I Miss an Internet That No Longer Exists.

I deleted Instagram over one week ago, mainly with the goal of having my screen time go down. I had a full rampage where I even considered downgrading from my iPhone to a flip phone. Social media was controlling my brain. Picking up my phone and scrolling has become second nature, compulsive, and time-consuming. I watched one last video, who I can't credit right now because I don't have Instagram to check, that started this meltdown. The creator said this:

Social media is like being an alcoholic and every time you want to text someone or take a picture, you have to open a beer.

For some reason, that clicked (in my addictive personality brain) and I deleted both Meta apps. One begets the other, I suppose. I needed to rewire my brain.

The first week was oddly difficult. Everytime I would pick up my phone, I realized I had nothing to mindlessly scroll through, so I would put it back down. Interestingly, after a week, my screen time didn't go down much (16%), but how I was using my time completely changed. Instead of mindlessly scrolling, I was researching, or writing ideas in notes, maybe looking at weird hat designs on Pinterest (I'l give examples later).

The app that had a significant increase was Messages. I was texting more friends more frequently. There's no more platform for sending silly videos. I have to use my words to share thoughts and feelings now. What a concept! Then, just yesterday, the idea crashed in like the Kool-Aid man: I want a social platform for JUST MY FRIENDS. How all the great websites and apps started out before every other post was an advertisement or I followed more celebrities or businesses than needed (my fault, I know.)

A place to share recipes, ideas, movie reviews, learn what people are seeing, doing, reading, drinking, etc.

No rating my top 8 friends. No ads. I want a share and response platform for the sake of community.

So, here it is!

I know it's not glamorous by any means. It's a domain I already pay for as my creative portfolio, and now it's also this. The internet is ours for the taking! (Just this one website, actually.) If you stuck around to read this long, I really appreicate you. Social media has us all in a vice hold- and there's so much beauty in it, don't get me wrong, but this was the best move for me. I hope it enables us to have better conversation and connect more.

You're here because you want to be here. I'm here to not go insane.

I'm happy you're here.

Here's a picture of Noodle for your time.