12 ms·

Educated Germans avoid social media

124 points by phreeza 11y ago

Bud 11y ago
What the story ignores, but the data makes quite clear, is that Germany is already an outlier here, regardless of the level of education. Probably because income is less associated with educational level in a richer, more functional society like Germany. Also notice from the data that the difference between educated and less-educated folks is very slight, in terms of social media engagement.
lucio 11y ago
Maybe social media is seen as a waste of time? While you're reading facebook, you're not producing anything.
- treve 11y ago
  I think it's safe to say that it's not a matter of a recreational activity vs. "producing something". I think it rather has to do with the fact that Germans are very privacy conscious. Facebook (and other American application providers) have a pretty bad rep.
  - kuschku 11y ago
    Indeed. And, additionally, there are also those people who are still stuck on studiVZ.
- rimantas 11y ago
  When I am reading a book I am not producint anything either. Or when listening to music. Or walking. Or…
madez 11y ago
As a german I can tell from experience that in Germany it is much more accepted — and quite often even sympathized with — not to have a facebook account than for example in Spain or Brazil. And it makes me proud, if I’m allowed to add that.
- dgaaaaaaaaaa 11y ago
  Good for you! Is there any reason for this?
- rpgmaker 11y ago
  Personally, I'm just glad that the stigma of not having a facebook account seems to be mostly gone. The looks I got whenever I said I didn't have one ranged from 'what are you hiding?' to 'you must be a serial killer'.
  - madez 11y ago
    Sadly, it is still the same with mobile phones. I regularly experience being stigmatized for not having one. But it seems to be getting better. I already met multiple others who don’t have one, either.
    - wolfgke 11y ago
      Interesting to get to know another person with the same property (I also have no mobile phone and never had any - and the reason is not lack of money or that I'm a luddite). Would you tell me your personal reason(s) why you decided not to have a mobile phone?
      - madez 11y ago
        Even though later than most others in my surrounding, still, I eventually had a mobile phone. I'm very much into technology and science and there is no lack of money for a mobile phone. In fact, I do have a device people call a mobile phone, however, I don't use the cellular network. I don't even have a sim card. It's virtually a PDA. The reason for me to not use the cellular network is threefold. First, I like how one spends more time with the immediate vicinity if there is no way to digitally reach out. Second, I disagree with the widespread collection and storage of connection and location data. I feel nobody has the right to make a social graph of me or track my location. Third, and most important, I want sovereignty about the machines I own. That requires a level of openness in hardware and software which available mobile phones don't have.
zspitzer 11y ago
Do comments on articles count as social media? The German newspaper sites often have very active comment threads
doener 11y ago
Germany has - after Japan - the second oldest population on the planet. Maybe this plays a role here, too as young people almost always use at least some social media - regardless of their level of education.
asfandyaar 11y ago
What about sites like reddit? I don't have any stats, but there seems to be a good representation of Germans.
cup 11y ago
Germany has a unique historical relationship towards domestic spying and intrusion. I wonder if that influences Germans attitudes towards websites that accrue personal data.
orthoganol 11y ago
The main reasons social media is used: a) You have a career that requires some PR management b) You're the type who gets pleasure in showing off (the best image of) yourself to others c) You are bored, and you get a small thrill from the attention Are there any other reasons to be a regular, active participant on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook? I get 'just having one' as a sort of contact directory, but beyond that... Would an educated, independent thinker, someone who really tries to engage and understand the world and has discovered interesting opportunities which they pursue, really have any reason to spend significant time on social media?
- jbhatab 11y ago
  Finding and staying connected with old friends easily. That is a big one.
  - orthoganol 11y ago
    To me that's the contact directory point... I'm also talking about regularly participating as opposed to just having one, the latter being so people can connect with you when they need to.
- galago 11y ago
  I encountered a Mexican kid outside my house (I live in the USA) who was asking me if I knew where there was WiFi. It turns out he was new to the USA and had a cheap Android phone. From our conversation I realized that all of his communication was via FB. Like, he didn't use "email" or "phone" technologies--FB or bust. I actually let him use my WiFi to find his friends. I couldn't tell if he was on vacation or planning to stay...
  - lohengramm 11y ago
    I can add that in Brazil, there is a significant amount of people who can't even Google, however are active on Facebook and WhatsApp.
    - 11y ago
gozur88 11y ago
>Or is it historical? Have well-educated Germans better internalized the lessons of German history under Nazi and communist rule? I don't think there's any need to play amateur psychologist. From what I can tell it's cultural from before the great "isms" of the 20th century. My (German) relatives, who arrived in the US in the 1920s, were less likely to share their business with non-family. That's how they were raised.
thetrb 11y ago
I find the whole premise of this article a bit weird. It starts with "Good news". Why is it automatically good news that educated people use social media less? I'm a German living in the United States and find this part of German society pretty annoying: Being super careful about anything that could potentially encroach on your privacy (for example see the fate of Google Street View in Germany).
- a3n 11y ago
  The good news was the level of education.
  - thetrb 11y ago
    Oh yeah, sorry, I missed the part of the text between the 2 images.
- 2muchcoffeeman 11y ago
  Why is being careful about your privacy annoying?
  - mhurron 11y ago
    How dare they not spew everything in public for all to see.
  - singiht34-02 11y ago
    "(for example see the fate of Google Street View in Germany)" and b/c you can't find everyone easily on facebook
    - 2muchcoffeeman 11y ago
      I am not sure if that answers my question. >I'm a German living in the United States and find this part of German society pretty annoying: Being super careful about anything that could potentially encroach on your privacy In the case of Google Maps, I understand that a non-functional application might be annoying and at least Google makes some effort to blur data. But in my reading of the original post, the poster is annoyed that the German community at large has decided to exercise their rights to privacy.
a3n 11y ago
I wonder if there are better and/or more alternatives to social media in Germany than elsewhere. Maybe they're just too busy with other things, and satisfied, to bother with social media.
paki123 11y ago
I love the bullshit excuses people make for sticking around on social media.
venning 11y ago
This is only a measure of "social media popularity of national offices of either head of state, head of government, or government as a whole" (with respect to national education levels) according to the original report. [1] The report also classifies the social media strategies of various OECD countries, but does not list Germany's. [2, right side] Perhaps the Chancellor's office has other priorities. [1] http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/governance/government-at-a-glance-2015_gov_glance-2015-en#page148 http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/governa... [2] http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/governance/government-at-a-glance-2015_gov_glance-2015-en#page149 http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/governa...
mschuster91 11y ago
Many people I know moved their asses out of Facebook after Snowden. The NSA did really help American companies /s
waspleg 11y ago
Maybe it's because a lot of Germans have already experienced a total surveillance state and what that means for their freedom/well being when the information is turned against them, or, at least, remember the stories from their relatives who did.
- kuschku 11y ago
  Btw, I’ll suggest the movie "Das Leben der Anderen". Even today in German schools the GDR and the Nazi time are some of the most important topics in history class, including us visiting the places, talking to eye witnesses, etc. That leaves quite an impression.
toehead2000 11y ago
Scientific proof that the germans on twitter are retarded!
- kuschku 11y ago
  Interesting idea. Because Felix von Leitner (Fefe) has been arguing the same. Every time he tries to discuss something, he gets long, carefully argued info via email, and completely retarded insults via Twitter.
intopieces 11y ago
Could educated Germans have read enough about the Stasi?
- wolfgke 11y ago
  Or the Gestapo?
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
jmjmjmjm 11y ago
m.facebook.com/rar-Zip-Password-Remover-1691821207770083/?refid=18&ref=notif_textonly&_ft_=qid.6231512607196407597%3Amf_story_key.520448754795279%3Atl_objid.520448754795279
jmjmjmjm 11y ago
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124 points by phreeza 11y ago

