I hope you don’t mind my using your post. I’m not saying my approach is better than yours - I’m just trying to flesh out why people enjoy something so differently than I do.
I kinda understand what you say. I can imagine being interested in what my favorite authors/musicians have to say. And yeah, something to put a smile on your face is not to be dissed out of hand.
My personal concerns, tho, involve having such searches/alerts consume more and more of my time. For example, which authors/musicians would I connect with? Why not add another - and another? Do I want to be constantly alerted to their latest thoughts/updates through my feed, or would I prefer to actively search for them when I feel the desire?
Hell, even something like Youtube can be an endless rabbithole should I care to go that way. Given what I understand of myself, I choose not to make such things easier or more habitual for myself. A great deal of electronic communication like Twitter impresses me as superficial time wasting. I admit, I am no stranger to wasting time myself. But my personal preference is to not have to sift through all of the electronic chaff.
I also feel there is something “manipulative” about a lot of what comes through on-line. I try not to be overly suspicious, but there seem to be so many hidden agendas - such as trying to get you to spend money, or not openly representing the motivators behind a message.
Personally, I don’t really enjoy the activity of interacting with my phone/computer. Instead, I do it when I HAVE to do something/NEED some information, or to pass the time when I am not otherwise occupied and don’t feel like motivating myself to be more “productive.” Personally, I’d rather read a book, take a walk, watch something on TV (yeah, just a different tech/just a different preference/probably less stimulating.)
I’m not criticizing anyone’s practices/preferences, just seeking more insight as to why and how folk do something that seems very popular (and increasing) which I do not understand or appreciate. Thanks for the responses.