Social Media used to be a very fun place. In the 90’s I signed up my AOL account and would role play Vampire: The Masquerade. I wish I was kidding, but I have always been a big nerd. Back in 2003, I won America’s Next Top Model. I started a Live Journal. I blogged to friends and fans as I traveled the world. Fast forward to mid and late 00’s. Myspace hit the scene and was so fun! I blogged on there all the time and used to always hit the top 10 blogs on Myspace. Political hatred was very minimal. People came to the internet to escape the world. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram were born.
Now, the internet has become the world. It is no longer a place to escape the sea of negativity of this planet. While amazing things have happened due to people rallying on the net, ( I even started a new career!) a lot things have taken a very negative turn. My Facebook feed is full of people fighting about politics. So is my twitter feed. Everything is racist. Everything is sexist. Everything is Angry. Everything is right wing. Everything is left wing. Most importantly, everyone is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! The Internet is like the HBO show WESTWORLD. It starts out and the main character chooses to see the beauty. It ends…well, if you watched it, you get what I mean.
I am glad I had this website built. It will be my little safe haven. I want it to be a tiny piece of yours, too. I want to see the beauty in this world again. We moved to the middle of nowhere in AZ. to get away from it all…and it just wasn’t enough! I cannot wait for our move to Montana. Our town is microscopic, the internet is caveman slow. I can still check Facebook and twitter, but only on my desktop. I have my Facebook page app installed, so I will still live-stream and work. I think I will spend an awful lot less time with my nose buried in my phone when I leave my house. Can you imagine? Actually experiencing LIFE without a phone in my face? Let’s see how this goes! I have a feeling, it may be a little something like this.
Go get that life, girl. I’m just now returning from a 10 year separation from anything connecting me digitally and I’m not sure it was worth coming back yet. Have great adventures and collect some unique experiences.
Holy crap 10 years? I commend you. I took a two year break and it really got me on track. I was completely addicted to social media in 2013, if it would have persisted I would have been a very different and psychologically damaged person. Good job!
Maybe it’s my ancient age (42) but I so relate to what you are saying, world used to be so much fun and people were kinder to each other and more supporting. Was life simpler then it is now? I don’t know, i refuse to open a Facebook account and on Instagram i follow a minority of people (you among them) and even on Twitter i have only about 120 (Again you are one of the very FIRST i followed) and it was so much fun and getting to know new people… I still do, but much less then before… everyone is always getting b**hurt from something…
Hey Adrianne! I used to follow your blogs on old safe MySpace before everything turned out the creepy thing social media is today, some entries I liked so much that I even translated them to Spanish so others could read them (always saying it was you who wrote them of course) Just right now entered for the first time to your page and suddenly I feel like in those not so complicated internet days so I have to thank you for that. Also read your previous post about toxic relationships and I am sadly shocked to find my self in some behavior that you mentioned, I am going through a rough time and feel the need to go off social media and make some time to take serious care of myself without the distraction of all the negativity out there. I was just wondering if there is something you found out to be helpful to start this difficult process of healing an find self love, I would deeply thank some starting tip. Thanks and congratulations on the page, the fiancé, the moving to Montana and mainly the self love.
yes. every SINGLE day of my life…I google psychology today articles on how to get my self worth back! That is where you start! Feel free to come here, it wont be a crap fest!
All the best to you…wish I could quit FB too. You’re better off.
You are so right! I see friends upsetting other friends right now over immigration, much like what happened during the last presidential race. People are acting like Fox News commentators when most know nothing of politics! I think social media has turned most people into fat, lazy judgemental drones! I love my Instagram because it’s all cats, animal rescues and a few people I love. I will never join Twitter and think Facebook is just a waste of time now. Imagine if people did delete their social media and went for a walk, read a book or actually sat at a dinner table and had a conversation with their family!
I think you are awesome! You have something that SO many people lack…morals! You keep it 100 real all the time! You aren’t afraid to tell it like it is regardless of what anyone else thinks! I love watching your FB live streams! You are refreshingly honest and hilarious! Congratulations on your engagement and new career!
P.S. I’m from Chicago and have been a fan since ANTM! I wish you nothing but love and happiness!
XO
Good for you.
Look out for you because no one else will.
I have been seriously thinking of deleting them from my phone also.
Best wishes
I couldnt agree with you more. I used to get crap from other parents because I wouldn’t let my 15 year old twins at the time use FB or social media. I didnt want that extra pressure on them. Social media can be so cruel. Its hard enough, just being a teenager. Now that they’re adults they understand why. This is simply how I feel. Whats right for me may not b for others. Now a days kids…as well as adults r too tied up in their phones…life outside is beautiful, and
is passing by. I repsect your decision so much, and completely understand where youre coming from. My hats off to you for biting the bullet and keeping your head up…away from your phone!
