***PURGE***PURGE***PURGE***

Look, social media is trash. It's great for advertising, data theft, woke-shaming, catfishing, virtue signaling and breaking off hot takes one by one, but if I've learned anything from twenty years of sifting through this garbage it is that human connections and relationships cannot be maintained on social media.

I stress maintaining relationships.

Social media does a fair job at helping one meet new people. For those so inclined, have at it. As for myself, I'm good. If suddenly you find me absent from your social media profile, fear not. I am a text, email, or video call away. DMs be dammed. Feel free to reach out. It means so much more than a “like” or a flippant comment. As time persists, I won't have to imaginarily keep up with people whom I haven't spoken with in over a decade. I will finally be able to forget the names of the people and their pets that haunt my ad scrolling at 3am.

I don't know if you know this, but holy shit it feels incredible to forget the names of people. ESPECIALLY THE FORGETTABLE ONES. Highly recommend.

In the event that you haven't forgotten my name, and some of you really can't, I know. I've decided to eliminate the third parties and return to where I began my online activities: my own domains. While I will continue to maintain contacts in an official capacity through my preferred chat app and email, I'll also have way more time to craft posts like this. Hoo-ray.

To those limited to the Zuck properties, fare thee well.

Can we ever truly know one another by social media alone?