Ditching social media! What content should I read?

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rooooosa@reddit

Get yourself on Substack. It’s still social media, but feels more curated and value-led.

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I wanted to like this but the notifications and emails you get are insane, sooo many! There’s so many notification settings and even if you go through and turn off what you don’t want, I was still getting notification for stuff I didn’t want.

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localmansayshello@reddit

I second this, but don't just follow celebs or randoms like you would on Twitter. Follow people who write about topics you're interested in.

I say this because with it's increased popularity and people clamouring to get more visibility on there, some of the reads are clearly just either white noise, ghost-written by PR firms, or people just eager to write anything to participate in the 'ideas as social currency' market.

All things said, it's a lot healthier than most social media sites.

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LegolasleChat@reddit

An FT subscription is great value, news, politics, AI, tech and culture all covered and some great long read analysis.

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NefariousnessNext840@reddit

It’s like £600 a year tho.

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DependentGarage6172@reddit

You can the digital only "FT edit" which gives you a limited amount of stories for £4.99 a month. Works really well for me because I just rad the features/ magazine section.

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Lopsided_Snower@reddit

I need to get on this, see so many interesting article headlines, can never read more than the first paragrah...

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Cloisonetted@reddit

Second this, i buy their paper occasionally rather than have the subscription but their long reads are always thoughtfully done

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draxximuss@reddit

Errrr books?

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toast_whispers_shh@reddit

Sci fi books.

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Yep_OK_Crack_On@reddit

OP was clearly not asking for a recommendation of fiction genres

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Shadysunhat@reddit

See if your local library has PressReader - it’s an app with lots of newspaper and magazine subscriptions. Just need a library card

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Immediate-Stable7589@reddit

Came here to say this. Great if you have a tablet to read it on.

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warmslippers12345@reddit

I'm in exactly the same position! I hadn't been on twitter for years but I got rid of Facebook maybe 18m-2y ago, and just yesterday uninstalled tiktok because the algorithm felt like it had changed and was just serving me complete brain rot 99% of the time, and I've uninstalled Instagram for a bit as well and planning on only going on it a couple of times a week. I'm on substack which is great and I think you'd like from what you've said. So now I'm on here, substack, I do the NYT games, and listen to a lot of audiobooks and podcasts alongside reading actual books. The podcasts I listen to are the rest is politics (UK and US), the rest is entertainment, the book club, dish,and my newest interest is The Archers!

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Nublar_Repair_Man@reddit

Learn quantum physics it's an endless rabbit hole

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BetterCallTom@reddit

Does it have to be in a readable format? I only ask as I would recommend having a look at 'The Rest Is...' series of podcasts. Lots on there from Film and TV, Sports, Politics and History.

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External-Praline-451@reddit

I don't like the Times as a normal newspaper (more of a Guardian reader, lol) but my Dad gets it and I actually enjoy the Sunday Times supplements when I go over to his. It might be worth getting a physical copy one week for the culture sections and see what you think. It's good because it has great sections on new books (including non-fiction) and interesting terrestrial tv documentaries, etc, that I always miss because I stream stuff. Also good puzzles, etc, if you like them.

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CitroenUK@reddit

Over the years, I've found Private Eye to be informative, not particularly biased and amusing.

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CitroenUK@reddit

Worth noting that they broke the Horizon/PO scand6

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exile_10@reddit

That was Computer Weekly but PE played a big role as well

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Safe-Professional556@reddit

I find some of the humour not terribly funny. But the actual reporting is pretty good.

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charlytune@reddit

Same. I wish there was a version with just the reporting and political gossip.

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Affectionate-Day8307@reddit

The fake WhatsApp chats for the PM are great.

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National_Big91@reddit

I like Private Eye, but they don't get Scotland. It always makes me roll my eyes when they touch on that subject.

