Analog social media

sustainatives
Nov 11, 2021
5 min read

What is "analog social media"?

I've been reading Care: the radical art of taking time by Brooke McAlary, where she shares her process of exploring "what it means to care in smaller ways - for ourselves, our loved ones and our communities - and discover that caring doesn't need to cost us." [1].

In it she mentions a term Cal Newport has coined: analog social media. Apparently Newport uses it to describe real-world activities that seem to deliver heartier doses of the very benefits social media promises us: connection, like-minded people, deeper relationships, communities and shared interests (Care, 2021). This may include calling family and friends on the phone rather than just messaging them or DMing them on Instagram. Better yet, perhaps visit them in person if you can. Another example is turning to books or going to a museum as 'entertainment' rather than just binge watching YouTube videos or TV show episodes.

Or as Newport describes on his website:

Analog social media describes organisations, activities and traditions that require you to interact with interesting people and encounter interesting things in the real world [2].

~ Cal Newport

Who is Brooke McAlary?

Brooke co-hosts a podcast with her husband Ben called The Slow Home Podcast.

I discovered their podcast in 2017 while doing some WWOOFing in Ballarat (Australia). I listened to many of their podcast episodes while doing morning jobs like watering the apple trees or trimming away a wild blackberry (can be invasive in Australia) that's managed to tangle itself up on a small tree on the property.

I still remember some of their episodes even to this day and some of the guests they had continue to inspire me to this day. There's Katy Bowman with her work as a biomechanist. Jess Davis and her work with Folk Rebellion. Cait Flanders and her own experiment of not spending money beyond necessities for a year, which she wrote about in her book The Year Of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store.

Brooke and Ben have offered such great resources for people who wish to live a much slower and simpler lifestyle. I love how they have a grounded and practical approach to it, and it's not just about jumping on the bandwagon of what is next in trend. In fact, Brooke challenges the concept if 'self care' in her most recent book Care, and how it needs to get beyond just owning certain self care products or paying a lot of money to look after yourself.

They offer a lot in their podcast, website and of course there's also Brooke's books which is available as hard copies or ebooks or audio books.

Who is Cal Newport?

Cal Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University and an author of many books exploring and investigating the relationship between culture and digital technology. I've read Digital Minimalism, which I highly suggest for anyone who wishes to explore how to use digital technology in much more mindful ways. He shares his ideas from his work on his about page, and you can get more of an in depth view of who he is and what he does through there too.

I came across Cal Newport from, yes from social media people recommending his books when I was more active on my social media accounts, but I also found a video of his titled 'Quit Social Media' while I was looking for resources and support around deleting my social media accounts. In it he shares how you don't necessarily need social media to function in society, and you definitely don't need it to be able to 'make a difference' or be recognised in society. He is an example of this. Jaron Lanier is another example.

I've found Cal Newport's work really supportive in understanding more about digital technology and exploring ways I wish to use it in my life.

How can I use analaog social media as an approach and practice?

I feel it requires a lot of self-reflection and perhaps some space from social media platforms being used. I am currently doing another experiment of being off social media for a year, so I already have space from the platforms.

My self-reflection would be around what I used social media for, and to brainstorm some ideas on how I could reduce my screen time and increase attention and focus on my life outside of screens and social media.

For example, one of the reasons I used social media was for escapism. This is a difficult one to admit to myself, let alone a public blog, but necessary as it allows me to release any heaviness, shame and inner critic attached to it.

Why do I want to escape my life? Because life can be hard sometimes, and I want moments of relief and what better place to do that than social media? A place that offers you so much entertainment and content just by a click or swipe of a finger. I'm only just learning (slowly) tools and practices that allow me to show up to these struggles and not want to always run away from them.

So with this example, I may want to reflect on who I can turn to for help or support when I'm struggling, rather the YouTubers or "influencers" on social media who are profiting from my escapism. This could be family and friends or mentors I'm inspired by, like Claire Dunn (who I have worked with before).

Analog social media is basically what people used to do in terms of entertainment, inspiration, community, connection and learning before social media platforms boomed.

Cal Newport gives examples on his website [2]:

Join a local political group that meets regularly to organise on issues relevant to your local community, or serve as a volunteer on the election campaign of a local politician you know and like.
Join a social fitness group, like a running club, or local CrossFit box.
Become a museum or theatre member and attend openings.
Go to at least one author talk per month at a local bookstore.
Create a book club, or poker group, or gaming club.
Join a committee at your church/temple/mosque.
Establish a weekly brunch or happy hour with your close friends.

"With nothing else in place to fill your time, your phone will become increasingly irresistible, regardless of your intentions to spend more time disconnected. When you instead introduce meaningful analog activity into your regular routine, the appeal of the screen suddenly diminishes."