time spent offline

Once upon a time, a fan accused Rihanna of being insensitive for a meme she shared on her Instagram. Rihanna responded with, “laugh or log off.” Discovering this gem reminded me another tweet from Tyler, The Creator:” “Hahahahahahahaha How The Fuck Is Cyber Bullying Real Hahahaha Nigga Just Walk Away From The Screen Like Nigga Close Your Eyes Haha.” Without minimizing the issue of cyber-bullying, Tyler, The Creator had a point that completely changed the way I viewed my relationship with social media and the internet in general: Nobody is forcing me to engage in online activities that create negative emotions and experiences, so why do I do it? This question led me to quit social media for three years and the news since 2016; a choice that has worked out really well for me.

Laugh or log off.

It can be very empowering to engage with the digital space in a lighthearted manner. There is no denying the negativity that exists online. There’s also so much positivity. It is up to us to choose carefully the content we consume online. You don’t have to engage with every information available online. Just because it’s there doesn’t mean it deserves your attention. Inspired by Taylor, The Creator and Rihanna’s tweets, I have significantly minimized consuming content that evokes negative emotions or reactions. When I come across such content, I simply scroll past or close the tab. If it’s not bringing me positive feels, I log off. I also have been actively searching for positive content online. That’s how I discovered the subreddit /r/wholesomememes, a community for those searching for a way to capture virtue on the Internet: Yes, good things happen on Reddit too. We can either demonize the internet, or we can use it to add positivity to our lives.

Your choice; choose wisely.