh well this doesn’t affect me so it doesn’t affect anyone” and that is not how that works. i don’t feel like this should need to be said but so many of you are stuck in your echo chambers that you can’t hear anything over the sound of your own voice.

yes there are also cases where people are simply unaffected (not desensitized) to content. that’s cool too. some stuff doesn’t affect people and that’s chill. i don’t mind certain things for one reason or another, but there are things that make me so depressed or paranoid i have to restrict myself to only kids shows for four weeks. (hyperbole)

the point is that everyone is responsible for their own consumption of media. creators should really say “hey warning that This Thing is in this thing” but if they don’t, it’s still on the consumer to stop reading/watching/listening whenever they realize “ah fuck this is Affecting Me”.

if you’re a creator just so everyone a favor and tag ur shit. if you’re a consumer then curate your own experience and stop making everyone do the work for you. you’re responsible for your brain, so avoid the media that makes you freak. it should not be this hard.

(this is a statement that is not applicable to children on the internet seeing as children are (lovingly) idiots and don’t know how things work. please be responsible and remember there are kids online that could accidentally be exposing themselves to your content. obviously you can’t stop them but that should be motive for again, tagging your shit.)

[hologramcowboy]

I have to say I am really sad to see how you too diss someone as an AA or an Ackles worshipper if they have some different opinion.

I have to say I'm really sad you didn't check that person's profile or history, the comments they usually make. I gave them the benefit of the doubt, still, the way they were trying to accuse everyone and twist things negatively was exactly like an AA does which was my point. Behaving like Jensen's flying monkeys. They are free to be as AA or whatethey they want but that person could have expressed their point just like everyone else with differing opinions that I did post, in a clear, respectful way. Instead they chose to attack everyone by following a supposed other Anon's example. I don't have to tollerate rudeness and it's extremely dangerous what these people are doing, always trying to start huge dramas over conversations that don't even interest them. Telling me I "diss" others with differing opinions couldn't be farther from the truth. It must be confirmation bias, because plenty of opposing opinion have been posted on this blog, most from people full on harassing me and forgive me but I am going to be painfully blunt: it's abusive that you expect me to sit there and take anything anyone throws at me without responding with boundaries and clarity. That "some different opinion" was full of vitriol, a toxic emotional rant disseminating limiting paradigms and making negative assumptions about post that did not contain the content she claimed, I am saddened you can't recognize that.

I've stated several times on this blog, I don't care what anyone ships or stans, what I care about is humanity. We can be in harmony even being very different but that requires mutual respect and healthy boundaries.

And contrary to your belief, it seems, I don't have to tollerate abuse in any way, shape or form just because my opinions are different than what someone else expects. There are plenty of people I've discussed with that disagreed with me and yet never resorted to spreading lies and accusations to start drama like that vally person did. In fact, some of my followers are completely different from me and may even hate me liking Jensen yet they are pure joy to interact with and always respectful. So it's a matter of choice, those who want to live in harmony do so without trying to limit others.

And again, if anything on my blog is not for you, feel free to unfollow, it's up to you to curate your online experience and I absolutely support that, I'm not for everyone just like not everyone is for me. I don't see why anyone should ever tollerate or expose themselves to content they dislike, it's unhealthy and stressful so I appreciate those who recognize that. Should also add that I'm human so sometimes, just like everyone else, I may make mistakes or not be on brand and that's perfectly okay, I get to grow and learn and I'm grateful for that.

It's hard to tell tone from written messages so I apologize for being brutally honest, I still reinforce what I said, no one should accept toxic behaviors because we all have the ability to interact without engaging in them.

Also, do you really mean to tell me those people don't over worship Jensen? Because that's also untrue. Balanced people don't go around starting fandom fights over their favorite because, for one, they recognize the value of differing opinions and secondly, they aren't over invested in said celebrity. What's wrong with helping people become aware they are overinvested? Or would you rather they waste their lives on worshipping Jensen and attacking everyone on their path while foregoing their personal dreams and goals? That's the saddest part of all, that people get caught up in fandom drama and wars and neglect themselves and their life over a celebrity obsession. In the process, they also destroy many others which is why I discourage anyone who exhibits that kind of behavior. There are much bigger issues in life than fandom drama so it really helps to get some perspective.

Also, I sometimes get accused of being an AA too but you don't see me going to other blogs to harass them or their posts over Jensen and then insist on how I am not one in the process. 🤣

[verygirlygirl]

Hello everyoneeee I have some great news, today I got @ in a post explaining or exposing my writing? Which is weird and I saw another post complaining about me and what I write again and I’m just gonna say that you guys can complain all you want actually. I’m not going to stop doing what I please because you’ve failed to curate your online experience, the world does not revolve around you.

People do things and write and say things that you might not agree with and that’s totally fine especially if it’s online, nobody is responsible to make your online experience comfortable you are I’m not forcing you to read my content or interact with you. You’re choosing to do all of these things that “make you uncomfortable” and I personally think that my opinions make a lot of sense, if you see something that you don’t like on the internet get rid of it you have the ability to you just choose not to.

But anyway thanks so much to that one girl that @ me I hope she’s brought more people that search for content like mine to my account.

Ps- so sorry for not uploading as quickly as I did before I’m trying my best with school and stuff

[purpleturtle010]

Computer Based Early Learning Programs are more Beneficial to Children!

