There are lots of bullshit studies out there that just don't need to be done, but Meta apparently got a study started that should be done, but when they didn't lie the results, they shut it down. They are blaming the methodology, which might be the case, but they hired Nielsen to do the research, which has been doing it for over a hundred years now and are considered reputable. The findings showed that users who took a week break from Facebook and Instagram
experienced fewer feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and social comparison pressure.
We were on a break!
*No surprises though, are there? I mean, if people don't realise how harmful all of these platforms are to their wellbeing, than they must be bloody idiots. With all the information out there, as well as personal reflection, it is akin to the people who keep smoking knowing that it is severely reducing their quality of life. Most people would call them idiots too.
Yet, there are billions of social media users who are sucked into the algorithms across multiple platforms, spending copious amounts of their awake time scrolling mindlessly through a feed that is tailored to keep them scrolling, whilst offering nothing of value. Yeah, you can say that you find some value in it if you want, but if it isn't spurring you into positive action, it is not changing you for the better. So that means, it is valueless.
While turning over trillions.
Pretty pathetic.
I wonder if there will come a time where we look back at these few decades of history and say, what the fuck were we thinking... but that is unlikely. Because as we do more of it, we think less, and our behaviours change to become less intelligent, less reflective, and requiring more instant gratification. Not many addicts make it out of their addiction, by doing more of what they are addicted to.
Yet, I think it is pretty clear that the current social media platforms, in their current forms are harmful, so why do parents keep pushing their kids onto them? Why aren't parents taking the parental reins and putting a stop to it? Why isn't knowingly putting children in harm's way, not considered child abuse?
Depression, anxiety, loneliness, and social comparison pressure.
As far as I know, it is illegal in most countries to show underage children pornography. And I am guessing that most would frown upon a parent sitting their kids down in front of horror movies, seeing it as a type of abuse. Yet, the same people don't seem to mind kids spending dozens of hours per week scrolling through feeds that encourage depression, anxiety, loneliness and comparison pressure.
And it isn't that these states don't exist without social media, but the platforms create an ecosystem and conditions to nurture the growth of negative personal and social experience. They create a place that supports harm in many ways, even though most of it isn't explicitly saying to be harmed. Instead, it is rather insidious, taking users on a journey of incremental steps into a world that they would never have agreed to had they known the destination, or even the direction.
But now we know.
Yet, every new shitty platform attracts hundreds of millions of users to subject them to new harms, in a more targeted, tailored environment. And parents support their children in this too, despite knowing the dangers, even if they do not understand the platform. Changing the brand of cigarette doesn't make smoking nicotine healthy.
Much like reality television and the million shows that have wannabe, has-been and nobody "stars" on them, I will be glad when social media as we know it today comes to an end and is unsetted. It isn't that it is all bad, but the majority of it is terrible for us. We can take some of the lessons learned and the bits and pieces that might be useful to improve experience, and get rid of the rest. Perhaps then we could return to a state of actually being social, talking with people locally and more directly, rather than broadcasting to millions of strangers in the hope to trigger the advertising mechanisms and go viral.
I am not holding my breath.
People will keep harming themselves, because it is easier than quitting.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
Be part of the Hive discussion.
- Comment on the topics of the article, and add your perspectives and experiences.
- Read and discuss with others who comment and build your personal network
- Engage well with me and others and put in effort
And you may be rewarded.