“when I started working with AI—really working with it, not just asking it questions but using it as cognitive scaffolding—I discovered what it felt like to be understood in real-time, without having to compress myself first”
My relationship with Facebook has probably always been a little different than most. For me, it’s never really been about likes or popularity. I can count most of my real friends on my hands… and maybe a couple toes if I stretch. And that feels exactly right.
It’s more like my journal. My creative notebook. A place to park half-formed ideas, thoughts I’ll come back to later, and sentences that feel like prayers even when they’re disguised as jokes.
Yes — also cat videos. And baby videos. Obviously.
It’s also never really been about the news (learned that lesson the hard way — verify everything 🙃).
But mostly, it’s my thought book.
My place to brag about my kids without pretending I’m chill about it.
A living scrapbook of moments I don’t want to lose.
I’m at that age where the small smattering of people who are dear to me are peppered all across the world. After migrating from MySpace to Instagram and back again like digital nomads, this is the platform we’ve collectively decided to stay put. So… here I am.
Most importantly, it’s become my life archive. A place my kids can come one day to relive funny moments, understand their mom’s humor, and see the full picture — the good, the bad, and the occasionally unhinged. That’s why I’ve shared Jenny Jots here. I want them to know who I really am, not just the polished parts.
Somewhere along the way, about 400 people gathered around this little corner of the internet. It probably won’t go viral — and that’s okay. I’ve shared my vulnerabilities, my small wins, my hopes, and my faith written between the lines. If even one person feels seen or less alone because of it, I consider that holy work.
One of my readers, Lee Hopkins (https://substack.com/@quiethalf?), posted his reasons for leaving Facebook, along with other platforms, using different language and feelings. It's worth a read if you like my article above.
Thanks for writing this, it clarifies a lot; it makes me wonder what if our social platfoms, instead of just logging data, used AI to give us insights into our emotional patterns befor the cliff.
I'd personally be for it. They already produce behavioral data for each of us. It's just used for marketing purposes instead of self-understanding and personal reflection. I also don't think there are many folks looking for self-understanding. It's simply not a drive or interest for most.
“when I started working with AI—really working with it, not just asking it questions but using it as cognitive scaffolding—I discovered what it felt like to be understood in real-time, without having to compress myself first”
THIS 💯
I get it. Truly.
My relationship with Facebook has probably always been a little different than most. For me, it’s never really been about likes or popularity. I can count most of my real friends on my hands… and maybe a couple toes if I stretch. And that feels exactly right.
It’s more like my journal. My creative notebook. A place to park half-formed ideas, thoughts I’ll come back to later, and sentences that feel like prayers even when they’re disguised as jokes.
Yes — also cat videos. And baby videos. Obviously.
It’s also never really been about the news (learned that lesson the hard way — verify everything 🙃).
But mostly, it’s my thought book.
My place to brag about my kids without pretending I’m chill about it.
A living scrapbook of moments I don’t want to lose.
I’m at that age where the small smattering of people who are dear to me are peppered all across the world. After migrating from MySpace to Instagram and back again like digital nomads, this is the platform we’ve collectively decided to stay put. So… here I am.
Most importantly, it’s become my life archive. A place my kids can come one day to relive funny moments, understand their mom’s humor, and see the full picture — the good, the bad, and the occasionally unhinged. That’s why I’ve shared Jenny Jots here. I want them to know who I really am, not just the polished parts.
Somewhere along the way, about 400 people gathered around this little corner of the internet. It probably won’t go viral — and that’s okay. I’ve shared my vulnerabilities, my small wins, my hopes, and my faith written between the lines. If even one person feels seen or less alone because of it, I consider that holy work.
So yes — I understand why you left.
And I understand why you came back.
Connection matters. Presence matters. Telling our stories matters.
And for what it’s worth…
I’m really glad you’re back. ✨
One of my readers, Lee Hopkins (https://substack.com/@quiethalf?), posted his reasons for leaving Facebook, along with other platforms, using different language and feelings. It's worth a read if you like my article above.
https://mindblownpsychology.com/goodbye-shitty-end-social-media/
Thanks for writing this, it clarifies a lot; it makes me wonder what if our social platfoms, instead of just logging data, used AI to give us insights into our emotional patterns befor the cliff.
I'd personally be for it. They already produce behavioral data for each of us. It's just used for marketing purposes instead of self-understanding and personal reflection. I also don't think there are many folks looking for self-understanding. It's simply not a drive or interest for most.