I didn’t actually remove the Twitter account. I’m not going to readily come by @timcosgrove again anytime soon, and Twitter deletes a deactivated account after 30 days. Not like Facebook; Facebook will always take you back.

I did delete my Instagram and LinkedIn accounts, because, who cares. Google+ is impossible to delete without divorcing yourself from the services, but I scrubbed as much out of there as I could, because, well, Google+.

This is not an unusual story. Any number of people are taking time away from this or that social media service, or full on ‘detoxing’ or whatever they choose to call it. Mine is more motivated out of depression, out of a desire for self-abnegation. It’ll pass in a couple days, as it always does.

What I find disturbing is how much of a hole it has left. I should in theory have more time to read, or see friends, or, well, do anything. But mostly I find myself faced with the reflexive desire to check for more posts. Look for the little red number, that little hit of validation.

I’m planning on staying off for a bit, just to observe myself. I’d like to see if the desire fades, see if anything comes up in its place.

I suppose posting on Hi is some kind of social media, but, well, so be it.