Bud 11y ago

What the story ignores, but the data makes quite clear, is that Germany is already an outlier here, regardless of the level of education. Probably because income is less associated with educational level in a richer, more functional society like Germany. Also notice from the data that the difference between educated and less-educated folks is very slight, in terms of social media engagement.

lucio 11y ago

Maybe social media is seen as a waste of time? While you're reading facebook, you're not producing anything.

treve 11y ago
I think it's safe to say that it's not a matter of a recreational activity vs. "producing something". I think it rather has to do with the fact that Germans are very privacy conscious. Facebook (and other American application providers) have a pretty bad rep.
- kuschku 11y ago
  Indeed. And, additionally, there are also those people who are still stuck on studiVZ.
rimantas 11y ago
When I am reading a book I am not producint anything either. Or when listening to music. Or walking. Or…

madez 11y ago

As a german I can tell from experience that in Germany it is much more accepted — and quite often even sympathized with — not to have a facebook account than for example in Spain or Brazil. And it makes me proud, if I’m allowed to add that.

dgaaaaaaaaaa 11y ago
Good for you! Is there any reason for this?
rpgmaker 11y ago
Personally, I'm just glad that the stigma of not having a facebook account seems to be mostly gone. The looks I got whenever I said I didn't have one ranged from 'what are you hiding?' to 'you must be a serial killer'.
- madez 11y ago
  Sadly, it is still the same with mobile phones. I regularly experience being stigmatized for not having one. But it seems to be getting better. I already met multiple others who don’t have one, either.
  - wolfgke 11y ago
    Interesting to get to know another person with the same property (I also have no mobile phone and never had any - and the reason is not lack of money or that I'm a luddite). Would you tell me your personal reason(s) why you decided not to have a mobile phone?
    - madez 11y ago
      Even though later than most others in my surrounding, still, I eventually had a mobile phone. I'm very much into technology and science and there is no lack of money for a mobile phone. In fact, I do have a device people call a mobile phone, however, I don't use the cellular network. I don't even have a sim card. It's virtually a PDA. The reason for me to not use the cellular network is threefold. First, I like how one spends more time with the immediate vicinity if there is no way to digitally reach out. Second, I disagree with the widespread collection and storage of connection and location data. I feel nobody has the right to make a social graph of me or track my location. Third, and most important, I want sovereignty about the machines I own. That requires a level of openness in hardware and software which available mobile phones don't have.

