- Published on
I wish you the best in the Offline
- Authors
- Name
- DeepHorus
A small but visible group of technology professionals and online creators is stepping away from social media, artificial intelligence, or the internet entirely. The departures include Salma, a DevRel professional; Chad Whitacre; and Brett Codes. Their exits highlight growing fatigue with always-on digital life. The decisions vary but share a turn toward the Offline.
Salma announced her retirement from the internet in a post titled "Goodbye, Forever, Probably." She made a case for leaving DevRel, describing it as demanding with mushy metrics and an awkward position between product and marketing. Community building, she argued, fits neither category. She has reportedly gone dark online and taken an individual contributor role at a company. The writer wishes her well in detoxing.
Chad Whitacre announced his retirement through a typewriter-written letter. He plans to lay low and produce a zine about religion. He lives in a rural town near Pittsburgh. The move raises questions about financial sustainability, healthcare, and whether selling $10 zines can support such a lifestyle. Such asymmetrical exits invite curiosity about hidden resources.
Brett Codes shared a post titled "Iām done using AI (and video)." It caused a stir on the algorithm. Follow-up videos suggest he is happy with the decision. He is described as someone who stands by his convictionsāa vegan who uses a dumb-phone. He finds fulfillment in eschewing social norms. His choice to reject AI is a big career bet.
The stakes are high because many companies are hyper-scaling toward AI. Brett could be right that the world will always need people who understand software. Or he could be wrong and left behind. A third possibility is that everyone gets steamrolled by the errant contraption. Either way, the writer wishes him the best unplugging from the machine.
There is a sad irony when someone jettisons from social media. They disappear from online worlds, yet observers may feel happy for them. At the same time, their audiences mourn what they no longer hear. They do not learn whether the departees feel wonderful, have better skin, or restored their mental health. They do not know if they make more or less money, and they lose further inspiration to leave the Online.
Observing the Offline from the Online might ruin its magic and mystery. The source compares it to a door hidden in an old wardrobe that must be passed through to be fully understood. For those who leave, the writer offers a simple farewell: best wishes in the Offline. The writer hopes to join them there soon.
