Antisocial Media: Social Media and New Platforms
“Social media” sounds great. Maybe, at one point, it was. Perhaps it can still be. Currently, however, a more accurate name is “antisocial media.”
Many of us have used social media in reasonable and enjoyable ways, like connecting with new or old friends and communities, buying, selling, and sharing goods and services, and watching cats be jerks repeatedly. We’ve accepted the perpetual, personal curation and the relentless selling (overt and covert). We’ve witnessed a body of data grow, showing the damaging effects of social media on our mental health, especially for young girls and women. But we are at an inflection point. What is on full display now is the degree to which the tech bros who own and manage dominant social media platforms are willing to sell users (and their safety) for personal gain in increasingly egregious ways. It should not surprise us at this point. Although, it is disturbing to watch the fawning, the gaslighting, and the shameless greed.
Antisocial Media & Sycophants
We cannot fool ourselves. We’ve always known they sell our personal information, privacy, and attention. At some point in the past, perhaps we could believe the illusion that with the power to moderate these powerful spaces they would feel a scrap of responsibility to us in return. In a flash, these men have made it clear that for more (more!?) money and power, they will stoop to any level. They can never have enough; the price others pay is irrelevant. We are relevant only as a commodity. They will lie, cheat, steal. Then, they will easily lie about the lying, cheating, and stealing.
Leaders Responsibility for Holding Space
In spiritual circles, the leader is ultimately responsible for “holding space,” maintaining the integrity and safety of the spheres they steward. Although business (and government) are not spiritual enterprises, good leaders (of business, government, and society in general) feel a duty to their customers, their constituents, and their fellow human beings beyond generating cash and power. We are not seeing that from the “leaders” in charge right now. Certainly not from the leaders of the dominant social media platforms (or government, but that’s another article).
Social Media & New Platforms
This is a long segue into saying I am leaving the platforms owned by the most egregious sycophants and moving to Bluesky for general posting and Substack (and the Whole Spirit blog as usual) for my writing. I will be either closing or not using Meta platforms or anything owned by the man who Nazi salutes, if I can help it. If you know me, you know I don’t post a lot anyway. That may not change, but who knows? I haven’t placed faith in any new person or platform per se, but I need to step away from those run by people who are participating so fervently in our collective diminishment. Some people are staying for reasons I understand. I respect your choices.
As always, my preferred way of connecting is one-on-one and directly. I would love to hear from you.
Here are my new accounts for Whole Spirit, hope to see you there!
Bluesky: @wholespirit.bsky.social
Please do share this if you feel moved.
Wishing you a peaceful heart,
Mara
As always I’m glad to see you in an individual session consultation. Schedule time now. Take a look at some of the possibilities for sessions and details.
©2025 Mara Bishop Whole Spirit