I am curious regarding you saying you hate social media (an utterly valid view). Do you hate the function of it or the purpose? Do you think we'd be better without it? (I am unsure of the answer to that, honestly, I think I'd just like an opinion).

I am painfully aware that my current privileged career would be impossible without Social media but nonetheless, the origins of social media are not benign and it’s development has continued in the same vein exacerbated by the silicon bubble.

I hate it because market pressures mean the only real way to function is to trigger addictive behaviours for profit and political gain via nudging.

I hate how poorly it has been regulated and how damaging it has allowed to become to children.

I hate how constantly it has been used as a tool by the vindictive to erode the independent critical reasoning ability of people.

I hate that it has effectively co-opted the concept of digital society/ communication in such a way that children are being lead to believe they need it/ there is no other way.

The brutal truth is that there is a “tragedy of the commons” at play when it comes to mass attention. There is enough to go around but because everyone is afraid they won’t get their share they grab for it and then you are left to either do the same or go without due to the competitive disadvantage.

And worst of all, history is repeating itself with A.I. It doesn’t need to be malevolent but unfortunately I have come to the personal conclusion that it inevitably will be because the cultural mechanics behind technological development are largely unchanged i.e. “We’ll figure out how and then figure the rest out later”

Sorry for the downer but you did ask.