This past weekend I had a choice. Watch Schitts Creek or The Social Dilemma. I’m a geek, so this is a post about The Social Dilemma.

In 2007, after a tour of Egypt, a friend invited me to join Facebook. Finally, a place where I could connect with friends far and wide – mostly from college and my travels. Social networking has helped me to connect with people around the world, some of my best friends live nowhere near me. I’ve traveled around the world and met up with friends who showed me around exotic locations and gave me experiences I couldn’t have had on my own.

But what was the downside of social networking? I’ve noticed I read less, I’m more easily distracted, and have a tougher time focusing at times. I keep telling myself I need to spend less time on Facebook Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest. But it’s so hard to break the habit. Or if I do, some world event will happen and I get sucked back in.

Why?

Many things in The Social Dilemma were as expected. Whatever platform I’m on wants to keep me there as long as possible. To do that, they figure out what I want to see. What will keep me scrolling.

But it’s worse than that…

As the “user” on a social network, we think we’re the consumer. We’re not. The advertiser is the consumer, we are the item being sold.

Don’t believe it? Click on an add, spend a minute looking through the advertiser’s website. Pay attention to the ads they show you the next day. I’m still seeing a wacky office chair that intrigues me. They’re trying to break me down! I will not be sold!

Most of this may not be a surprise.

But what if cost wasn’t just getting you to buy a stupid office chair that you don’t need?

What if by showing you what you want to see, they were modifying your behavior, your thoughts, your ideas?

What if your news feed was changing you?

Have you ever found yourself being a “keyboard warrior?” I know I have! Why the heck would I type a nasty comment to someone if I wouldn’t say it to their face? What happens to us on social media that we lose a sense of ourselves.

What happens when we only see the things we like, the things we agree with? Do we start to believe that we know the only truth? And is it that actual truth?

Does anyone know what’s the truth anymore?

That scares me.

What can we do about it?

Good news, the documentary gives lots of great ideas.

But what can we as individuals do? I still have lots of friends I wouldn’t keep in touch with if it wasn’t for social media, so I’m not exactly going to quit.

Today I took a step – On my cell phone, I put a limit on how much time I can spend on Facebook. I’ll adjust this setting in a few days to limit the time further. I’ve also changed my overnight settings so that I don’t wake up in the middle of the night and start surfing the web or social media. That might take a little self discipline. But I have faith I can do it.

What can you do to limit your time on social media and limit the impact it has on you.

Learn more about my Unhackable Coaching at: TheChristineMaier.com/Unhackable