07/01/2023
Why is ‘Mr. IT’ back on Facebook all of a sudden?
In 2022, I had reached a point where I was overwhelmed by several negative outcomes which I associated with (and blamed on) social media.
I still question whether it enriches our lives enough to make it worth participating in, but I can also not continue to operate as if I still live is the year 2003. (That was a time before the social media hellscape, as we have come to know it, was conceived.
Even though I have not changed my mind, ‘Mr. IT’ is returning to Facebook, but I remain mindful of the burning issues that can be make worse for doom scrollers, on social media.
I get that you are scrolling away from this post as fast as your thumbs can do so, but here are some of the things we will need to address.
1. Mental Health Issues: Studies have found links between prolonged social media use and conditions like depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and loneliness.
2. Cyberbullying: Social media platforms can be conduits for bullying and harassment, leading to emotional trauma.
3. Misinformation and Fake News: These platforms can rapidly spread false information, leading to widespread confusion, panic, or even harmful behaviours.
4. Data Privacy Concerns: User information can be collected, sold, or mishandled, leading to privacy breaches.
5. Unrealistic Expectations: Seeing highly curated, idealized versions of others' lives can lead to feelings of inadequacy or dissatisfaction with one's own life.
6. Sleep Issues: Overuse, particularly before bed, can disrupt sleep patterns and negatively impact overall health.
7. Addiction: Social media can be addictive, causing users to spend unhealthy amounts of time online, which may neglect face-to-face relationships and real-world activities.
These concise points (above) were conveniently spewed out by ChatGPT, after I asked it to help me remember why social media is so antisocial.
— Norman Atterbury
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