Social Media

There is really no argument against the fact that social media has detrimental effects on both individuals and society in general. The only arguments left to ponder are just how drastic the deleterious effects are and if whatever advantages social media offers society are outweighed by the negatives.

Taking a step back, it is worth pointing out there is a consistent, observable, pattern whenever new technology is developed. And that is; the new invention provides pragmatic benefits, alongside many negative spillover effects such as dependency.

The irony that many of the things intended to “free” humanity end up creating reliance on those things should not be lost on anyone.

Case in point: The automobile was intended to free regular people from being confined to within a few miles of where they were born, as was the case for the overwhelming majority of people throughout history. And so it did. Since the advent of the automobile it has become far more common for people to travel across their own countries and the world itself.

The appearance of a Ford or GM car in every driveway mandated great change from the societal powers overseeing day to day life. Paved roads multiplied, confoundingly worded traffic signs sprung up seemingly overnight like weeds, and urban settlement metastasized into suburban sprawl. While still providing its initial purpose of increasing human mobility, cars now constrain humanity simultaneously by making ownership all but obligatory for most people in developed countries.

So it is with social media. What began as a novelty is now a necessity. Kids without a social media presence can be left out of friend groups. Calling people to socialize remotely has been largely abandoned in favor of posts and direct messages. Parties and public events are almost exclusively organized on social media.

What does this cost us? It’s no secret social media is a mis-and disinformation cesspool. But I don’t need to rehash that point in depth since it’s been covered to bejesus and back. What I’d prefer to point out is something many people overlook, that is, how social media fails to meaningfully inform the body politic even when presenting facts and truth.

The problem is social media distills everything down to bite size chunks of information meant to be spoon fed to increasingly impatient audiences looking to consume more content faster. The result is that much relevant information and context crucial to fostering greater understanding of important issues and making informed decisions gets left out. Perspectives inevitably get warped.

For example, tariffs and trade wars have a long history. Studying that history and gaining a complete understanding of the implications of a trade war is not something that can be achieved with a thirty-second Instagram Reel.

The problem is a compounding one. As we achieve quicker satisfaction in the form of shorter, more quickly delivered content, we become accustomed to it, losing our ability to pay attention to anything longer than the short-form, poorly spelled, rudimentary, junk food for our brains content social media churns out.

And thus, when it comes time to think critically no one wants to be bothered to do so or just can’t, making them susceptible to adopting idiotic, empty mantras like MAGA.

When people lose the ability to think critically and truly consider the likely consequences of policy and social change they’re easily satisfied with slogans like “tariffs make the rest of the world realize America doesn’t need them and is strong!.” The ramifications of this are profound; nothing meaningful happens to improve our lives, just an endless cycle of despair and empty promises completely lacking in substance and resulting in failure.

I’ve deleted all of my social media other than LinkedIn (which I’d really like to get rid of but need for work), and have absolutely no regrets. If the society-spanning externalities of social media don’t frighten you enough to want to follow my example, then consider the list of life improvements scientific study has discovered a social media detox can offer you:

• Lower Depression Symptoms
• Improved Sleep
• Increased Self-Esteem
• More Free Time
• Reduced Stress

I’ll caveat this by pointing out quitting cold turkey can come with difficulties and drawbacks. People have reported increased loneliness after making a break with social media. This only strengthens the comparison of social media to a narcotic, which at the very least ought to make you reconsider your usage.

But, with intention, a plan, and some help, you can break social media’s grip on your attention. And besides, wouldn’t you love to be a part of making people like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg angry and afraid?