How did social media become anti social media....

[Blansky]

I read this link today about a new book and I found it thoughtful and interesting.

As one who bailed out of social media and Facebook a number of years ago and never bothered to join Twitter or any of the other iterations I sort of consider myself superior and lucky at the same time.

Like most addictions, I never partake. Alcohol, a couple of drinks is fine for me, cocaine, saw a few crack addicts and decided against it. Meth, I like my teeth, so no. And social media and in fact media in general, is designed by people far smarter than me to be addictive so I decided not to play the game.

It's mainly designed to tweak 2 of our 3 most tweakable buttons. (Namely, fear, anger, and sex). Nothing sexy about it, in fact I have a theory that people who aren't getting any sex, are probably the ones most susceptible to being tweaked in the fear and anger department.

One has to wonder what affect it has on the minds of people/kids who have never been in a world without social media.

For those on this site who say no to social media for whatever reasons can all probably attest that even on a forum site like TRF, it's very easy to get into trouble for various tribal and political reasons. Nobody is really immune.

Facebook and its ilk may end up being the most destructive force ever perpetrated on the world and we are just now seeing it's power and wonder how it can be controlled.

How can humans exist in a world without truth being a prerequisite to life and decision making. It's the basic foundation of civilization.

So here is the article: https://www.bookforum.com/print/2703...ign=pockethits

[kieselguhr]

I broke off social media to avoid relationship drama in college/university. Realizing that it’s a marketing tool solidified my decision to stay away. Even if we ignore the marketing aspect, social media realistically comes down to maintaining a persona. It’s a lot less work to just be real.

The book is available on audible if anyone has tokens for it. Although if you already stay away from social media to begin with, certain concepts may just be missed

[Burlington]

Yes indeed !

TRF is the only social media I partake in.

[THC]

Ibtl

[FTX I]

I don't know. This is the only one I have.

[superdog]

People got involved.

[mountainjogger]

Originally Posted by Burlington

Yes indeed !

TRF is the only social media I partake in.

Same here.

Stay safe.

[Cru Jones]

It’s not the fault of “social media”....

[Al1969]

Been calling it “anti social” media for years. The only social media I frequent/use is TRF.

[shaunylw]

I’ve been off it for a while, Facebook for at least 10 years and Instagram for a few years. I just got tired of the fake it till you make it stuff. In general if i don’t take the time to call or text someone on occasion, i generally don’t care what they are doing. I miss Instagram for the watch stuff i followed but I’m much happier not being on any social platforms. I’m on LinkedIn, which used to be professional and is now turning into an odd social network. I am constantly shocked by what some people will post to their professional network.


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[BreguetRolex]

I sure have no issue with it at all and I am more physically and mentally fit then I have ever been with or without it.. Whats the big deal..? If you have issues with it, then just drop it like a $40.00 coal chisel.....You need tough skin and a strong upper lip for sure ..:) I actually get the biggest thrill out of the whole thing and helps pass the time away with all this doom and gloom cast upon us from everywhere... ROCK on Folks even if your not riding 250 to 300 miles a week on a road bike..:)

[RyanJ]

There is nothing wrong with Social Media. For every invention/innovation there will always be ways to use it positively and ways to use it negatively.

People blame the internet for many things but the world would no longer work without the networks built to support it.

What happens is social media and things like that show you the true character of people. People are the problem, not the technology.

[AK797]

The problem is SM is a free platform for people to make no-consequence comments to anyone and even if you get ten nice comments the one nasty comment you get will sadly be the one that has most effect, it is just the way most humans are wired. Same with money, if you make a grand on a bet or stock you feel good but then if you lose that amount another time you feel far worse, I calculated I needed to make three times what I lost just to feel even overall, so stocks and betting etc become a negative game emotionally even if you are good at it and make it highly profitable.

[GradyPhilpott]

Social media (or fill in the blank) is only a tool and like most tools, it can also be used as a weapon.

[Lawlex]

i will only use Social media particularly Instagram as a marketer, but decided never use it as a consumer about one year ago.

