In this raw, on-the-go episode recorded under a full Arkansas moon, I reflect on my journey away from big tech and toward something better for local communities.
Four months ago, I sold my iPhone and switched to a device without social media apps. Six weeks later, I deleted my Meta account entirely—no more Facebook, no more Instagram. This from someone who built his business helping companies run Facebook ads.
The irony isn’t lost on me. But neither is the relief.
In this episode, I open up about:
This episode is about reclaiming attention from the platforms that siphon it, and redirecting it toward the places and people that actually matter.
“The platforms are free because you are the product. Advertisers are the customers. Your attention is the commodity being bought and sold.”
“I’ve lived in Russellville my whole life. There are businesses that have been there longer than I’ve been alive that are telling me the same thing: people are blown away when they come inside and say, ‘I didn’t even know you were here.’”
“Facebook and Google could fix this in a day if they wanted to. But they’re not, and I don’t see that they ever will unless pressure is put on them.”
“I can’t expect [the average person] to care about local economy and communities and businesses the same way that you and I do. So what can we do about that? We can incentivize them. We can build experiences, games, and rewards that get them interacting locally.”
“With AI and modern frameworks, anything is possible. It always has been, but now I truly can do anything. It’s just a matter of: should I? Is it solving a real problem? Is it worth the time? Am I passionate about it?”
Special thanks to our collaborators who make this podcast possible:
#AntiSocialMedia #BigTech #LocalBusiness #CommunityBuilding #RussellvilleAR #TownSquare #DeleteFacebook #LocalFirst #CivicTech #AI #SmallTown #LocalEconomy #Arkansas
📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Phone: 479-397-4600
🌐 Website: rvtownsquare.com
Mentioned in This Episode:
Jeremy & Nicole King
Owners, Olive Branch
