As someone who has chosen to leave centralized social media behind, it is sometimes weird to have to explain to someone that I exist in the real world. Despite not being found in the search on their favorite platform, I am here, doing people stuff and living life! The idea of being so interconnected has changed the way that we interact with one another. Things once said in passing that could be forgotten or glossed over are now recorded forever (or as long as the server remains active).

Not to mention, if you don’t pay to use it, you are the product of your engagement with the platform. I didn’t like the idea that my thoughts and ideas, as bad as they can be sometimes, could be sold to advertisers who resell my data to more advertisers, who collect the data and advertise to me products that I didn’t ask for and don’t want.

Perhaps it is just who I am as a person, but I don’t like to search for something and have an algorithm determine what I “actually” need. It makes gift giving difficult, for one. The hegemony of products sold to people who engage with social media posts is clear when you don’t participate in the social media that advertised it in the first place.

Departing from the world of algorithm and gaming for likes or reactions has been healthy for me. Not long after I left all centralized social media, Twitter was purchased. I decided to put my opinion into a sharable or wearable graphic. I do think that the branches are evocative of olive branches, which might help to break the cycle of negativity typically associated with social media platforms.

Anyway, there you go. More potentially unpopular Jacqui opinions and some beautiful welcoming artwork to go along with it.