what is Social Media doing to us?

Bo Burnham (the musician comedian) on the business of social media:

"[Social media firms are] coming for every second of your life...And it's not because anyone is bad, it's not because anybody in this company has evil plans or is trying to do this, they're not even doing it consciously. Their entire model is growth. They’re coming for every second

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We know that what we post and consume on social media feels increasingly empty, and yet we are powerless to stop it. Perhaps if we had better language for the problem, it would be easier to solve. “Content begets content,” Eichhorn writes.

I think a lot about the way visibility is mediated by digital communication. On apps, the only way to be seen is to speak. Silence is a meaningful form of communication, but it’s not one that social media apps have any patience for

Even the guy who invented the infinite scroll later regretted it. These interfaces are not designed to help you—swiping and scrolling are rarely the best ways to do anything. They aren’t designed to solve your problem, but actually aim to prevent closure, and create an illusion that there are still infinite choices available to you.

When I wake up, I am worthless, but if I wake up and make a video on tiktok about the time I farted so much it made the air purifier's Red Alert alarm go on because of how bad the air was, then I am worthwhile.

Worthwhile, but…only for a little while, because there is ever more to do. That's according to philosopher Byung-Chul Hahn, who argues that... See more