“This week you and our country would be better off if you just stayed out of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Can’t quit it? At least follow these rules.”
Thanks to The Wall Street Journal’s Technology writer Joanna Stern for this sage advice.
“Locate the social-media apps you find most irresistible. (For me it’s Twitter and Instagram.) Place them in a new folder entitled ‘DO NOT USE UNTIL ELECTION IS OVER.’ Now hide this folder deep inside your phone.”
“Congratulations! You have done your job as a responsible citizen of the United States of America.”
Don’t use social media
“The first rule of election social media is: You do not use election social media. We should all take the occasional social-media break in our lives—right now’s a great time.”
Second, even I have fallen for a manipulated video and a tweet with news that proved not to be true. In the next few days, where unvetted news will be moving faster, why even put myself in that situation?
Don’t share
“OK, so if you can’t possibly leave behind 5,000 of your closest friends while the fate of our nation hangs in the balance, I urge you at least to stop sharing.”
Don’t believe everything
Do your homework. “Even the most innocuous-sounding posts about topics like the election or Covid-19 should be checked with “lateral reading.” That’s where you seek out additional information on the same topic from other authors and publications.
Don’t be a jerk
“There’s discourse and then there’s division. And sadly, social platforms are pushing Americans to be ever more polarized—not in our opinions on issues, mind you, but in how we feel about opposing groups. You can all but guarantee high levels of vitriol, anger and attacks on social media in the next few days.”
So just turn it off! Try yoga, meditation or exercise instead.
Source: Financial Planning for Women