I did exactly the same about a year and a half ago, except I deactivated my account (kind of a step between just logging off and completely deleting it), and I still feel the positive impact of that decision on my life until today. I encourage more people to do the same.
I effectively quit... I still have an account, but I have not checked it in any way in several months. Life is much improved - i am definitely happier. I also read and interact here and other non toxic places more which I think is an improved way to spend idle time
I had a similar addiction to reddit a couple of years ago, especially while I was in college. It just became something I did as part of my routine. In hindsight I don't know why, since I rarely had a good time on there. It felt like everyone was an asshole, the content was all repeats of the same shitty jokes and fake stories from people desperately trying to farm internet points. It all felt pathetic, and I knew it at the time, but something kept bringing me back.
So one day I decided to just delete my account, and that was it. As soon as the account disappeared, so did my interest in the site. It was like a switch flipped in my head. I guess it was the internet points that were tickling the addiction part of my brain?
Next time I find myself wasting too much time on a social network, I'm just going to delete the account and move on. Unfortunately, I don't think HN lets you delete your account, so I'll need to get creative if I decide to drop this site too (maybe do something to get myself banned?)
I deleted my 15 year old account because of that.....it was tough, but it was so far gone from what it was that it wasn't really a loss to say goodbye.....
I deleted it a few years ago. Before doing so I unrated myself from everything, unliked everything, replaced all my posts and comments to just an underscore, then deleted each post and finally the account.
Here's one person's story. I joined in 2008 and it seemed a benign and cosy place to be. I didn't use it a lot, but I felt good about it. After a few years it started to feel a bit less comfortable. To be fair that was due to posts that people started making.
Quite soon all I saw was email notifications of people wishing me a happy birthday.
I logged on at the start of the year, and what a different place it was. I had decided to cancel the account I wasn't using and I was left in no doubt that it was a right decision.
Friends posted that they would miss me. I had posted nothing for a decade.
So recreate 2008, and I might, just possibly, come back.
I had a 5-year-old account on Reddit, and had been active on there from just about the beginning. I had hand-picked subreddits and the like. But, ultimately, it was better just to delete my account entirely and become a casual reader.
Wow, could you fill us in on exactly what happened?
After 13 years I recently deleted my entire account. I have more time and I have less admin. I will miss messages from old acquaintances but that's ok.
For about 6 months after, I thought I would reactivate and jump back in but it's been years now and I'm 100% sure it was a life improvement.
reply