Social Media Corrupts Human Interactions | Emma Gannon | Part 3 of 6

Summary

The speaker at the Oxford Union debates the negative impacts of social media on human interaction. They discuss the rise of superficial communication practices like 'bread crumbing' and 'ghosting,' the addictive nature of social media causing a dopamine loop, and the resulting breakdown in trust and commitment in relationships. Emphasizing the irony of social media being 'social' while fostering disconnection and dishonesty, the speech calls for a more mindful approach to maintaining genuine human connections.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The speaker acknowledges the positive role social media played in their career but argues against its impact on personal relationships.
• 📱 The concept of 'bread crumbing' is introduced as a lazy form of communication on social media, leading to non-commitment in relationships.
• 👻 Terms like 'ghosting' and 'benching' are highlighted to describe behaviors where individuals disappear or avoid commitment in real life while maintaining online contact.
• 💔 Social media is criticized for making people lazier in maintaining relationships, treating them as disposable as items on sale.
• 🎟️ The 'maybe' button on Facebook events is identified as a symbol of reluctance to commit and a source of social cancellations.
• 🧠 The speaker suggests that the novelty of social media and our lack of experience with it contributes to its addictive nature and negative impacts.
• 💉 The comparison of social media interaction to a dopamine hit, akin to the brain's reward for physical touch or other pleasurable activities, is made to explain our phone addiction.
• 👥 The irony of social media being 'social' is discussed, as it often distracts from real-life social interactions and contributes to isolation.
• 📉 Statistics from studies show a concerning level of phone addiction, including checking phones during intimate moments and a preference for online communication over face-to-face.
• 🌐 The speaker emphasizes the importance of face-to-face communication and the basic human skills it requires, which are being undermined by social media.
• 🤝 The debate centers on how social media corrupts human interaction through addiction and a breakdown in trust, with references to fake news and the impact on relationships.

Q & A

What is the speaker's stance on social media in terms of its impact on relationships?

The speaker is against social media in the context of fostering relationships, arguing that it promotes laziness in communication and non-commitment.

What is 'breadcrumbing' as mentioned in the script?

'Breadcrumbing' refers to a form of communication on social media where someone sends occasional, non-committal messages to maintain contact without intending to meet up or deepen the relationship.

What are the issues with the 'maybe' button on Facebook events according to the speaker?

The 'maybe' button on Facebook events is problematic because it allows people to non-committally express interest in an event, leading to a lack of commitment and potentially more cancellations on friends.

How does the speaker describe the impact of the Internet's infancy on our behavior with social media?

The speaker suggests that because the Internet and social media platforms are relatively new, we are still learning how to interact with them, leading to behaviors such as addiction and a lack of commitment in our relationships.

What neurochemical is associated with the gratification we receive from social media interactions?

Dopamine is the neurochemical associated with the gratification we receive from likes, tweets, and other forms of online validation, which can lead to addiction.

Why does the speaker argue that social media is far from being truly 'social'?

The speaker argues that social media is far from social because it encourages distractions, interrupts real-life social interactions, and promotes a superficial form of communication that lacks depth and commitment.

What statistic did the Harris Interactive study reveal about phone usage during intimate moments?

The Harris Interactive study revealed that 20% of people aged 18 to 34 check their phones during sex, indicating a high level of phone addiction.

What does the speaker suggest about the number of friends we can realistically maintain based on psychological research?

The speaker suggests that, according to psychologist Robin Dunbar, we can realistically maintain about 150 friends, with a core group of about 5 being the most important.

How does the speaker connect the rise of fake news and the demise of experts to the breakdown of trust in relationships?

The speaker connects the rise of fake news and the demise of experts to a breakdown in trust by suggesting that misinformation and the prevalence of online 'gurus' make it harder for people to trust one another.

What does the speaker believe is the role of relationships in our lives, and how should they be maintained?

The speaker believes that relationships should be maintained in a sacred way, as something that requires privacy and effort, rather than being treated as disposable or transactional.

What is the main argument the speaker makes against social media's impact on human interaction?

The main argument the speaker makes is that social media is corrupting human interaction due to its addictive nature and the erosion of trust it fosters.