4 ms·

Of course people are more axious now. It's by-design and shows the media and advertising efforts of the last decades are working. Anxious people are more likely

Of course people are more axious now. It's by-design and shows the media and advertising efforts of the last decades are working. Anxious people are more likely to over-consume (a clear example, stress-eating) and are more likely to 'stay tuned in'. If you want to reduce your anxiety, withdrawal from media (in both senses) for a month and see how you feel.

mc32 9y ago
If for the sake of argument we presume the postulate true and we envision a better informed future could a company such as Google (or others) be obliged to a point where past a certain threshold social media and media in general adjust one's exposure to counteract people's unhealthy impulses? For example, if (Google) knows you are living beyond your means then ads targeted change in aspect from aspirational to more basic needs and the news and social media surfaced to you modify so that you feel less stressed and less out of a loop till the time you have more disposable income? (just a thought experiment)
- paulddraper 9y ago
  Once we all agree on the acceptable level of unhealthy impulses, we can do that
- vibrolax 9y ago
  Well, ads for casinos and alcohol (in New York USA at least) come with fine print at the bottom encouraging responsible use and/or how to get help for problem gambling.
- coldtea 9y ago
  >Could a company such as Google (or others) be obliged to a point where past a certain threshold social media and media in general adjust one's exposure to counteract people's unhealthy impulses? Only if people strongly demand it. It wont come from politicians who those companies have in their pockets...
- Programmatic 9y ago
  Perhaps I am cynical, but what's the profit motive for Google? They're much more financially motivated to be complicit and find vulnerable people to advertise to, if not create vulnerability, assuming that there won't be backlash against them in particular.
  - mc32 9y ago
    If Google is about cataloging the world's information and making a profit via advertising, then it might be in their interest to have healthier consumers over anxious and perhaps sick (mentally vulnerable) consumers. For example, they might prefer making a dollar in revenue selling a pair of eyeglasses over selling a bottle of night train. In a symbiotic relationship it's in your interest for both entities to remain healthy. In the alternative scenario, ultimately it ends in selling a casket, however presumably there is more money to be made in a healthy and happy customer.
    - maxxxxx 9y ago
      I think the general trend in business is to squeeze out as much from a customer now and worry about consequences later. I doubt this will work and it's probably not desirable to have some giant company determine what's good for people. Especially one that lives off advertising.
      - gaius 9y ago
        I think the general trend in business is to squeeze out as much from a customer now and worry about consequences later No large company can see further ahead than the next quarterly earnings report.
        mc32 9y ago
        True for companies in commodities but not all companies (ex. AMZ, GOOG, MSFT --they take longer views) and then you have state underwritten companies, or reporting regimes are different (CN, JP, etc.)
- chickenfries 9y ago
  Yes, a perfect, benevolent, god-like corporation would do something like this. What is the point in pretending something like that could ever exist?
  - wutbrodo 9y ago
    Self-regulation does exist, and not because of perfect benevolence. It's usually for fear of actual legal regulation (which is scarier because it's less under their control).
zzzeek 9y ago
> Anxious people are more likely to over-consume Do you have a source for that ? (Eg empirical study)? > are more likely to 'stay tuned in'. Same?
DamnInteresting 9y ago
Media and advertising may result in increased anxiety, but it's a bit conspiratorial to imply that its a concerted effort with anxiety as the goal. I feel like it's more of a perverse incentive.[1] In media (in the news in particular), stressful stories get more attention, so they are reported more aggressively. In advertising, companies can sell more of their product if they can make you feel insecure, and then sell you the purported remedy. When it's difficult to feel calm and self-assured, it's easy to feel anxious. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perverse_incentive https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perverse_incentive
aisofteng 9y ago
Better way to reduce anxiety and stress: grow the fuck up and stop leading an existence so weak that hearing something you don't like throws you into a fit.

mc32 9y ago

If for the sake of argument we presume the postulate true and we envision a better informed future could a company such as Google (or others) be obliged to a point where past a certain threshold social media and media in general adjust one's exposure to counteract people's unhealthy impulses? For example, if (Google) knows you are living beyond your means then ads targeted change in aspect from aspirational to more basic needs and the news and social media surfaced to you modify so that you feel less stressed and less out of a loop till the time you have more disposable income? (just a thought experiment)

paulddraper 9y ago
Once we all agree on the acceptable level of unhealthy impulses, we can do that
vibrolax 9y ago
Well, ads for casinos and alcohol (in New York USA at least) come with fine print at the bottom encouraging responsible use and/or how to get help for problem gambling.
coldtea 9y ago
>Could a company such as Google (or others) be obliged to a point where past a certain threshold social media and media in general adjust one's exposure to counteract people's unhealthy impulses? Only if people strongly demand it. It wont come from politicians who those companies have in their pockets...
Programmatic 9y ago
Perhaps I am cynical, but what's the profit motive for Google? They're much more financially motivated to be complicit and find vulnerable people to advertise to, if not create vulnerability, assuming that there won't be backlash against them in particular.
- mc32 9y ago
  If Google is about cataloging the world's information and making a profit via advertising, then it might be in their interest to have healthier consumers over anxious and perhaps sick (mentally vulnerable) consumers. For example, they might prefer making a dollar in revenue selling a pair of eyeglasses over selling a bottle of night train. In a symbiotic relationship it's in your interest for both entities to remain healthy. In the alternative scenario, ultimately it ends in selling a casket, however presumably there is more money to be made in a healthy and happy customer.
  - maxxxxx 9y ago
    I think the general trend in business is to squeeze out as much from a customer now and worry about consequences later. I doubt this will work and it's probably not desirable to have some giant company determine what's good for people. Especially one that lives off advertising.
    - gaius 9y ago
      I think the general trend in business is to squeeze out as much from a customer now and worry about consequences later No large company can see further ahead than the next quarterly earnings report.
      - mc32 9y ago
        True for companies in commodities but not all companies (ex. AMZ, GOOG, MSFT --they take longer views) and then you have state underwritten companies, or reporting regimes are different (CN, JP, etc.)
chickenfries 9y ago
Yes, a perfect, benevolent, god-like corporation would do something like this. What is the point in pretending something like that could ever exist?
- wutbrodo 9y ago
  Self-regulation does exist, and not because of perfect benevolence. It's usually for fear of actual legal regulation (which is scarier because it's less under their control).

zzzeek 9y ago

> Anxious people are more likely to over-consume Do you have a source for that ? (Eg empirical study)? > are more likely to 'stay tuned in'. Same?

DamnInteresting 9y ago

Media and advertising may result in increased anxiety, but it's a bit conspiratorial to imply that its a concerted effort with anxiety as the goal. I feel like it's more of a perverse incentive.[1] In media (in the news in particular), stressful stories get more attention, so they are reported more aggressively. In advertising, companies can sell more of their product if they can make you feel insecure, and then sell you the purported remedy. When it's difficult to feel calm and self-assured, it's easy to feel anxious. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perverse_incentive https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perverse_incentive

aisofteng 9y ago

Better way to reduce anxiety and stress: grow the fuck up and stop leading an existence so weak that hearing something you don't like throws you into a fit.