2020 was a bummer (putting it mildly). I tried to focus on the bright spots rather than get bogged down in everything else that went wrong.

Was I paid by Amazon to write this? Not at all. I just appreciate the fact that I can be a bibliophile and clutter free at the same time.

We know social drives polarization. Some platforms are more effective at it than others. A new research study of 200k people shows us how.

I kicked off this series asking myself an introspective question after watching The Social Dilemma. If social media is so bad…am I complicit as a digital marketer? Do I shoulder the blame for getting paid to play on these platforms?

We apply broad stroke judgements on large groups based on the fringe actions of a minority because…that’s all we see.

Like some of the people interviewed in the documentary, I had a much more Pollyanna view of social media. I saw it as a source for positive change. Because for a while, it really was.

How does someone reconcile the uncomfortable truths about social and tech addiction with a career (and most importantly, your family’s livelihood) that leveraged those very tools? Did I shoulder some responsibility? If I do, why do I simultaneously feel like a victim to these tools?

How the Forest app and two other healthy habits have helped me stay focused in a distracting time.

I don’t think social is the root of all evil. I do think it’s like alcohol or caffeine. Best consumed in moderation.

Investing in local journalism, relying on social media less for current events, and generally consuming LESS news will hopefully result in becoming a better informed and more responsible citizen.