4 ms·

In topics like these on HN, people often compare social media (SM) with tobacco/drugs. I still disagree with this comparison. For one, social media is not inhe

In topics like these on HN, people often compare social media (SM) with tobacco/drugs. I still disagree with this comparison. For one, social media is not inherently bad like smoking/some drugs. The only SM I use currently is Instagram. I spend 30 minutes or less per day and I’m usually happy at the end. In fact I would argue IG made me a better person — I got into fitness, helped me connect with a football club I now play with, etc. In the past I used Facebook a lot and it changed my life — I found jobs and built connection with people I would have never had the opportunity to meet. The majority of my friends have a similar experience. My father (60) who lives in a remote part of the world uses “joy” to express his experience with SM. Secondly, on the topic of social media making people feel insecure about something (like their bodies). Isn’t that everywhere? At the beach? In magazines? On TV? At parties? In school? I’m into fitness and I see people that have better aesthetics than me on SM and IRL. I appreciate their beauty but it doesn’t faze me. Isn’t it common knowledge that someone always have more X than you? And these people are usually the minority? Lastly, influencers react to the market. Anyone who has ever posted content know that wholesome content are usually not engaged on as much as exaggerated/superficial content. If people want less of these, maybe they should vote with their likes & follows? PS: I do realize some part of my comment might not be as practical as simply not using social media at all. But I think we should be teaching people these skills as it applies beyond SM usage.

acatnamedjoe 4y ago
These sorts of responses always come up to these kinds of posts and, with respect, they always seem to come down to: "I don't have any issues with social media so I can't see why anyone else does" But imagine saying to an alcoholic: "I can have a few beers on a Friday night and then stop, and so can the majority of my friends, so I dont see what the problem is."
- elvis10ten 4y ago
  Again, I think this analogy doesn’t work. Firstly, alcohol is inherently bad for you. SM is not. SM to me is more malleable and we can choose to make it what we want. We could apply this to most things from video games to work.
  - ricardobeat 4y ago
    Video games or work do not expose you to ads or recommendation systems, or feeds of your friends living a perfect life. There are no parallels among these, I think you’re trying a bit too hard to go against the current. Its good for you that you have a healthy relationship with social media, but as evidenced by the study in this post and others it does have a negative impact that you can’t wish away.
    - elvis10ten 4y ago
      Will you say people don’t also compare video games to tobacco/drugs? Or people can’t get addicted to working/video games/etc? > Video games or work do not expose you to *ads or recommendation systems* You must be joking? When last did you play free games on your phone? Are even ads or recommendation system unique to SM? > friends living a perfect life This happens anyways is my argument. Although it can be more persistent with SM, I admit. > I think you’re trying a bit too hard to go against the current. My issue is with comments like “SM is like smoking/alcohol/drugs”. Which I don’t think is a correct comparison.
corderop 4y ago
> Secondly, on the topic of social media making people feel insecure about something (like their bodies). Isn’t that everywhere? At the beach? In magazines? On TV? At parties? In school? The thought that I have overcome about this is that SM is different from the examples that you gave. In magazines or TV, you assume that is going to be filled with "non-real" people (esthetic surgeries...), but at the end of the day, you will be surrounded by people like you. At parties, school, or at the beach, yes you can find some perfect people, but the vast majority are going to be just normal people like you. SM is different for that, you are comparing every nuance of you with an adulterated version of normal people (just people like you, not famous people). Personally, SM makes me feel that everybody except me has an ideal life and I know that's not true. I don't like the "social" aspect of social media, I like the "media" part though. I like to follow photographers, use to follow some type of hobby, but not to see people's life. Edit: typo
- elvis10ten 4y ago
  That makes sense. Do you see the general public making a similar shift that most people on SM besides some of my friends are “not real” people? I slightly disagree with the parties, school part. Most people with “great bodies” are most likely the ones with revealing clothes at these places. There are lots of “not real” people there (they are not at a celebrity level but they make sure they are visible). Maybe your experience differs? > I like the "media" part though. I like to follow photographers, use to follow some type of hobby, but not to see people's life. > SM makes me feel that everybody except me has an ideal life and I know that's not true. I’m split between both. I follow some people for the media part; And others for their wholesome content which usually includes part of their lives. The sad part is that these wholesome people sometimes turn into “not real” people. When I started a fitness account, I quickly realized the engagement from people were taking me into being a fake person. Thankfully, I closed that a while ago. But my takeaway from this experience, is that the problem is with people and not SM? (But what do I know :) )

acatnamedjoe 4y ago

These sorts of responses always come up to these kinds of posts and, with respect, they always seem to come down to: "I don't have any issues with social media so I can't see why anyone else does" But imagine saying to an alcoholic: "I can have a few beers on a Friday night and then stop, and so can the majority of my friends, so I dont see what the problem is."

elvis10ten 4y ago
Again, I think this analogy doesn’t work. Firstly, alcohol is inherently bad for you. SM is not. SM to me is more malleable and we can choose to make it what we want. We could apply this to most things from video games to work.
- ricardobeat 4y ago
  Video games or work do not expose you to ads or recommendation systems, or feeds of your friends living a perfect life. There are no parallels among these, I think you’re trying a bit too hard to go against the current. Its good for you that you have a healthy relationship with social media, but as evidenced by the study in this post and others it does have a negative impact that you can’t wish away.
  - elvis10ten 4y ago
    Will you say people don’t also compare video games to tobacco/drugs? Or people can’t get addicted to working/video games/etc? > Video games or work do not expose you to *ads or recommendation systems* You must be joking? When last did you play free games on your phone? Are even ads or recommendation system unique to SM? > friends living a perfect life This happens anyways is my argument. Although it can be more persistent with SM, I admit. > I think you’re trying a bit too hard to go against the current. My issue is with comments like “SM is like smoking/alcohol/drugs”. Which I don’t think is a correct comparison.

corderop 4y ago

> Secondly, on the topic of social media making people feel insecure about something (like their bodies). Isn’t that everywhere? At the beach? In magazines? On TV? At parties? In school? The thought that I have overcome about this is that SM is different from the examples that you gave. In magazines or TV, you assume that is going to be filled with "non-real" people (esthetic surgeries...), but at the end of the day, you will be surrounded by people like you. At parties, school, or at the beach, yes you can find some perfect people, but the vast majority are going to be just normal people like you. SM is different for that, you are comparing every nuance of you with an adulterated version of normal people (just people like you, not famous people). Personally, SM makes me feel that everybody except me has an ideal life and I know that's not true. I don't like the "social" aspect of social media, I like the "media" part though. I like to follow photographers, use to follow some type of hobby, but not to see people's life. Edit: typo

elvis10ten 4y ago
That makes sense. Do you see the general public making a similar shift that most people on SM besides some of my friends are “not real” people? I slightly disagree with the parties, school part. Most people with “great bodies” are most likely the ones with revealing clothes at these places. There are lots of “not real” people there (they are not at a celebrity level but they make sure they are visible). Maybe your experience differs? > I like the "media" part though. I like to follow photographers, use to follow some type of hobby, but not to see people's life. > SM makes me feel that everybody except me has an ideal life and I know that's not true. I’m split between both. I follow some people for the media part; And others for their wholesome content which usually includes part of their lives. The sad part is that these wholesome people sometimes turn into “not real” people. When I started a fitness account, I quickly realized the engagement from people were taking me into being a fake person. Thankfully, I closed that a while ago. But my takeaway from this experience, is that the problem is with people and not SM? (But what do I know :) )