Read on Twitter
Three months of Twitter - a 
I've had this account for a while, but only started engaging with Twitter more frequently (read: maniacally) at the end of August.
Here are some observations about what's changed, how it affected me, and what came of it - the good and the bad.
I've had this account for a while, but only started engaging with Twitter more frequently (read: maniacally) at the end of August.
Here are some observations about what's changed, how it affected me, and what came of it - the good and the bad.
1. Twitter is, indeed, highly addictive. I've been a smoker, and I got about the same caliber of jitters from abstinence.
There's also a big self-soothing component for me, a function cigarettes used to perform. Life stress happens -> trigger -> Twitter helps.
There's also a big self-soothing component for me, a function cigarettes used to perform. Life stress happens -> trigger -> Twitter helps.
2. Despite the claims of echo chambers and radicalization, my thinking has gotten remarkably broader.
I'm reading more interesting stuff and good faith comments and disagreements do really help to collectively refine and debug ideas.
I'm reading more interesting stuff and good faith comments and disagreements do really help to collectively refine and debug ideas.
3. Twitter is more interesting than real life, by far.
Engaging with some of the smartest people in the world about some of the (I think) most consequential questions of our age in this 24/7 digital agora makes it tough for reality to compete.
It's hyperreal brain candy.
Engaging with some of the smartest people in the world about some of the (I think) most consequential questions of our age in this 24/7 digital agora makes it tough for reality to compete.
It's hyperreal brain candy.
4. Twitter lingers.
I find myself thinking about conversations and people on Twitter a lot, even when I'm offline and doing something else. Negativity bias is strong as well, disagreements tend to lead to more rumination.
The time I spend on Twitter = T+T*r
r=rumination coef
I find myself thinking about conversations and people on Twitter a lot, even when I'm offline and doing something else. Negativity bias is strong as well, disagreements tend to lead to more rumination.
The time I spend on Twitter = T+T*r
r=rumination coef
5. Sleep.
I have an Oura ring that tracks my sleep, and it's taken a hit since I've been on Twitter, though it's now starting to normalize. For about the first 2 months, I saw a marked decline in sleep time and quality there, nothing else really changed in my groundhog day life
I have an Oura ring that tracks my sleep, and it's taken a hit since I've been on Twitter, though it's now starting to normalize. For about the first 2 months, I saw a marked decline in sleep time and quality there, nothing else really changed in my groundhog day life
6. Being "far away".
This is the social side of rumination. My husband notices I drift off and act like a space cadet much more in the last few months. Cooking dinner takes about 30% more time when I have my phone, and things are twice as likely to burn (still not very likely).
This is the social side of rumination. My husband notices I drift off and act like a space cadet much more in the last few months. Cooking dinner takes about 30% more time when I have my phone, and things are twice as likely to burn (still not very likely).
7. Focus and productivity.
Though many variables, including wfh as standard and semi-perma-lockdown groundhog day need to be accounted for, Twitter has definitely added to the fracturing of my focus.
It's ironic, because I've never been more flooded with interesting work ->
Though many variables, including wfh as standard and semi-perma-lockdown groundhog day need to be accounted for, Twitter has definitely added to the fracturing of my focus.
It's ironic, because I've never been more flooded with interesting work ->
8. Opportunity.
After my brief stint in paid journalism, I used to just post my essays into the social media void hoping people would read them, and some did, but the vast majority did not.
After my brief stint in paid journalism, I used to just post my essays into the social media void hoping people would read them, and some did, but the vast majority did not.
Since I started using Twitter, though, I got more writing gigs than I can reasonably handle for some excellent publications that I wouldn't have dreamed of writing for, even this August.
In terms of writing opportunities, Twitter has been the best "investment" I've ever made.
In terms of writing opportunities, Twitter has been the best "investment" I've ever made.
9. Catering to an audience.
It's clear to me that my audience likes my takes on feminism & dating, and are so-so/meh on my political philosophy musings. I part voluntarily, part involuntarily take this into account, especially if it's a "slow week."
I've come to expect my fix.
It's clear to me that my audience likes my takes on feminism & dating, and are so-so/meh on my political philosophy musings. I part voluntarily, part involuntarily take this into account, especially if it's a "slow week."
I've come to expect my fix.
10. Anxiety and irritability.
If I've spent too much time on Twitter, when I'm back irl, I feel a bit like I'm always teetering on the edge of an argument, with my guard up, overstimulated.
I'm also a bit more irritable, with the irritation of someone who is interrupted.
If I've spent too much time on Twitter, when I'm back irl, I feel a bit like I'm always teetering on the edge of an argument, with my guard up, overstimulated.
I'm also a bit more irritable, with the irritation of someone who is interrupted.
Up to this point, my impression of Twitter is that it is so good it can derail your life if you're not careful.
It's strong medicine in both its positives and negatives, and I'm still figuring out ways to make it work for me.
What's your take on Twitter sanity?
It's strong medicine in both its positives and negatives, and I'm still figuring out ways to make it work for me.
What's your take on Twitter sanity?
