Social Media Is the New Smoking

I remember one vacation which was the first after many years: I was lying at the beach enjoying the view. I was so happy that I could afford some vacation after years of suffering and watching millions of vaction pictures from my friends on Facebook.

Avid for revenge, I took a picture of the stunning beach view and wrote in big letters 'MY LIFE IS BETTER THAN YOURS'. At that moment I realized what Facebook is about (without posting anything).

Re: Social Media Is the New Smoking

#5

Post by grenoire » Tue, Jul 25, 2017, 8:24 PM UTC

watertorock wrote: post #2

Toxic and popular with no benefit?

No benefit and no net benefit are two different things. Even still, it's relative.

Re: Social Media Is the New Smoking

#6

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Jul 25, 2017, 8:25 PM UTC

watertorock wrote: post #2

Toxic and popular with no benefit?

[deleted]

Re: Social Media Is the New Smoking

#7

Post by Stanleyc23 » Tue, Jul 25, 2017, 8:26 PM UTC

chayesfss wrote: post #3

sitting is the new smoking, social media is the new smoking, sugar is the new smoking...

...vaping is the new smoking?

Re: Social Media Is the New Smoking

#8

Post by goalieca » Tue, Jul 25, 2017, 8:27 PM UTC

Smoking causes self-harm through use. But do cigarette companies build a giant FBI file on you in order to sell it for profit to others? others who believe Information is power and want to manipulate you for political and economic success?

As you can tell, I'm on the cynical side of things. It hurts my social life no doubt. Perhaps this is similar to being a non-smoker in the 40s. Hell, I bet that I'm a victim of second hand social media.

Re: Social Media Is the New Smoking

#9

Post by dawhizkid » Tue, Jul 25, 2017, 8:29 PM UTC

I'm so, so glad I grew up in a world without social media (with the exception of maybe Myspace blowing up when I was in HS).

I can't imagine that growing up with an iPhone and access to FB/IG/Snap from elementary school onward is a healthy experience for kids from a mental health/social anxiety POV. I guess only time will tell.

I'd also imagine being a teacher these days would suck because of phones. I don't know how schools manage that these days.

Re: Social Media Is the New Smoking

#10

Post by oliv__ » Tue, Jul 25, 2017, 8:29 PM UTC

> "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 looked at the same as the guy smoking next to them.

There's no doubt that our natural inclination to socialize is being used and twisted through these slot-machine social networks, but if you're going to wish for something, wish for better social networks, or better education to help people control themselves, just not for humans to stop being social.