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Social Media Is the New Smoking

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Re: Social Media Is the New Smoking

#21

Post by rubicon33 »

I removed social media from my life years ago because I found that it wasn't helping me in any way whatsoever. I'm not sure I would go as far as to declare it a social epidemic on the level of smoking, yet it's hard not to worry about (what seems to be) the growing fixation young people have on their social media lives [1] over their real life. I genuinely wonder what it's like to grow up as a teenager in the social media world we live in today.

[1] http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/teenage-driver-li...

Re: Social Media Is the New Smoking

#22

Post by treve »

calebgilbert wrote: post #11

I've been developing since 2000 in some form or other and have gone from a true believer who thought the internet would save the world, to someone who thinks it's had an immeasurably negative impact on any number of levels. That said, comparing it to smoking is not broad enough. It's more like social media (and by extension the internet) is more like the 'new water' - a fundamental aspect of living whether we like it…

Sounds like every opinion you held both before and after 2000 are extremes. Some nuance might be healthy!

Re: Social Media Is the New Smoking

#23

Post by Mc_Big_G »

oliv__ wrote: post #10

> "That the dude off in the corner consuming his Instagram feed will be looked at the same as the guy standing at the street corner sucking on a Marlboro." I don't think that's ever going to happen. Social networks, contrary to smoking, are built on the very nature of human beings: being social animals. And that's certainly not going away. It would be like wishing that the buddies socializing on the corner would be l…

I totally get it but, and I had this mild disagreement with my wife recently, what if I'm on duolingo learning Spanish? What if I'm checking my investments or making a trade? What if I'm texting with a friend who just lost a loved one? You can't make assumptions about what people are doing on their phones all the time. I spend too much time on my phone, but a lot of it is useful and productive. With that said, I'm firmly in the "I need to stop doing the unproductive things that I do on my phone" camp.

Re: Social Media Is the New Smoking

#24

Post by voidifremoved »

I broke my phone about a year ago, and it took a few days to sort out a replacement.

In that time I went through exactly the same process I did when I quit smoking. I became aware suddenly of all the time, all the gaps, all the moments that I had filled with a quick look at my phone.

And once it passed - elation, freedom, seeing the world with open eyes and a clear head.

I was sad when my new phone arrived, and looking back I wish I had found a way to stay clean.

Re: Social Media Is the New Smoking

#25

Post by levesque »

dep_b wrote: post #14
oliv__ wrote: post #10

> "That the dude off in the corner consuming his Instagram feed will be looked at the same as the guy standing at the street corner sucking on a Marlboro." I don't think that's ever going to happen. Social networks, contrary to smoking, are built on the very nature of human beings: being social animals. And that's certainly not going away. It would be like wishing that the buddies socializing on the corner would be l…

> Social networks, contrary to smoking, are built on the very nature of human beings: being social animals. Bullshit. After quitting I still went to the smoking area at work just to hang out with the people that were taking a break there. Especially when it was completely accepted smoking was considered very social, like grabbing a beer together still is. The "hey let's grab a smoke" is what I miss about smoking.

Sure, smoking can be considered as a social habit. But you can say the same of any drug. If it was only the social part which was important, you shouldn't have any problem starting a new habit of taking a break for another arbitrary reason (go for some fresh air, glass of water, just want to take a break, etc.). This type of break can work, but it's definitely not going to have as much success as would a smoke break. Hence I say that the mean reason for those breaks was not social interaction, the social was just a side effect (albeit a pleasant one).

Re: Social Media Is the New Smoking

#26

Post by sjg007 »

martinald wrote: post #19

I often wonder if social media is the reason behind the dismal productivity gains we've seen in the last decade. I think this is a really well thought article. I can sort of see the equivalent of The Insider in 20 years time, with Zuck at a congress hearing saying that 'social media' is not addictive.

Facebook, Reddit, hacker news.. all are addictive.

I started with slashdot in 96/97? then Reddit, now hacker news. Twitter might be the same but I don't partake.

The fundamental problem is you read yesterday's news instead of inventing the future.

Re: Social Media Is the New Smoking

#27

Post by noiv »

oliv__ wrote: post #10

> "That the dude off in the corner consuming his Instagram feed will be looked at the same as the guy standing at the street corner sucking on a Marlboro." I don't think that's ever going to happen. Social networks, contrary to smoking, are built on the very nature of human beings: being social animals. And that's certainly not going away. It would be like wishing that the buddies socializing on the corner would be l…

I'd argue 'social' in media and in beings are different things. And regarding the very nature, we're all dopamine junkies. That little kick after a cigarette and a fresh like on FB do the same thing to your brains, google 'social media addicts' - you'll get the picture. Facebook and social is just like Marlboro and independence.

Re: Social Media Is the New Smoking

#28

Post by colept »

In college social media consumed me. Instead of going out and having fun I was watching my friends go out and have fun. It got to such a bad point that I was lurking enviously across random profiles.

In 2013 I gave up Facebook and it felt like a deadweight lifted. I stopped worrying about what acquaintances were up to. Friends and I kept in touch through conventional conversation. I endured the same awful feeling with Instagram when I moved 3000 miles away from my friends and family.

Everyone is crafting an online identity of how they want to appear and we all know we're doing it. There's little room for raw, unedited perception. Every moment has to be post card or else you don't measure up. Networks like Facebook and Instagram are a self-fulfilling prophecies of low self esteem.

Re: Social Media Is the New Smoking

#29

Post by nether »

voidifremoved wrote: post #24

I broke my phone about a year ago, and it took a few days to sort out a replacement. In that time I went through exactly the same process I did when I quit smoking. I became aware suddenly of all the time, all the gaps, all the moments that I had filled with a quick look at my phone. And once it passed - elation, freedom, seeing the world with open eyes and a clear head. I was sad when my new phone arrived, and looki…

I've done this in a few ways. I go backpacking in the wilderness where there's no reception, and there's this Buddhist monastery I visit in San Diego where they ask you leave your phones in your car (it's a LOT better that way). I'd like to do a no-screens day once a week, unfortunately working in tech right now makes that difficult.

Re: Social Media Is the New Smoking

#30

Post by Nition »

voidifremoved wrote: post #24

I broke my phone about a year ago, and it took a few days to sort out a replacement. In that time I went through exactly the same process I did when I quit smoking. I became aware suddenly of all the time, all the gaps, all the moments that I had filled with a quick look at my phone. And once it passed - elation, freedom, seeing the world with open eyes and a clear head. I was sad when my new phone arrived, and looki…

If I didn't appreciate the GPS in my smartphone so much I'd totally just use a Nokia 105.
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