Did you notice I’m not on the social meeds anymore? Or that all my YouTube videos are now unlisted? Here’s why.
I finally did it! I deactivated my social media pages and made my YouTube videos all private.
Let me tell you why.
First, I followed my intuition to stop participating in social media. I deleted the apps from my phone. Then, in a very short time, I felt, like, a million times better.
Then, I read a book called The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds And Our World.
And listen: it’s worse than I thought.
It’s not just the divisiveness. It’s not just the misinformation. It’s not just that the social media companies harvest our attention to make more money than anybody has ever made in the history of the world.
It’s violence. It’s war. It’s genocide.
Social media stirs all of this up, measurably and provably, with its algorithms. When we’re like, “What’s with all these shootings these days? What’s with this fascism? Why aren’t people vaccinating their kids? Why are people so filled with hate?” It’s social media and YouTube algorithms magnifying lies, leading folks down rabbit holes, stoking the madness.
On a more personal and immediate level, science shows that people are happier without social media.
So, all of this to say, I’m not on the social meeds, because there is a solution to all of this, and it’s actually sort of easy, and it’s all in our hands. If we minimize our use of social media sites and YouTube, we will immediately take away the algorithm’s powers to control us. And if it’s a trend that catches on, we will do this collectively.
I am still here on my site, with plenty of inspiring content for ya. Many of my videos are still accessible here, even though they’re unlisted on YouTube. (Like this classic meditation fave and the kitchen witchery tutorial embedded here.)
And if you haven’t yet, you can subscribe to my newsletter for free inspiration every week.
So yay. See, not a problem. We can still be connected.
UPDATE: Because some of you asked for them, I assembled my YouTube greatest hits on my site here.
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Tess, this is a great decision. I have not had social media for at least 5 years ( I lost track) I’m 42 and my husband doesn’t either. My 15 year old son doesn’t have a smart phone and no social media. We are all amazingly better for it. It seems like a strange way to live but it really isn’t at all. I have always read about the dangers of social media for kids and teens so I figured we needed to be role models. My son is very happy compared to other 15 year olds. I grew up without social media and I do not think kids should be on it at all. I also rarely read the news. I’m glad that hear you did this and are ab example. I know it’s hard for authors because you want to have places to show your new offerings but this blog is great!
Brooke, thank you for the encouragement and for sharing your experience! It’s great to hear about other people doing this successfully. I can’t tell you how much better I feel, but it seems like you know! It’s such a gift.
Hi Tess. I have to say I was so sad to see you weren’t on YouTube anymore. Your meditation videos helped me out so much. At the risk of being publicly vulnerable, I have had a lot of trauma in my life. I was raised Christian, “apostolic Pentecostal” to be exact. So I grew up so fearful of things that made me me. Even as a grown up I still sometimes have fears that I’m doing something wrong as I feel the pull towards living a more magical life. Your videos helped me navigate my way through my journey to deconstruct and break that generational fear of living my life the way I’m meant to instead of the way I was taught to. I respect your decision to get off of social media as I have recently deactivated my Facebook page as well. It just wasn’t “well with my soul” so to speak. However, like you I do feel so much better. I have purchased a lot of your books and I’ve been reading my way through them. You are such an inspiration to me and I just wanted to let you know that. Thank you so much for what you do. Blessed be.
Amanda, thank you for your heartfelt comment! Many of my videos are still up, they’re just unlisted. I’m also thinking I’ll do new ones and just link to them here instead of on YouTune. Do you remember any that you particularly miss? I could put some links here for you and I’m thinking about doing some posts where I offer links to some of my old videos here on my site. Thank you for your kind words too. ❤️
So I remember one of them being a meditation for empaths, LOVED THAT ONE! And I believe one was a morning meditation? And there was one where you did a chakra balancing. You know what, I just LOVED them all! Lol
Amanda, good to know! I will create a post soon with links to those ones and some other ones. But the chakra one is still up on the site here: https://tesswhitehurst.com/10-minute-chakra-clearing-meditation-3/
And here’s the empath one: https://youtu.be/FKrfIg_nPkk
Hi Amanda! I just assembled these old videos here on my site: https://tesswhitehurst.com/hidden-gems-my-best-youtube-videos-now-on-my-site/
I have to confess, at first, I felt a little sad to see that you’ve unlisted your YouTube videos. I loved them and used to revisit them from time to time. They were truly inspirational and magical because every time I watched them, I discovered something new—something that felt relevant and meaningful to me that day.
Over the years, I’ve learned so many sweet and valuable lessons from you.
I know you are a wise and insightful person, so I respect your decision and will also try to follow you in minimizing the use of the social media.
Thank you for giving heads-up! And thank you for keeping your blog, and sharing your light, …, …., ….❣️
Mahtab, thank you for your kind words! Are there any particular videos you miss the most?
Oh, it’s hard to pick just one!
I loved all of your meditations and affirmations—especially Harmony Happy Hour, Loving-Kindness, Cord Cutting, and Affirmations to Shift to Positive Vibrations. They always brought so much clarity and peace.
I also really appreciated your advice and teachings on navigating and acknowledging our emotions—they were truly insightful.
And of course, I enjoyed your oracle readings! I always found my own way of applying them to my daily life. 😅
Mahtab, thank you for this! Maybe I’ll make a post soon with some of these faves. In the meantime, here’s the Cord Cutting meditation: https://youtu.be/arAHCeTQju0
Here’s the Affirmations: https://youtu.be/cCesKw7gnes
Here’s Loving Kindness: https://youtu.be/AlvA69YSjNM
❤️
Hi again Mahtab! I just assembled my greatest YouTube hits on my site here: https://tesswhitehurst.com/hidden-gems-my-best-youtube-videos-now-on-my-site/
So very perspectively interesting. Great thought food. Action energy? We have been leaning that way.
PG, do you mean you’re looking for inspiration how to do this as well? Good idea for a post, and also check out the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. It has a great suggestion for a monthlong digital detox to get a taste of life without it and decide which ones you want to add back in (if any). Here it is on Amazon – https://amzn.to/4izdK0l
I didn’t notice because I’m consciously less on socials. The reasons I started in them ( to see my friends lives) is gone. I barely see photos and the lives of my friends anymore.
I had a lot of good happen, like the good vibe tribe, now the wisdom circle, and I met a lot of new friends and supportive people because if it.
I feel so much better and have way more time when I’m off social media. I don’t think I will delete everything yet but am consciously staying off more.
Shauna, I feel the same way. It feels like its time has passed for me.