I was reading this article earlier today:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/social-media-facebook-twitter-instagram-society-negative-1.4429146
I found it interesting, as its something I've been saying for a long time now about social media and the internet in general, it's a weapon of mass destruction.
No, you don't need to point out the irony of me using the internet to decry it, I'm well aware of it.
Okay, okay...maybe weapon of mass destruction is a little (a lot idiot, says you), dramatic. I've been drinking, celebrating tonight, I just signed my IE25 (guaranteed employment until I'm 58).
However, for all its benefits there are a lot of negative effects. I know that Bill Gates and others, the leaders of the digital revolution are now saying we need to slow the hell down, that we have come too far, too fast.
I think I'm off topic.
Social media.
I agree with the premise of the article. Social media is toxic, it's an echo chamber. It has fundamentally changed the way we relate to our fellow human beings. It has changed the way we consume information and stay informed and not for the better.
Look at what it's done to Generation Y (Millennials) and is doing to Generation Z.
As to the above video, I've done some checking, and the claims Simon Sinek makes are accurate.
I've read the books "The Shallows: What the Internet is doing To Our Brains", and "The Dumbest Generation: Or Don't Trust Anyone Under 30". Yes, they are interesting reads.
Now, I'm not pissing on Millennials, you are what you've been programmed to be, and it's not your fault. The fault is ours. I used to be a High School teacher, and I had to quit. Mainly because I couldn't sell that bullshit message to my students. That you can be anything you want, if you can dream it you can do it, you are all winners. Christ, if I'd stayed in that profession, I'd have put a gun in my mouth a long time ago. I couldn't do it. I viewed it as disrespectful to my students, because I couldn't help prepare them for the cold hard realities of life. I'm sorry that it happened to you.
Shit, off topic again.
Social Media.
It's a bloody echo chamber, using algorithms that produce "information" based on your interests or things you've liked. I can see how anxiety producing it is. I have a friend, really nice person. If you look at her FaceBook, or Instant Gram, or Tumblr (good source for porn, by the way), you'd think she was a rock star. When in fact she's miserable and nearly broke. I've even told her she needs to stop comparing herself to what she sees on her friends social media accounts. No every ones life is all unicorns and rainbows. I worry about her sometimes.
Anyway, that's my two bits.
Discuss.