Fewer and fewer are actually posting on social media

[Tom of Temecula]

Lots of people log in to social media every day. Fewer and fewer are actually posting. Isaiah Hug spends roughly two hours a day scrolling through Instagram, but his last post to his main feed was over a year ago. He occasionally posts stories, which vanish after 24 hours. “I don’t need to add more friction to my life and have people bickering about who I voted for or what I think,” says the 24-year-old Marine artillery officer, who is based in Carlsbad, Calif. He prefers one-on-one and group chats—what he calls “private networking.”

Billions of people access social media monthly, but users are posting less and favoring a more passive experience, surveys of users and research from data-analytics firms say. In an October report from data-intelligence company Morning Consult, 61% of U.S. adult respondents with a social-media account said they have become more selective about what they post.

The reasons are varied: People say they feel they can’t control the content they see. They have become more protective about sharing their lives online. They also say the fun of social media has fizzled.

This lurker mentality is widespread, across Meta Platforms’ META -0.20%decrease; red down pointing triangle Instagram and Facebook along with X and TikTok. They have become some of the most powerful companies and platforms in the world due to heavy usage and interaction from users. Any threat to that interaction is a threat to their business.

https://www.wsj.com/tech/personal-tech/social-media-nobody-posting-f6c2fd3e

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Hey Tom of Temecula...are you in CA? There's a town called Temecula in CA that spouse served at a base there in

that general area, but it's been so long ago, wondered if the base is still there. I always loved the name Temecula too, it's so catchy. Have a nice XMAS!

[Tom of Temecula]

8. Camp Pendleton is 3o miles from here

It's a big training command for several branches of the military, including the Marines. Explains all the downtown bars, which are packed on the weekends.

People sometimes talk about how folks are leaving California for other places. Most get it wrong. Californians are colonizing other less populated and influential states and brining them to civilization. Arizona is a good example.

[SWBTATTReg]

9. Thanks and you got this right, that CA is colonizing other states and bringing the blue into these areas.

Have a good XMAS!

[Tom of Temecula]

10. You as well!

It's all about football, DU and lasagna at our place. Life is good.

[quaint]

2. WooHoo, us!

[Think. Again.]

3. Come to think of it...

... I believe this will be my last post.

I don't do any social media other than DU, and I only started doing DU hoping for like-minded, honest, liberal discussions.

I'll still be checking to get any news (I don't do corporate news either) but the constant right-wing pushback and word games are not enjoyable to me.

[senseandsensibility]

11. Please reconsider

I appreciate your voice and think it adds to the forum. I'm sure I'm not alone.

[Cha]

26. You think the poster's accusations are true.. that

there are "RW talking points here and word games"?

Because I don't.

[senseandsensibility]

33. I may or not agree with everything this poster says

but that's not a requirement for me. What I appreciate is he or she is always polite and really seems to be trying to have discussions in good faith.

[Cha]

34. Well I've had different experiences and I think

Accusing Du of being so much right wing talking points is totally untrue and divisive .. and the "word games" ..what does that even mean? Other people disagree?

I know MIRT works hard to get rid of RW Trolls and Talking Points and so do Most of the Juries.

[MuseRider]

16. I really do not want you

to stop. As someone who has been here almost forever I can tell you that there are times like this but it all eventually gets back to where it usually is and a bit more comfortable. Take a break and jump back in when it feels better to you. It is high energy here but not always so angry between all of us. Merry season to you and come back after a break please.

[JustAnotherGen]

21. DU Isn't Social Media

I read for years before signing up to post in 2007.

I don't see right wing talking points here.

The Democratic Party does not require we all think alike. But - the base - black women of which I represent- are fed up with the "I won't vote unless . . ." mentality.

Too many stand on the shoulders of our giants and fail to realize what a spit in the face it is to our Aunts and Grandmother's who could not vote.

We are also target number one in a second Trump Presidency. Its been done to us before - extra judicial killings, domestic terrorism, forced sterilization (as late as the 1980's).

Spit in my face - and I'll harden my heart. We had to wait 227 years to be considered human, and another 100 to receive full right of citizenship (VRA and CRA) - it would really help if Americans who support Gazans could consider what their Non Vote will inflict on Black Americans . .. And Indigenous Americans . .. And Latino Americans.

I know I know I know - our lives mattering is soooooo 2020. Its not the sparkling shiny object amongst well meaning white progressives and their new allies - the 3.5 Million "Political Force" of the 1st generation and recent new American Muslims.

However - that mentality? belief? Its as much of an existential threat to me and my innocent great nieces and nephews in America - as the Maga members are.

If that's a right wing talking point - so be it.

[Cha]

25. Rec Mahalo, Gen.. That's right. there are No "RW Talking points"

here. Our Juries and MIRT see to that.

[JohnSJ]

30. +++

[mcar]

36. So well said, JAG

[yardwork]

37. Hear, hear.

Edited to add that it is a verifiable fact that Black women show up to vote and more than 90% of Black women vote Democratic. Year after year after year. Even when they didn't get everything they wanted.

I have never once heard a Black woman say, "Oh well, the Democratic candidate didn't give me everything I wanted so I think I won't vote" or "the Democratic candidate didn't move me so I'll vote for Trump" or "Biden hasn't stopped this thousand year war in the middle east so maybe I'll give RFK Jr. a try, especially since he promises to defund the NIH."

The United States owes our democracy to Black citizens, especially Black women. Without them, Trump would have been reelected in 2020. FACT.

[betsuni]

40. +1

[Behind the Aegis]

38. To borrow a phrase from the mid 90's

"Whoop! There it is!"

Your frustration with your community and those supposed allies is something I am having issues with now, too. Both the Jewish and gay communities seem to have blinders on when it comes to OUR respective histories in this country.

