Stop Trying to Quit Social Media | Max Reisinger | TEDxRutgersCamden

Summary

The speaker discusses the impact of social media on society, particularly the negative effects of excessive screen time and the spread of clickbait content. They argue that the problem lies not with social media itself, but with the quality of content being consumed. Drawing parallels with the importance of a healthy diet, they propose that high-quality, meaningful art on platforms like YouTube can provide a more satisfying and less addictive alternative. By promoting 'YouTube New Wave' content that tells stories and adds value, they believe we can counteract the desensitization caused by a constant stream of low-quality information. The speaker calls for guidelines and a greater awareness of our media consumption habits, similar to how we approach our diet, to improve our mental health and foster a more empathetic and connected society.

Takeaways

• 📱 The average screen time for 14-year-olds is seven hours a day, which is linked to changes in the brain related to emotional processing and decision making.
• 🎨 The speaker believes that creating and sharing art on social media can be a solution to the negative effects of internet addiction and social media consumption.
• 🍽️ An analogy is made between the importance of a healthy diet and the need for a 'social media diet' to consume more meaningful content.
• 📉 The internet has led to a desensitization to shocking news and a rapid oscillation between optimism and nihilism, described as a meta-modernistic state.
• 🌐 Social media has the potential to increase empathy, connection, and reduce bias when used to share meaningful stories and art.
• 👵 The speaker's grandmother's experience with Facebook highlights the stark contrast between serious news and trivial content often found on social media feeds.
• 📉 The consumption of information has increased exponentially, leading to overstimulation and desensitization.
• 🧠 There's a lack of guidelines for healthy social media consumption, similar to dietary recommendations, which leaves individuals without direction on navigating online content.
• 🌱 The idea of 'metaphorical veggies for the mind' suggests that consuming online art could be as beneficial for mental health as eating vegetables is for physical health.
• 📚 The importance of regulating and being aware of what and how much we consume on social media is emphasized, drawing parallels to food industry regulations.
• 📈 The speaker is optimistic about the future of social media, with the hope for more guidelines and protections, and encourages choosing art when engaging with online content.

Q & A

What is the main concern discussed in the conversation about social media?

The main concern discussed is the negative effects of social media on people, particularly its potential contribution to internet addiction and structural and functional changes in the brain associated with emotional processing, executive attention, and decision making.

What percentage of 14-year-olds own a phone according to the research mentioned?

According to the research mentioned, 91 percent of 14-year-olds own a phone.

What is the average screen time per day that is linked to internet addiction?

The average screen time per day that is linked to internet addiction is seven hours.

How does the speaker believe they are not contributing to the problem despite working in social media?

The speaker believes they are not contributing to the problem because they think creating and publishing art on social media can be part of the solution to offsetting the negative effects of social media.

What is the YouTube New Wave movement?

The YouTube New Wave movement is a reaction against clickbait content that dominates most feeds today, pushing for more meaningful content that tells stories instead of begging for attention.

Why does the speaker use the analogy of a nice meal to explain the impact of good art on the brain?

The speaker uses the analogy of a nice meal because, just as a satisfying meal leaves one feeling full and content, consuming good art or an indie movie leaves them feeling satisfied and less compelled to mindlessly scroll through social media.

What is the speaker's view on the role of art in the context of social media?

The speaker views art as a vehicle to share stories and emotions that transcend time and bring people together. They believe that art on social media can increase levels of oxytocin, sparking empathy, connection, and reducing bias, thus helping people understand different perspectives.

What is the 'meta-modernistic state' of society described in the script?

The 'meta-modernistic state' is described as an extreme oscillation between optimism and nihilism about the world around us at a very rapid pace, reflecting the emotional whiplash that people experience due to the constant stream of information from the internet.

Why does the speaker believe that emotional desensitization is occurring as a defense mechanism?

The speaker believes that emotional desensitization is occurring as a defense mechanism against the hyper-consumption of media, particularly violent news, which can lead to symptoms similar to PTSD.

What is the comparison made between the consumption of food and media in the script?

The comparison made is that just as there are guidelines and recommendations for a healthy diet, there should be similar guidelines for the consumption of media. The speaker questions why there isn't a 'social media pyramid' or diet to help navigate the complex landscape of online content.

What solution does the speaker propose to the issue of negative content consumption on social media?

The speaker proposes that consciously filling our 'e-diets' with meaningful art can improve mental health, foster connection, and make us feel more human. They suggest that art can be the 'metaphorical veggies for the mind' and encourage a shift in what we consume on social media.

What is the speaker's optimism regarding the future?

