I deleted my Facebook account a couple of months ago, and I was able to download all my data within a few minutes. Maybe 10 minutes at the most.

Yesterday I started a download request at Twitter because I want to delete my old personal Twitter as well. The request is still pending, more than a day later.

Seems to me that wrangling all that Facebook data would be more complicated than letting me download 1,500 tweets. I get the feeling Twitter is stalling me on the way out, believing that maybe I’ll just give up and leave the account open.

I’ve been through so many social media accounts over the past 15 years, I’m just weary. “Oh look, Sarah has posted the same thing on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Again.” It becomes too much at some point, and I just want some quiet.

I know I don’t have to log into those accounts. And for a long time, I didn’t. But now, I don’t even want to have the option to log in. Social media is potentially a wonderful thing. But as it sits today, it is far less than wonderful.

I like you and respect you as a person. I enjoy speaking to you or knowing you. But I don’t want to know how gullible, hateful, or seemingly unintelligent you are.

I know that sounds harsh, but when I see in my “feeds,” people re-posting pictures of the internal parts of tire valves with text that claims, “This was pulled out of my daughter’s arm after her COVID shot!” I have to bow out. I must take my leave because I don’t even know how to deal with that.

It’s defeatist, perhaps, to give up on what seems to be a third of the world’s population, but I fear that they are beyond reason, and they’re never coming back. So why was I spending my time looking at those ridiculous things? To feel superior? That’s not it because I don’t feel superior. I know how brainwashing works, and I know it can affect anyone.

I think I may have been looking at them to gauge just how far around the bend some of my friends, family, or acquaintances may be. But I get no joy from that. It’s disappointing, disheartening, and if I’m being honest, frightening.

Well, this has gone down quite a different road than the one we set out on, hasn’t it. Ha. Hey, I wander. What can I do?

Anyway, boy! It sure takes Twitter a long time to prepare a download! 🙂

WRITTEN BY A HUMAN