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Quit Social Media (2016)

calnewport.com

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Re: Quit Social Media (2016)

#201

Post by sourcepluck »

sourcepluck wrote: post #41
Clubber wrote: post #4

I quit social media after the Snowden revelations.

I remember thinking it likely that many people would. My naivety knew few bounds at the time.

Re-reading my own comment, and worried the poster I responded to might take that as a reverse-jibe about their own naivety - I didn't even think of that the first time I wrote it, and now want to explicitly say that wasn't my point.

I sincerely thought people would quit social media following the Snowden revelations, and I did myself, and then could not believe that they didn't seem to care at all. It was a painful and jarring learning experience.

Re: Quit Social Media (2016)

#202

Post by causal »

dnissley wrote: post #174
Minor49er wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What makes Hacker News a social media website?

It's an infinite feed of content with comments and ranking based on upvotes (aka likes)

It is social media, but I'd argue that it lacks the worst incentives of social media: monetization and ads, which lead to attention-hacking algorithms and regression to lowest common denominator content.

Re: Quit Social Media (2016)

#203

Post by jolmg »

0xDEAFBEAD wrote: post #175
Minor49er wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What makes Hacker News a social media website?

I would argue the defining factor of social media which separates it from blogs/forums/etc. is the ubiquitous feedback metrics, in the form of likes/downvotes/retweets/etc. Imagine attending party where whenever you finished a sentence, everyone who was listening immediately responded with a silent thumbs up / thumbs down in response. Pretty dystopian. The Onion did a sketch illustrating the problem a few years ago:…

I never thought that votes, etc. would be that important to what defines social media and would have included forums in it. But if I think of social media as "that thing that's addicting", then yeah, the feedback metrics are what make it addicting.

Otherwise, I would think of "social media" as places where visitors get the opportunity to be equal participants. Anyone can post, anyone can comment in places like these (including forums), but in a blog only one can post and the rest comment.

Re: Quit Social Media (2016)

#204

Post by interludead »

golly_ned wrote: post #160

I've completely quit social media except for LinkedIn, which I need for my work, and Reddit, which I selectively use for product recommendations and advice on my career and relationships. And also Twitter, through which I receive the latest research in my domain. And Instagram, which my girlfriend uses to send me memes and videos. Occasionally Facebook for event invitations. And this website. But other than that I've…

Love the dedication to a ‘low-social-media’ life!

Re: Quit Social Media (2016)

#205

Post by interludead »

Minor49er wrote: post #162
golly_ned wrote: post #160

I've completely quit social media except for LinkedIn, which I need for my work, and Reddit, which I selectively use for product recommendations and advice on my career and relationships. And also Twitter, through which I receive the latest research in my domain. And Instagram, which my girlfriend uses to send me memes and videos. Occasionally Facebook for event invitations. And this website. But other than that I've…

What makes Hacker News a social media website?

HN might seem more focused and professional than typical social media, but it fosters a community and interactions

Re: Quit Social Media (2016)

#206

Post by maininformer »

Minor49er wrote: post #162
golly_ned wrote: post #160

I've completely quit social media except for LinkedIn, which I need for my work, and Reddit, which I selectively use for product recommendations and advice on my career and relationships. And also Twitter, through which I receive the latest research in my domain. And Instagram, which my girlfriend uses to send me memes and videos. Occasionally Facebook for event invitations. And this website. But other than that I've…

What makes Hacker News a social media website?

The fact that I come in it just to read comments

Re: Quit Social Media (2016)

#207

Post by interludead »

mattgreenrocks wrote: post #118

> “I decided, after 15 years, to live in reality.” This is the crux of the matter. Social media isn’t real; it’s a type of video game for adults. The unreality fosters the growth of so many other things which are even less concerned with truth: fake news, engagement bait, daily outrages, chasing followers in a vain attempt to “build a personal brand.” The vacuousness of influencer culture has only accelerated these t…

A game where the "points" are likes, followers and engagement

Re: Quit Social Media (2016)

#208

Post by Clubber »

sourcepluck wrote: post #201
sourcepluck wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember thinking it likely that many people would. My naivety knew few bounds at the time.

Re-reading my own comment, and worried the poster I responded to might take that as a reverse-jibe about their own naivety - I didn't even think of that the first time I wrote it, and now want to explicitly say that wasn't my point. I sincerely thought people would quit social media following the Snowden revelations, and I did myself, and then could not believe that they didn't seem to care at all. It was a painful a…

>might take that as a reverse-jibe

I did not, but thanks for being considerate. I took it as this:

>I sincerely thought people would quit social media following the Snowden revelations, and I did myself, and then could not believe that they didn't seem to care at all. It was a painful and jarring learning experience.

It's been over 11 years now. I would imagine it's not unlike living in a former soviet country in that everyone knows it's going on, but we just don't talk about it.

Re: Quit Social Media (2016)

#209

Post by interludead »

gilbetron wrote: post #119
mattgreenrocks wrote: post #118

> “I decided, after 15 years, to live in reality.” This is the crux of the matter. Social media isn’t real; it’s a type of video game for adults. The unreality fosters the growth of so many other things which are even less concerned with truth: fake news, engagement bait, daily outrages, chasing followers in a vain attempt to “build a personal brand.” The vacuousness of influencer culture has only accelerated these t…

Problem is that it is becoming a new reality. You can tune out, but you can't turn it off, and it (and society) will continue without it. And I say this as someone who thinks we should largely turn it off. Society will adapt, which means society is becoming something different.

I wonder what will the cumulative effect be as more of life becomes virtual by default

Re: Quit Social Media (2016)

#210

Post by interludead »

mattgreenrocks wrote: post #124
gilbetron wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Problem is that it is becoming a new reality. You can tune out, but you can't turn it off, and it (and society) will continue without it. And I say this as someone who thinks we should largely turn it off. Society will adapt, which means society is becoming something different.

I don’t buy it. We’re probably past peak social media at this point. And the outer reality will always have a higher status than any of the inner ones.

Hoping for reevaluation
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