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[Blansky]

Originally Posted by BreguetRolex

I sure have no issue with it at all and I am more physically and mentally fit then I have ever been with or without it.. Whats the big deal..? If you have issues with it, then just drop it like a $40.00 coal chisel.....You need tough skin and a strong upper lip for sure ..:) I actually get the biggest thrill out of the whole thing and helps pass the time away with all this doom and gloom cast upon us from everywhere... ROCK on Folks even if your not riding 250 to 300 miles a week on a road bike..:)

A great attitude but I would argue with that theory, that just because you’re not on it or partake of it, or follow it, that it doesn’t affect you.

I think it’s sort of the Neville Chamberlain theory. Ignore it and it’ll go away.

A dangerous prospect in my opinion. 45% of Americans get their news from Facebook.

[Old Expat Beast]

Having lived abroad for the last 33 years, I just use FB to keep in touch (often very loosely) or reconnect with old friends and family around the world, and with many of whom I would probably lose touch completely without it. So for me it's a good thing.

[swils8610]

I loathe any social media. I have no social media at all.


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[airchitect]

My wife’s on that garbage. I despise it. I’m on LinkedIn but question its value constantly. The political, religious, and self-absorbed post by 20yo “CEOs” wear me out.

[Watch Rob]

TRF is social media.

[sgwatchguy]

Originally Posted by airchitect

My wife’s on that garbage. I despise it. I’m on LinkedIn but question its value constantly. The political, religious, and self-absorbed post by 20yo “CEOs” wear me out.

Unfortunately LinkedIn has seen an influx of the FB and IG crowd and the same enormous amounts of garbage being generated.

Here’s what I did - unfollowed and removed >1,500 connections. Only retained the most high quality connections.

Next, I made “follow” primary meaning when people want to connect, they get to follow me instead of creating a connection. That way they see my feed, I don’t see theirs.

Finally, I decline more connections now vs previously being open to all. Quality trumps quantity.

All this has reduced the stress of being on LinkedIn. Thought this may be useful to you

[swils8610]

Originally Posted by Watch Rob

TRF is social media.

You are correct sir! I was referring to FB, Instagram, Twitter and Snap. TRF is the only social media I use.


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[joli160]

I stay away from it, lot of poison on these platforms.

TRF is the only place for me .

[topgear]

Passive Facebook and Instagram user.

I scroll Facebook for actual news and current affairs. Occasionally I get to see a glimpse of carefully curated posting of what some of my acquaintances want me to see.

Those friends in my inner circle, I meet, talk and text (WhatsApp) them whenever.

[DonRickles]

Yep, give me an old Bulletin Newspaper, or a TV Guide, or maybe even a Playboy mag, any day over a Tweet!

"multiple studies have found a strong link between heavy social media and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and even suicidal thoughts. Social media may promote negative experiences such as: Inadequacy about your life or appearance.".........../

[THC]

I was wrong it appears and glad to admit it.. well done folks

[MrGoat]

Social media has just given idiots a platform to gain more idiots for their cause, quickly. Thankfully we have rules here that somewhat govern most of the ignorance out. TRF is the only social media I use. My life is much better for it. I have noticed in the last few months more people suggesting they plan on leaving social media.


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[77T]

Trolls and Idiots, as well as state-sponsored bots, have fiddled with FB, Twitter and the rest of SM platforms enough to make it difficult to treat anything there as a reliable source of information. We sometimes see this even on TRF as the Mods can attest.

However, for keeping current with family and friends, it serves a useful purpose - the controls are there to block much of the content ones wishes to avoid.

It’s just another tool that can be abused. We are the finders of value by using our skills judiciously.




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[J!m]

I prefer “socialist media” and I use one of them, but no others.

I have far more following me than I follow. Mostly people I’ve known since before the turn of the century.

[AzPaul]

Never have understood all the grousing about facebook. If there is someone in your feed, your 'friend', as it were, who posts things you simply can't bear to see, whatever the reason, you don't have to keep seeing it. Two easy clicks and their particular brand of nonsense is gone. And if a time comes when you might want to undo it, that's nearly as easy.

In the end, I suspect the real reason facebook gets under the skin of so many, is that art of trying to see things through the eyes of another, is a dying one. Instead of trying to learn something from opposing viewpoints, maybe look at something from a perspective different from the one your own life experience has offered, many seem to take them as personal insults and even see them as some sort of a threat.

To my eyes, it's these rigid personal orthodoxies that are the real threat to our culture, not the bulletin board where things we may not like seeing, get posted.