Social media is making us dumb and superficial.
There’s no doubt about it.
Why is that?
People have access to more information than ever before.
So why does this abundance of information seem to make us more superficial, narrow-minded, and negative?
I believe our phones and algorithms are tricksters, leading us to think we control them while, in reality, it’s the other way around.
These technologies, misunderstood by us as tools for communication, effectively run the show.
Our minds are caught in self-reinforcing, dopamine-fueled loops that become increasingly difficult to escape.
The world is more confusing than ever, so it’s simply easier to let the algorithms numb us rather than engage in the battle of our thoughts.
Accepting the values and beliefs fed to us by our phones is much simpler than seeking them out ourselves.
Groupthink is stronger than ever, with content tailored to fit our specific groups and values.
Over time, this leads us to believe our opinions reflect those of the masses, creating an echo chamber.
Occasionally, the algorithms clash these bubbles to generate high engagement, as people argue by attacking and defending their worldviews.
Ultimately, this increased engagement results in everyone spending more time staring at screens, which is the goal of every platform.
Remember, everything in the modern world is optimized to capture and retain your attention.
Our attention has become a commodity and many people no longer decide for themselves what they focus their attention on.
The algorithm simply makes that decision for them, based on its predictions on what type of content will keep your attention on the screen.
It does not necessarily even need be content you like.
Since as you continue to look for the content that you like, you spend more time scrolling.
Social media content, especially reels, is inherently superficial due to its brevity.
This effectively turns our thinking into a chaotic mix of information, often lacking credible sources.
To combat the negative effects of these platforms, start paying attention to where you direct your focus. Be mindful of what your phone is presenting to you.
When you come across content that doesn’t inspire or spark curiosity positively, hit the "do not recommend this" button.
Begin curating your feeds intentionally.
Make the platforms work for you instead of the other way around.
By doing so, your time spent scrolling will be more meaningful, and you can feel slightly better about using your phone.
There are countless amazing and inspiring individuals on social media across every niche.
Don’t doomscroll; start hope-scrolling.