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LegolasleChat@reddit

It's great value as takes ages to get through a while copy

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annies999@reddit

I've found this one to be very informative and wide-ranging - https://theconversation.com/uk

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Jin-shei@reddit

Seconded. I wrote an article for them once. They don't pay the academics, which is a bit rubbish but experts want info out there

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NasCreatThoughts786@reddit

If you’re looking to move away from social media noise, long-form journalism and essays are a great call.

For UK-focused culture and analysis, places like The Guardian, The London Review of Books, and Prospect Magazine have strong long-form writing. The New Statesman is also good for opinion and cultural commentary.

If you want more international but still high-quality, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, and Vox do in-depth analysis and thoughtful essays on culture, media, and society.

For film and TV specifically, Sight and Sound and Little White Lies are great reads with proper critique rather than hot takes.

If you enjoy Marina Hyde, you might also like writers who focus on sharp cultural commentary rather than quick takes. There’s a lot of good, slower, more thoughtful content out there once you step away from short-form feeds.

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Ok-Application-8045@reddit

Thanks ChatGPT

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Nearly_adulting@reddit (OP)

I thought this! How crazy! I can’t tell if this is a joke or a genuine attempt to get Karma/responses!

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NewSpell9343@reddit

I'm not massively religious but I'm listening to Bible in a Year. 20-30 minutes podcast/YouTube a day. Very interesting and enjoyable.

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woollover@reddit

Love this. David suchet reads it on YouTube too. Love his voice.

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NewSpell9343@reddit

Great suggestion, thank you. He does have a great voice.

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woollover@reddit

You're very welcome. It's lovely to find a like minded person. Have a wonderful day ☺️

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notouttolunch@reddit

I found that not reading content was a huge improvement. If you I no longer watch television news, nor do I have a TV licence. I don't subscribe to any streaming services and I don't read internet news.

I do still read publications related to my work and business and I'm also a CAMRA member so I read about beer.

Life is so much better as a result.

I only really come on Reddit because it's quite fun to see half wits with too much time on their hands talk about things they don't understand. That makes me realise that I'm not actually missing out on anything by living this lifestyle.

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Tacklestiffener@reddit

I only really come on Reddit because it's quite fun to see half wits with too much time on their hands talk about things they don't understand.

We'll bless your heart. Maybe you should be reading the Bible too just to confirm that you really are holier than thou.

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notouttolunch@reddit

Yeah, that's right. People like you.

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Tacklestiffener@reddit

Oh dear. Is that why you hide your tragic post history?

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notouttolunch@reddit

And there's another great example.

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supersy@reddit

The New Yorker! The essays and reporting are really good and aren't really geared towards New Yorkers (though the listings stuff clearly is).

They also have some regular British writers like Sam Knight and Ed Ceaser. Happy to share some articles that you might find interesting.

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Nearly_adulting@reddit (OP)

Yes! Please share!

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supersy@reddit

So, off the top of my head:

London's Most Mysterious Mansion
A Teen's Fatal Plunge Into the London Underworld (this is now a book which was just released this week)
The Earthquake That Will Devastate the Pacific Northwest
Now We Are Five

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Nearly_adulting@reddit (OP)

Ooh amazing - thank you!

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Scotchnittenpoopen@reddit

Viz

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NoraCharles91@reddit

Sounds like you'd enjoy The Week. It rounds up the best news and culture coverage of the week from the UK and international media. It's a paper magazine, but there's a digital version if you prefer.

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scrotalsac69@reddit

Absolutely this, really good overview of the news of the last week. Also provides a variety of views so (I think) feels more balanced than most of the media (not that I will agree with all views but it is important to at least hear them)

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tomwaitsgoatee@reddit

The Stacks Reader is a curated site of long form journalism. Loads of interesting stuff there!

