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I don't think you need a smartphone and social media to do any of the above listed tasks. The author's qualm isn't with having an online presence, or being tapp
by jc_811 6y ago
I don't think you need a smartphone and social media to do any of the above listed tasks. The author's qualm isn't with having an online presence, or being tapped into modern society, it's having that modern society constantly tapping you on the shoulder with a bombardment of notifications and algorithms designed specifically to get you hooked.
I think you can easily travel, have a wide network of far flung friends, be involved in niche hobbies, look for a new job, and keep up with modern trends & cultures - all without a smart phone and social media. If you have a laptop & internet connection - you're good to go! This allows you to tap in when you want on your own terms instead of the other way around.
- standardUser 6y agoI found a great website recently by a man who collects crayons. A niche activity if there ever was one. Want to be part of that community? It exists only on Facebook. I moved abroad a couple years ago and needed a way to get involved with the local ex-pat community. One guess where all of their organizing and communicating was done. Want to bootstrap a home business, like so many mask-makers have done during the pandemic? How do you get your initial traction without friends and family on the social media networks? If people want to opt out of the modern world that's fine, but let's not pretend they aren't missing out.
- Nextgrid 6y agoEven more reasons why anti-trust action against social media monopolies and laws like the GDPR are important. You might not be able to "beat" Facebook, but at least regulation will tone down its scumminess and make it slightly more tolerable.
- nicbou 6y agoYou could argue that without a free, simple platform and its audience, such websites wouldn't exist in such large numbers. Not everyone has the patience to run a website.