Wrestling with Social Media

I have been trying to advertise my books by developing a professional Facebook page. I emphasize the word trying, as achievement has not yet occurred.

At this point it becomes necessary to insert the fact that I did not grow up during the online age. Computers and I did not interact until I was in my thirties and we were both rude to each other on the initial interaction. I can’t say that our relationship has improved much over the years. Most things I attempt to do on the internet (via the computer or phone) do not follow a straightforward path. I read the instructions, get a headache, consider crying and then decide to try again later. I come back to the task, invigorated after a walk in the fresh air or after communing with actual pen and paper. The technological interface begins again. At some point I begin to weep. Cursing ensues and, I am ashamed to admit, I have punched the computer.

In the end, I am forced to ask someone more technologically literate than myself to complete the endeavour. Or I just give up. A lovely young man put together this website for me. I am sure he has nightmares about me as I send him questions on a weekly basis asking him how to post my blog, create an announcement or send out a newsletter. (‘Yes, I know I’ve done it before but today it isn’t working.’)

Getting back to the Facebook page, part of my reluctance is political. I don’t want to support this social media platform since it ceased monitoring LGBQT comments. Freedom of speech is an important tenet of society, however, that does not include the freedom to abuse people. Words can hurt more than sticks and stones.

In truth, I’d like to close all accounts linked to META but then I would lose communication with friends and family. We are trapped in a social media prison. An organisation I don’t trust is controlling the algorithms of my life and to me, that is terrifying.

Is anyone else as scared as I am?