Updates and Extrication (Jan. 22 '25)

Two weeks ago, I wrote that I was feeling uncertain about what to do about social networks, web presence, etc. Since then I've been busily updating some systems and extricating myself from others.

The first and most obvious thing is that I updated my personal site. I added a blog and incorporated my weeknotes archive into it. I've made it possible to post comments; however, I have made commenting members-only to avoid moderation.

Site members have access to locked posts, so if I know you in person or if we were friends on networks I kept locked down (Facebook and Instagram), you're welcome to email me for an account. If I don't know you, you're welcome to read and follow public posts, and we can chat on Bluesky or LinkedIn (my open networks). If you would like to join this site, please let me know if you'd like to receive blog posts by email (unknown volume about random topics), to join my family and friends newsletter (low volume dispatches about family life), or both.

I decided to stop posting to Facebook and Instagram. I didn't delete my accounts and do occasionally check back in there, but I am mostly on Bluesky. I also created an account on Retro, which has been serving as my Instagram replacement. It's friends-only photo sharing that's meant for keeping in touch with people you know. There are no ads and no algorithm. The app is structured like a journal, so photos are attached to days and posted on a timeline. It's simple and quite lovely. I archived my Instagram archive to Flickr and have been posting there, as well (mostly friends-only with occasional public posts).

I've also been busily sorting audiobooks and ebooks as I try to move away from Audible/Amazon and towards Libro.fm and Bookshop.org. Both of these digital libraries are terrifyingly organized now – and while I'm at it, I decided to finally rescue my music collection from Apple's horrible desktop Music app, which wrecked my organizational system and compilations several years ago. I managed to save my photos from Apple's desktop Photos app a few years ago, so I know it's possible, but the process is both tedious and time-consuming. But I've been so cranky about big tech that I've been super motivated to break free of their systems.