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MrAnonymousTheThird@reddit

Not exactly reading but I've been using the time to game instead

When id usually pick up my phone and scroll, I'll pick up the portable handheld and play a bit

The only scrolling app I keep is Reddit, and that's not the official app with algorithmically curated feeds, but a third party app where once I've read the feed, it's done. There's no coming back and refreshing for a new feed

I would like to also get rid of Reddit but I've tried that and I missed out on a lot of news, and discussions

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phulbs@reddit

I read Prospect Magazine, Granta, and Delayed Gratification. All long-form and UK focused.

Prospect is monthly, and the other two quarterly.

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setokaiba22@reddit

Include Reddit in this mind. There’s a slot of crap here too and the comments (ironic I know) can bar a negative affect too.

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nonotthereta@reddit

Longreads.

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Scarred_fish@reddit

Spend a little time curating reddit too.

Posts like these often get the "reddit is social media" type replies and while that's technically true, Reddit is still anonymous (unless you're an idiot) and you have control over your feed, and most importantly can control how posts are presented.

No, reddit is not perfect, but it is as good a mainstream source of random views, info and entertainment as you'll find these days.

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h00dman@reddit

I tend to read Wikipedia a lot.

I also enjoy playing the Wikipedia game where you decide on a subject, click "Random article", and then count how many links you have to click on (from one article to the next), to reach a page about your chosen subject.

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woollover@reddit

The bible. Historical, prophetical and full of wisdom and ways to help ourselves.

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pixeltash@reddit

Yeah but they said non fiction

Sorry couldn't resist. 🤣

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CapnSeabass@reddit

Kindly, OP requested non-fiction

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PersimmonPetal@reddit

if you like Marina Hyde, try The Guardian opinion section in general, lot of similar sharp takes. London Review of Books is great for slower, deeper essays. for culture stuff, Sight and Sound is solid for film analysis.

honestly feels way better than doomscrolling, your brain will thank you after a week

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NoDrama430@reddit

The Guardian and the observer. They're high quality and in-depth news organizations that prioritize expert and opinion pieces. Marina Hyde is a star there for a reason.

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Jolly-Bandicoot7162@reddit

The Week is a good one for current affairs. Comes in paper or digital format. The Atlantic has some really in-depth reads that are interesting - I read one of their very long articles about the oligarchs who supported Hitler aloud to my husband on a long car journey last year as it was just really interesting. (He found it interesting too, I should add, I don't just randomly read at him!)

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lilphoenixgirl95@reddit

I randomly read at mine all the time

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lilphoenixgirl95@reddit

‘opinion leaders’ lmao

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alivingstereo@reddit

London Review of Books is really good BFI as well I like Vittles Magazine, but it’s hosted on Substack, which could be considered a “social media” but it doesn’t have to be. They also have been releasing physical magazines (really good ones) every six months. London Centric, but also on Substack Wired magazine Dazed

Also, why don’t you check some local zines? I don’t know where you’re based in the UK, but Glasgow has a strong zine scene.

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G_UK@reddit

Guardian Long Reads. Private Eye.

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CopperRockQueen@reddit

London Review of Books. Can get a digital subscription only.

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knight-under-stars@reddit

New Scientist, National Geographic and Private Eye are all worth trying.

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One-Cellist6257@reddit

We have a subscription to the NY Times and damn, it’s good! Their app is brilliant as well and makes reading long-form articles on the screen very enjoyable.

Their book review section is brilliant, as is the science section and general opinion pieces.

It’s not UK-centric of course, but definitely worth mentioning.

A couple of years ago I had subscriptions for National Geographic, Geographical Magazine and the German Geo & Zeit Wissen (the print versions).

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Upstairs-Manager-703@reddit

For film/TV analysis, try Sight & Sound or long-form essays from BFI...

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Obvious-Water569@reddit

Dungeon Crawler Carl.

I'm 2/3 through the second book and I've never had so much fun reading anything in my life.

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One-Cellist6257@reddit

Dungeon Crawler Carl is good fun (especially the audiobooks) but really doesn’t fit the brief at all :D.

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