The Social Media Shift: Why X Marked the Spot for Me to Leave
Choosing Independence Over Influence: Why I’m Focusing on My Blog Instead of Playing by Big Tech’s Rules
Instagram keeps showing me the same cat videos on repeat, and now they’ve decided to branch out into Threads? No thanks. I still don’t do TikTok, I’ve once again cancelled my Facebook, and while I remain somewhat active on Instagram to stay in touch with people across different circles, my real focus is on my blog and my own platforms.
Why? Because I want to maintain my online presence on my own terms—outside of algorithms, paid ads, and big tech companies dictating what the world sees about me.
My Experiment with Twitter Blue
A few years ago, I did a little experiment and signed up for Twitter Blue. I was curious—if I paid Twitter a few dollars each month, would my tweets actually get seen by more people?
Short answer: Not really.
The only noticeable difference after canceling Twitter Blue was that I was no longer paying $15 a month (after price hikes). Engagement didn’t improve, my experience on the platform remained the same, and ultimately, it felt like nothing more than a money grab. Paying for social media doesn’t necessarily mean better engagement—it just means more money out of my pocket.
The End of an Era: Twitter Becomes X
And then Musk took over. One day, the friendly little blue bird was gone, replaced by a stark black “X.” I didn’t like it. In fact, I disliked it so much that I deleted Twitter from my phone entirely.
I used to say in my online courses that Twitter was my favourite social media platform. Ouch. Things change, I guess. If something no longer serves a purpose, I move on. That’s why I also canceled my text-based community—to focus entirely on this blog and the readers who truly engage with my content here.
Musk’s transformation of Twitter into X feels a lot like his Cybertruck—bold, clunky, and somehow lacking the appeal of what came before it.
The design is polarizing at best, tasteless at worst. And just like how Tesla’s reputation is taking a hit thanks to Musk’s recent performances in U.S. politics, X has driven many long-time users away.
The Failure of Threads
Long story short: Nobody wanted a “new” Twitter. We just wanted the old Twitter back.
Threads might have been Zuck’s attempt to capture the orphaned Twitter audience, but people weren’t buying it. Social media isn’t just about launching a new platform; it’s about the culture and engagement that comes with it. Twitter, despite its many flaws, had built something unique that Threads just couldn’t replicate.
I’ve said it even before the “tech bros” were lined up at Trump’s second inauguration, but maybe this seems more relevant now:
I don’t dislike the concept of social media, but I do dislike the big-tech companies that run it.
Get Into Action: Let’s Keep It Real
At the end of the day, social media should be about real human connections—not just endless doomscrolling, divisive algorithms, and corporate money grabs. That’s why I’m here, on my own platform, keeping it real.
"If you’re boring in real life, you’re probably still boring on social media. If you’re an asshole on social media, you’re probably also an asshole in real life."
Let’s cut through the noise and connect human-to-human. If you want to build an authentic online presence that actually matters, check out my course: The Ultimate Social Media Strategy.