Like you, the idea of people screeching about not voting because of Gaza shows how STUPID people are and how totally devoid of interest in their own noses, so it is no surprise they really don't care about the 'noses' of others. Frankly, I am sure some already have their speeches ready to blame the Jews, oops, I mean Israel. , if Biden were to lose (I don't think he will, even without all the whiners) or their favorite "progressive" goes down in flames.

[JustAnotherGen]

43. I don't doubt it

In 2016 it was African Americans - although the number who did NOT vote or voted 3rd party pales in comparison to those white women who voted Trump.

I'm going to agree with you regarding Jewish Americans being blamed if Biden is not successful.

Aside - I'm trying to understand how many of the first generation Muslim Americans are truly Democratic Party members. This just all feels like astroturfing.

[betsuni]

39. Beautiful.

[Hekate]

44. Many thanks for this post

[sheshe2]

46. Everything you said, right here.

[Cha]

28. There are no "RW talking Points" here.. the juries and MIRT

sees to that. MIRT Works hard to keep out RW Trolls.. and so do the Juries.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

31. I appreciate the work that MIRT and the jury system does in policing right wing talking points

[Cha]

32. Yes We Do! TY LMPV!

[JohnSJ]

29. "DU is right wing pushback"? What are you talking about?

[mcar]

35. ...

[betsuni]

42. "constant right-wing pushback and word games" CONSTANT

[Hekate]

45. I hope you find what you are looking for

[FakeNoose]

4. This may be true, but I don't think DUers fit the norm

I have to suggest that the passivity of people who read the posts of others and refrain from contributing their own thoughts: ... well it may be that the difficulty of doing so on a cellphone is the real reason.

When I'm away from home for a few days, and have no access to my desktop computer, I'll occasionally use my cell to check in and read the main stories on DU, but I WILL NOT post a comment. In many cases I won't even click on the "rec" button. For me - and for many of us olds - doing anything on one's cellphone is a major pain in the ass.

Needless to say, these daily posts that I've submitted to DU for the last 6 years have all originated on my desktop computer. I have a big screen, a keyboard, a mouse, and other conveniences that are lacking on my phone. If I lost my computer for whatever reason, you guys would never hear a squeak from me.

[AllaN01Bear]

6. i gave up meta along time ago and just gave up yt. . since found some plaaces to replace that . also i get to sit in my

reclining chair and stare out my apartment window and enjoy the view.

[NBachers]

14. Yeah, I have big big trouble making corrections to typos in my phone on DU- the text window jumps below the phone's edge

as soon as I try to go to a spot to correct. I don't know if it's my phone's fault or DU's, but it didn't happen on the previous DU.

[tblue37]

20. It's a DU4 bug. It also happens on my Kindle8+.

[LeftInTX]

27. Same here. I was pretty much AWOL while my home was remodeled. (It took 8 months)

My desktop was in storage. I spent alot of time on my phone. I have a laptop, but it was kind of a pain to use.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. People have made their connections and are enjoying them in real life.

Digital is just a tool, and a bit of a temporary or occasional one.

[jimfields33]

7. Absolutely!

I’m grateful to Facebook for the many reconnects through the years. It’s been a bundle of fun and joy. Can’t imagine posting political news on that platform. Not the place.

[dalton99a]

12. Kick

https://archive.ph/6l9Ei

[malaise]

13. Love your threads

Happy Holidays 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄

[maryellen99]

15. I mostly post on IG and Reddit

But if Trump gets “re elected” I’m giving up SM with the exception of Goodreads.

[mamajudi]

17. Social Media

I hardly post on Meta anymore. Mostly pic's of sunsets, or the changing colors of foliage in my yard. They still seem to evoke some competitive comments. Most of my FB friends have drifted away from politics and that's fine. The only politics I care about are right here on DU. That said, I also like your threads, Tom of Temecula. I have lived in Temecula for 35 years.. it's a great town. If you think it leans red now, 1989 was bleeding red! I hate to correct you on one thing tho..I feel I have to having served in the Navy. Pendleton is a Marine Corp base. They pretty much only train Marines. It's a huge base that hosts many different squadrons that many end up in war zones. We use to see a dozen choppers heading out to the desert for training. What a kick that was to see and hear! However, it's just one or two these days. I use to volunteer at the Navy Marine Corp Relief society. The Marine Corp is under the Department of the Navy. So, you will find Navy Corpsman there since the Marines don't have them. Sorry for rattling off so long on the subject.
To the first reply, Temecula is an Indian word meaning where the sun breaks through the mist.

[Delphinus]

22. Welcome to DU!

[Tom of Temecula]

24. yeah, but ...

"Camp Pendleton is one of the Department of Defense's busiest installations and offers a broad spectrum of training facilities for many active and reserve Marine, Army and Navy units, as well as national, state and local agencies."

https://www.pendleton.marines.mil/Main-Menu/Introduction/#:~:text=Camp%20Pendleton%20is%20one%20of,national%2C%20state%20and%20local%20agencies.

[Hekate]

18. Happy holidays of your choice, Tom. DU will keep the lights on!

[Tom of Temecula]

41. Thanks, and yeah. DU is great.

I'm having fun and discussing politics with nice people.

I actually see validity in most beliefs. They point to the same light. Religious differences largely being cultural and therefore having little to do with God.

[sybylla]

19. I feel this. I'm not seeing much from my connections on SM and

I just generally repost/share other's stuff. SM doesn't need to know my business and I certainly never post photos of my family. They have a right to privacy, too. Too many corporate interests combing through SM to trust it with anything.

But I've always been that way. My first FB profile photo in 2008 was a stick drawing. #FuckFacialRecognitionSoftware

[Wounded Bear]

23. Guess I fit in to that class. I check them, but I have never been much of a poster...