Yes? At least this is what I've found. The only major social media account I have now is my Mastodon account. Not using X/BlueSky/Threads - I find I have more time to myself - my book count this last year has gone from near-zero to at least one book a month now.

Yes, because you can only be bored for so long. My brain would require some stimulation or imagination. Toughest phase would be the withdrawal.

My "problem" is more with Youtube: lots of quality (to me) content that I find educational (history, science) and entertaining.

Maybe. Maybe not.

But if you can "quit and stay dry", then it's extremely likely that you'll end up happier/healthier/saner, long-term.

Yes and no. I read a lot, but in "bursts." My iPad is full of books; many that I have read, many that I have yet to read.

But I use most of my free time writing software. I also tend to do that in "bursts."

Haven't looked at Facebook in many months. Never did Twitter/X. In fact, the only place I spend much time online, is ... here. Most of my karma is from comments, not submissions.

So I guess I don't get out much.

I quit social media many years ago and to answer the question: No, I just watch Youtube. If I could stop watching Youtube, I'm totally sure I'd finally be able to read books again /s

The problem is the award delay. In Youtube, I get my "award" in 10 minutes max. Starting to enjoy a book requires 1-2 hours investment, and the award can be anything between 1 and 10 in a scale of 10 (while median being more like 7), and Youtube is 3-6 with a rare 9.

I read a lot of self-improvement books lately, or heard to be honest. They didn't help me start reading. Atomic Habits came close.

I have (diagnosed, yet untreated, because of side effects) ADHD though. So maybe not the typical experience. I also couldn't read much (or do any homework) as a child.

Currently trying to stop myself from starting with short videos.

To me, yes.

Well, I've never been on "social media", but e.g. at night before bed some times I scroll on HN for a long time before falling asleep (30min-1hr). If I commit myself not to, I read instead.

The thing we should be talking about is forms of entertainment, and social media is just one type of entertainment. We should be discussing pros and cons of different forms of entertainment. Instead the discussion is "social media bad", which is a great starting point, but has the problem that allows us to avoid having to talk about the underlying mechanisms.

For example, one of the people responding here says "if I don't go on social media I go on youtube instead." If you try and think past "social media bad", what is actually going on?

Clearly no, because both activities couldn't be more different. I dont sit down in the evening and spend 2 hour scrolling through social media. Why should I? I might scroll through my feed while waiting for my dentist appointment, because it is a nice way to pass the time. But reading a book takes time and attention. I do that after work, at home, with enough time at hand.

Who asks such twisted questions anyway?

I embrace the extremes. I am naturally curious, and I will let myself go down rabbit holes of fascination. When I need to concentrate, I will go through a little ritual of setting do not disturb on things, closing non-work tabs and programs, putting "focus" music on, planning my little bit of work, and maybe doing a little mindfulness exercise. I find this gets me into flow for a bit, and I think finding one's own process for getting into flow is useful.

And I take holidays deliberately to "unplug" and read. I go somewhere quiet and scenic, no computer - just a book (or several). I do take a tablet, but its basically only got a book and comic/manga reading app on it.

Yes. I will hit 52 books this year next week :) I am happy that I started reading again. It is helpful to slow down, relax, be entertained, or learn something.