3 ms·

I don't know what the difference is between this and the back-in-the-day children reading too much in fantasy novels and comic books...

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
justinjlynn 7y ago
Same old moral panic, different technology. Still, different technology means potentially different effects. That still doesn't mean it's any less of the same old moral panic. Fortunately, as it always seems in these cases, people are looking into it - for better or worse. Perhaps it's indivisible.
ryandrake 7y ago
When I grew up it was over Dungeons and Dragons. Then it was video games. Now it’s these nebulous “screens” that are supposedly turning kids into... something? The constant is: When kids are interested in things that parents weren’t interested in when they were kids, pearl clutching ensues.
sh-run 7y ago
I'm 28 and spent a lot of my childhood playing video games (N64, GameCube and later Xbox 360) and reading. I still play video games and read as an adult (although much less often due to work and personal obligations). I have also gone through periods where I waste tons of time on social media. Social Media is mostly mindless, it makes me think negative thoughts about my neighbors and friends, it makes me want to go out and spend money on things I don't need and I get caught in this cycle where I feel like I constantly need to check it. Fortunately, I recognize this and its not a problem any more but its a very easy trap to fall into. Books and video games have never made me feel this way.
- Nasrudith 7y ago
  I hate to say it but social media's issues sound like related to other people and sick social dynamics which all too often establish themselves. Keeping up with the Joneses and veblen goods are things which cause people to spend money on things they don't need and lead to negative thoughts about neighbors and friends over them being "too good" and provoking envy oe "not good enough" and provoking scorn.
  - sh-run 7y ago
    I agree. It's just compounded by social media. It could be that I'm affected by this more than other people, but I've spoke with friends and family with similar experiences. Luckily I'm mature enough now to recognize this. I also want to be clear that most of the negative thoughts I have aren't due to people being "too good" or "not good enough". It's due to the things people share. I see lots of anger in my facebook feed, usually related to politics, but not always. It's just a very dramatic place. I don't want to think of what my early teenage years would've been like had social media been more accessible. Don't get me wrong, I would've loved to have access to MySpace from anywhere, but I don't think it would've been healthy and I certainly wasn't mature enough for it.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

justinjlynn 7y ago

Same old moral panic, different technology. Still, different technology means potentially different effects. That still doesn't mean it's any less of the same old moral panic. Fortunately, as it always seems in these cases, people are looking into it - for better or worse. Perhaps it's indivisible.

ryandrake 7y ago

When I grew up it was over Dungeons and Dragons. Then it was video games. Now it’s these nebulous “screens” that are supposedly turning kids into... something? The constant is: When kids are interested in things that parents weren’t interested in when they were kids, pearl clutching ensues.

sh-run 7y ago

I'm 28 and spent a lot of my childhood playing video games (N64, GameCube and later Xbox 360) and reading. I still play video games and read as an adult (although much less often due to work and personal obligations). I have also gone through periods where I waste tons of time on social media. Social Media is mostly mindless, it makes me think negative thoughts about my neighbors and friends, it makes me want to go out and spend money on things I don't need and I get caught in this cycle where I feel like I constantly need to check it. Fortunately, I recognize this and its not a problem any more but its a very easy trap to fall into. Books and video games have never made me feel this way.

Nasrudith 7y ago
I hate to say it but social media's issues sound like related to other people and sick social dynamics which all too often establish themselves. Keeping up with the Joneses and veblen goods are things which cause people to spend money on things they don't need and lead to negative thoughts about neighbors and friends over them being "too good" and provoking envy oe "not good enough" and provoking scorn.
- sh-run 7y ago
  I agree. It's just compounded by social media. It could be that I'm affected by this more than other people, but I've spoke with friends and family with similar experiences. Luckily I'm mature enough now to recognize this. I also want to be clear that most of the negative thoughts I have aren't due to people being "too good" or "not good enough". It's due to the things people share. I see lots of anger in my facebook feed, usually related to politics, but not always. It's just a very dramatic place. I don't want to think of what my early teenage years would've been like had social media been more accessible. Don't get me wrong, I would've loved to have access to MySpace from anywhere, but I don't think it would've been healthy and I certainly wasn't mature enough for it.