Adrianne, you’re one of the few people I still follow on Facebook anymore. I’ve also stopped following a lot of people that post nothing but political rants. No one wants a real discussion or to be objective; they just want validation of their beliefs. It’s so toxic!
I have deleted facebook many time over the years! Sometimes a good break away from something renews the fun you used to have in it! Good luck with everything!
I have enjoyed you being unapologetically you since seeing you on the Surreal Life. Keep busting those chains!
First off YAY FOR THESE BLOGS!! I have been a fan of yours since ANTM and in the days of MySpace! I am in bewilderment that the world is so quick because you can access and rant so much on the internet, heck most of our day-to-Day life is dependent on getting onto a website or an app. Although it’s nice to drive with something like mapquest or Waze to get you to a destination that you don’t know, I sometimes miss having to print out the directions. I have the love/hate relationship with my phone and it’s a weird feeling to not have it with me. But I did a big step because I saw the U2 concert two days ago, while I did use my phone to take some pictures/video I also put it away since I paid some big money to see them in general admission and I didn’t want to waste it looking through my phone. Long story short, it was amazing to see the people and really connect in real time what was going on around me.
You are so right Adrianne, Its really starting to depress me. There is constant fighting on Facebook and twitter with all this political nonsense, and none of it even makes any sense anymore. I see people I use to admire post the most ridiculous stuff, and all I wanted to do was share my life with those friends and family that lived far away. But now its just turned into a constant place of anger and just gives me anxiety. I would have already deleted it if it wasn’t for my relatives that just are happy to see pics of my son and myself.
Woosh can I relate to this! Love the BLOG by the way. Anyway, I have also been struggling with FB recently and have already eliminated Twitter and a few other social accounts. The phone apps is a good idea and may be next to be eliminated. Most of it is so negative today sadly.
We live in Italy now and love it. I tend to keep the phone in my pocket as much as possible and focus on what is around me. So much beauty to see!
Enjoy Montana!
I deleted both off my phone’s. If I NEED to check something, I use the web version.
It is healthy to cut it way back or completely.
I am glad that you started this site. It can be whatever you want it to be.
I think personal blogs will make a comeback as a backlash to the negativity and the whole pay to play policies if Instagram and FB.
Anyone agree?
Your right I am a Christian and I usually don’t post politics lately I am becoming the world and I hate it. I had to stop and pray. I love people no matter what I love all people the hateful person to the most loving person in this world cause we all have something we are battling with. This world is either going to make you to be just like them or brake you want to run away. Run away is the best choice instead of looking back or becoming just like them.
You won’t regret it! I actually ‘downgraded’ to a flip phone a few months back and can only check my email, social media, etc. on my laptop which I leave at home. It’s amazing how less stressed I am because I’m not absent-mindedly going online every 5 seconds! I pay more attention to my surroundings, my fiancé, my life! It sounds silly but I find I’m using more of my brain..lol. All of my friends make fun of me because, as my fiancé tells me, “I’m bringing ’98 back” by using a flip phone. I haven’t missed my ‘smart phone.’ I can make phone calls, text, and I don’t need GPS because I can read a road map. Plus, I am saving $40/month on my phone bill by not using data. We survived before we were all ‘connected’ and we’ll survive long after. Good luck with disconnecting! I hope you find good in the change like I did.
I love this idea. I never really watched ANTM, but became a fan while you had your own reality show and featured on others. I liked how you expressed yourself and felt like I could relate. I followed you on MySpace when I was a teenager and reading your blogs helped me get through some crappy teenage angst years. Now I’m 28 and feeling way more positive and happy and so glad that you are happy too!
Besides that, the internet was also my safe haven… so back to what I was saying originally, this is a great idea.. a way for you to express your thoughts to us like you use to, away from politics and negativity. Can’t wait to read more!
Yes but you brought up politics a lot on your Facebook page. That right there was a no-no. It only opens a whole can of worms and no one is going to agree with everyone else.
thank you for your contribution
I’m seriously starting to feel the same I’ve had people fight on social media over posts about grocery stores lol. It’s gotten to the point I try to keep away from FB and even Twitter but login once in a while. You’re so right logging in used to be fun. Ive discovered social media causes me to loose track of time that I could be spending on other things like writing or spending more time with my kids. Often I feel happier when i don’t even open social media. Focusing on true happiness and relationships in the flesh is much more satisfying. Thank you for sharing this I think if more people would put down their phones and focus on life they would be happier.