Social Media

I must have been about thirteen, when most of my classmates were signing up and I didn't want to be the odd one out. Back then it was all silly photos and comments on each other's walls. Looking back, it was fairly innocent compared with how polished and commercial everything online has become.

If I'm being honest, yes. I'll pick up my phone to check one message and resurface forty minutes later with no idea where the time went. I've started leaving it in another room while I work, which helps, but the pull is surprisingly strong and I wouldn't claim to have beaten the habit.

Mostly they scroll, I think — short videos, friends' holiday photos, a bit of news along the way. Plenty of people also use it in practical ways, like selling second-hand furniture or finding a flat to rent. And a fair number simply watch in silence without ever posting anything themselves.

I have, though far less than I used to. These days it's the occasional photo from a trip or a quick message on a friend's birthday. I went through a phase of sharing every meal and every sunset, and reading those old posts now makes me cringe a little, so I've become much more selective.

Practically all of them, although in very different ways. One friend runs her entire baking business through it, while another only keeps an account so he doesn't miss invitations. It's also how our group organises anything — if you're not in the chat, you simply won't know where we're meeting.