zspitzer 11y ago

Do comments on articles count as social media? The German newspaper sites often have very active comment threads

doener 11y ago

Germany has - after Japan - the second oldest population on the planet. Maybe this plays a role here, too as young people almost always use at least some social media - regardless of their level of education.

asfandyaar 11y ago

What about sites like reddit? I don't have any stats, but there seems to be a good representation of Germans.

cup 11y ago

Germany has a unique historical relationship towards domestic spying and intrusion. I wonder if that influences Germans attitudes towards websites that accrue personal data.

orthoganol 11y ago

The main reasons social media is used: a) You have a career that requires some PR management b) You're the type who gets pleasure in showing off (the best image of) yourself to others c) You are bored, and you get a small thrill from the attention Are there any other reasons to be a regular, active participant on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook? I get 'just having one' as a sort of contact directory, but beyond that... Would an educated, independent thinker, someone who really tries to engage and understand the world and has discovered interesting opportunities which they pursue, really have any reason to spend significant time on social media?

jbhatab 11y ago
Finding and staying connected with old friends easily. That is a big one.
- orthoganol 11y ago
  To me that's the contact directory point... I'm also talking about regularly participating as opposed to just having one, the latter being so people can connect with you when they need to.
galago 11y ago
I encountered a Mexican kid outside my house (I live in the USA) who was asking me if I knew where there was WiFi. It turns out he was new to the USA and had a cheap Android phone. From our conversation I realized that all of his communication was via FB. Like, he didn't use "email" or "phone" technologies--FB or bust. I actually let him use my WiFi to find his friends. I couldn't tell if he was on vacation or planning to stay...
- lohengramm 11y ago
  I can add that in Brazil, there is a significant amount of people who can't even Google, however are active on Facebook and WhatsApp.
  - 11y ago

gozur88 11y ago

>Or is it historical? Have well-educated Germans better internalized the lessons of German history under Nazi and communist rule? I don't think there's any need to play amateur psychologist. From what I can tell it's cultural from before the great "isms" of the 20th century. My (German) relatives, who arrived in the US in the 1920s, were less likely to share their business with non-family. That's how they were raised.

thetrb 11y ago

I find the whole premise of this article a bit weird. It starts with "Good news". Why is it automatically good news that educated people use social media less? I'm a German living in the United States and find this part of German society pretty annoying: Being super careful about anything that could potentially encroach on your privacy (for example see the fate of Google Street View in Germany).

a3n 11y ago
The good news was the level of education.
- thetrb 11y ago
  Oh yeah, sorry, I missed the part of the text between the 2 images.
2muchcoffeeman 11y ago
Why is being careful about your privacy annoying?
- mhurron 11y ago
  How dare they not spew everything in public for all to see.
- singiht34-02 11y ago
  "(for example see the fate of Google Street View in Germany)" and b/c you can't find everyone easily on facebook
  - 2muchcoffeeman 11y ago
    I am not sure if that answers my question. >I'm a German living in the United States and find this part of German society pretty annoying: Being super careful about anything that could potentially encroach on your privacy In the case of Google Maps, I understand that a non-functional application might be annoying and at least Google makes some effort to blur data. But in my reading of the original post, the poster is annoyed that the German community at large has decided to exercise their rights to privacy.

a3n 11y ago

I wonder if there are better and/or more alternatives to social media in Germany than elsewhere. Maybe they're just too busy with other things, and satisfied, to bother with social media.

paki123 11y ago

I love the bullshit excuses people make for sticking around on social media.

venning 11y ago

This is only a measure of "social media popularity of national offices of either head of state, head of government, or government as a whole" (with respect to national education levels) according to the original report. [1] The report also classifies the social media strategies of various OECD countries, but does not list Germany's. [2, right side] Perhaps the Chancellor's office has other priorities. [1] http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/governance/government-at-a-glance-2015_gov_glance-2015-en#page148 http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/governa... [2] http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/governance/government-at-a-glance-2015_gov_glance-2015-en#page149 http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/governa...

mschuster91 11y ago

Many people I know moved their asses out of Facebook after Snowden. The NSA did really help American companies /s

waspleg 11y ago

Maybe it's because a lot of Germans have already experienced a total surveillance state and what that means for their freedom/well being when the information is turned against them, or, at least, remember the stories from their relatives who did.

kuschku 11y ago
Btw, I’ll suggest the movie "Das Leben der Anderen". Even today in German schools the GDR and the Nazi time are some of the most important topics in history class, including us visiting the places, talking to eye witnesses, etc. That leaves quite an impression.

toehead2000 11y ago

Scientific proof that the germans on twitter are retarded!

kuschku 11y ago
Interesting idea. Because Felix von Leitner (Fefe) has been arguing the same. Every time he tries to discuss something, he gets long, carefully argued info via email, and completely retarded insults via Twitter.

intopieces 11y ago

Could educated Germans have read enough about the Stasi?

wolfgke 11y ago
Or the Gestapo?

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

jmjmjmjm 11y ago

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jmjmjmjm 11y ago

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