This stuck out to me. Feels like a great justification as I start to withdraw from social media.Being popular online is like being popular in middle school: Congratulations, you're the king of the worst.
I think some withdrawal is good. A couple of times I've been in a community with sheer fucking assholes, and have simply walked away. Realised that I was just making myself miserable even interacting with them. The relief you get it immense because there are so many nicer, better places to go. The sad thing (as happened with my communities I exited) was that often they start good, then get taken over by assholes. We joke about "Eternal September" but it's a real problem. There is a natural "best size" to a community that satisfies its original members. But total withdrawal? The thing is that the internet has become a utility and social media is becoming (kind of) like a postal address. People need to reach you. If you have no presence, then you are kind of "homeless".