As we progress with the help of technology so will our generation of young learners. Researchers at the Utah State University, USA have evaluated those childrenwho go through computer-based early learning programs. The results indicate that those children fare significantly better in secondary and higher secondary school. Their reading ability, oral language skills, thinking on the spot ability, and social skills too, were better in comparison to those not exposed to computer-based learning.

Computer-based learning refers to the use of apps, videos, and learning aids available digitally. A child is exposed to this content for a given period which does not cause damage.

There are several reasons why computer-based education like the ones offered by Purple Turtle – The Bright KidsProgramme, Language Learning Programmes,and Online Pre-School Programmes have much higher value-added compared to regular school.

Computer-based learning has different models- learn while playing a game, watching an animated story, while colouring a picture. This makes early learners with a comparatively shorter attention span learn more in lesser time.

A pre-school child can learn any time, anywhere at their convenience and pace. Because it is available all the time on the portal. A child need not spend too much time on what they have picked up faster than the others.

It develops the habit of self-learning. Self-learning is essential to excel in academics. Most learning material like the Talking Pen and Animated videos will indirectly help a child develop the confidence and interest to learn without anyone forcing them to.

Since everything is live, moving, and not monotonous it stimulates a child’s senses like grasping the topics thinking about them, recollecting them in real-life situations, and discussing them later on. Children have a lot of curiosity filled within them. Computer-based education ignites this curiosity and slowly instills deeper learning.

Ultimately the use of technology is the path to flourishing in this world. Why not teach your child at an early age the advantages and disadvantages of the internet? Computer-based education teaches them how to use a computer, its features without the need for a separate computer class.

If you observe you will notice a child as young as 3 years can use the features of a mobile phone. Why not divert this curiosity for technology by introducing them to computer-based early learning programs that are beneficial. It will open up the wonderment of learning through technology and the thrill of discovery. Parents need to understand this is all you need to provide young children along with good nutrition and a joyful environment.

Anything in correct proportion will enhance a child’s life. Similarly, those contradicting the benefits of computer-based learning for pre-school children can experiment by setting a fixed time for screen exposure and measuring the benefits.

Computer-based education prepares your child for lifelong success. Give your child a head start with these specially curated programs by Purple Turtle.

https://purpleturtle.com

[purpleturtlesho]

Computer Based Early Learning Programs are more Beneficial to Children!

As we progress with the help of technology so will our generation of young learners. Researchers at the Utah State University, USA have evaluated those childrenwho go through computer-based early learning programs. The results indicate that those children fare significantly better in secondary and higher secondary school. Their reading ability, oral language skills, thinking on the spot ability, and social skills too, were better in comparison to those not exposed to computer-based learning.

Computer-based learning refers to the use of apps, videos, and learning aids available digitally. A child is exposed to this content for a given period which does not cause damage.

There are several reasons why computer-based education like the ones offered by Purple Turtle – The Bright KidsProgramme, Language Learning Programmes,and Online Pre-School Programmes have much higher value-added compared to regular school.

Computer-based learning has different models- learn while playing a game, watching an animated story, while colouring a picture. This makes early learners with a comparatively shorter attention span learn more in lesser time.

A pre-school child can learn any time, anywhere at their convenience and pace. Because it is available all the time on the portal. A child need not spend too much time on what they have picked up faster than the others.

It develops the habit of self-learning. Self-learning is essential to excel in academics. Most learning material like the Talking Pen and Animated videos will indirectly help a child develop the confidence and interest to learn without anyone forcing them to.

Since everything is live, moving, and not monotonous it stimulates a child’s senses like grasping the topics thinking about them, recollecting them in real-life situations, and discussing them later on. Children have a lot of curiosity filled within them. Computer-based education ignites this curiosity and slowly instills deeper learning.

Ultimately the use of technology is the path to flourishing in this world. Why not teach your child at an early age the advantages and disadvantages of the internet? Computer-based education teaches them how to use a computer, its features without the need for a separate computer class.

If you observe you will notice a child as young as 3 years can use the features of a mobile phone. Why not divert this curiosity for technology by introducing them to computer-based early learning programs that are beneficial. It will open up the wonderment of learning through technology and the thrill of discovery. Parents need to understand this is all you need to provide young children along with good nutrition and a joyful environment.

Anything in correct proportion will enhance a child’s life. Similarly, those contradicting the benefits of computer-based learning for pre-school children can experiment by setting a fixed time for screen exposure and measuring the benefits.

Computer-based education prepares your child for lifelong success. Give your child a head start with these specially curated programs by Purple Turtle

https://shop.purpleturtle.com/

[worlds1stghost]

The internet really lost something when "Don't Like; Don't Read" stopped being a golden rule. As a writer, I tag and put content warnings on all my works to make sure nobody accidentally is exposed to something they're uncomfortable with. It's basic decency and helps people curate their online experience.

But what am I supposed to do when people get mad at the warning itself? They aren't reading the story and getting offended; it's as if the mere fact that this content exists in the first place is enough to upset them. Sorry, internet user, but I put that warning there so you don't have to read it. Would you prefer I didn't tag it at all, and you read something triggering that you weren't prepared for?

Why don't you just... not engage with it and leave me alone?