This year everyone seemed to want to opt out of SXSW

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This week I spent a lot of time with South of Southwest (SXSW). Lots of talks going on this year revolved around mental health and how to have one healthy relationship with social media. Instead of talking about going viral, people talked about it how to pull the plug.

It’s kinda weird since SXSW acted as one launch event for many apps—including Twitter. This year, Twitter– what difficult downsize its workforce from autumn 2022 – had no house and did not organize any events. Panels and sessions asked what people can do Stay sane in an online world that challenges you to always be online. Creators talked about it log outgo for a walk and limit notifications, among other things.

In a lecture entitled “Social Media Town Hall” this week, Stephen Rosenbaum a team of panelists asked theirs best and worst social media interactions, as well as which social media apps they are currently using. Twitter and its current alternatives were addressed.

“When Twitter started, you knew the people who were reading your content” and there was a “comfort levelsaid Josh Williams, CEO of the newly launched social app gowallawhich allows users to share their locations with contacts.

Viewers also shared try platforms How mastodon And discordalthough they were described by these participants as “confusing‘ and overall not as easy to use as the mainstream social apps. Another viewer shared that she I left social media a year ago and it changed my life.

The panelists not only talked about different platforms to explore, but also shared ways Limit screen time And Reduce notifications.

“It’s really screentime management to improve your mental and physical health with that addiction to technology that we all have,” said the co-founder of the Own Your Data Foundation Brittany Emperorwho recommended disabling notifications for apps.

“I have my phone mute for almost 13 years,” she added.

Why it matters

While apps like Twitter and Instagram are still popular, People are looking for alternatives. As I already mentioned, Be honest is becoming increasingly popular with people who want to post without the pressure of making a post perfect — or posting multiple times a day.

Sixteen years since Twitter started at SXSW, people are Find ways to be less active on the platform. Or generally less active on social media. It’s unclear where we’ll be going from here, but from what I’ve seen and heard at this year’s festival, those of us who are extremely online Are longing for change.

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