The speaker is optimistic that over time, there will be more guidelines, regulations, and protections to help navigate the consumption of online content, similar to how there are for food consumption.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The Impact of Social Media and Art as a Solution

The speaker discusses a conversation with a friend about the negative effects of social media, particularly on younger audiences. They explore the idea that despite their job involving publishing content on YouTube, they believe they are not contributing to the problem. Instead, they argue that creating and sharing meaningful art on social media can help counteract the negative impacts of mindless scrolling and clickbait. The speaker introduces the 'YouTube New Wave' movement, which advocates for more substantive content that tells stories. They use the analogy of a satisfying meal to explain how consuming quality content can leave one feeling fulfilled, without the need for further mindless consumption. The discussion also touches on the lack of guidelines for social media consumption, similar to dietary recommendations, and the importance of changing our relationship with our devices rather than abstaining from them completely.

05:01

🌐 Emotional Desensitization in the Digital Age

The narrative delves into the emotional toll that constant exposure to information via the internet has on individuals. It draws a parallel between the consumption of food and media, noting that while there are established nutritional guidelines, there are no equivalent directives for media consumption. The speaker expresses concern over the lack of infrastructure to navigate the internet safely and the potential emotional desensitization that results from hyper-consumption of media. They discuss the concept of 'meta-modernism,' a state of rapid fluctuation between optimism and despair about the world, which is reflected in our reactions to online content. Art is presented as a potential remedy, capable of fostering empathy and connection, and the speaker questions why there isn't more emphasis on consuming beneficial online content, much like the emphasis on eating vegetables for a healthy diet.

10:03

🎨 Art as a Nutrient for the Mind

The speaker champions art in its various forms as a source of meaning and enrichment in our lives, accessible through platforms like YouTube. They emphasize the role of art in fostering empathy, connection, and understanding of different perspectives. The analogy of a healthy diet is extended to our consumption of digital content, suggesting that just as we need a balanced diet for physical health, we also require a balanced 'e-diet' for our mental well-being. The speaker calls for more guidelines and regulations to help individuals navigate the digital landscape and make informed choices about the content they consume. They conclude with an optimistic outlook for the future, where art can play a significant role in improving our collective mental health and sense of humanity.

Keywords

💡Social Media

Social Media refers to digital platforms that allow users to create and share content or participate in social networking. In the video, it is discussed as a potential contributor to negative effects such as internet addiction and emotional desensitization, but also as a platform for sharing meaningful content and art.

💡Internet Addiction

Internet Addiction is a condition characterized by excessive or poorly controlled preoccupations, urges, or behaviors regarding internet use. The video mentions it in the context of the average screen time of seven hours a day and its link to structural and functional changes in the brain.

💡Emotional Processing

Emotional Processing is the way individuals perceive, evaluate, and respond to their own and others' emotions. The video discusses how internet addiction is associated with changes in the brain related to emotional processing, affecting how people respond to the world around them.

💡YouTube New Wave

YouTube New Wave is a movement that the speaker introduces as a reaction against clickbait content, advocating for more meaningful storytelling on the platform. It is presented as part of the solution to the perceived epidemic of low-quality content on social media.

💡Clickbait Content

Clickbait Content is material designed to attract attention and encourage users to click on a link to a particular web page. It is often sensationalized or misleading. The video criticizes clickbait for propagating most of the content on social media feeds today.

💡Art on Social Media

Art on Social Media refers to creative expressions shared on digital platforms. The video speaker argues that creating and sharing art on social media can be a solution to the negative effects of low-quality content, by offering more meaningful and emotionally satisfying experiences.

💡Food Analogy

The Food Analogy is used in the video to compare the consumption of media to the consumption of food. It suggests that just as a well-prepared meal can satisfy hunger, consuming high-quality media or 'art' can lead to a sense of satisfaction and reduce the compulsion to mindlessly scroll through social media.

💡Desensitization

Desensitization is the reduced emotional response to a stimulus after repeated exposure. The video discusses how the internet and the consumption of a large amount of information can lead to emotional desensitization, making people less responsive to the issues faced by others.

💡Meta-modernism

Meta-modernism is a term used to describe a state of society characterized by rapid oscillation between optimism and nihilism. The video uses this concept to describe the current societal state, where people can quickly shift from feeling empowered to feeling powerless in the face of global issues.

💡Oxytocin

Oxytocin is a hormone and neurotransmitter that plays a role in social bonding. The video mentions oxytocin in the context of how social media can increase its levels, sparking empathy, connection, and reducing bias, thus fostering a sense of community and understanding.

💡E-Diets

E-Diets, as discussed in the video, is a metaphorical concept referring to the types and amounts of digital content individuals consume. The speaker suggests that consciously filling one's e-diet with art can improve mental health and foster a sense of connection and humanity.

Highlights

The negative effects of social media on people are being discussed, with a focus on the impact of screen time on the brain.

91% of 14-year-olds own a phone, and the average screen time is seven hours a day, leading to internet addiction.

Internet addiction is linked to structural and functional changes in the brain related to emotional processing and decision making.

The speaker argues that creating and publishing art on social media can be part of the solution to the social media epidemic.

The YouTube New Wave movement is a reaction against clickbait content, promoting more meaningful storytelling.

An analogy is made between satisfying meals and satisfying content, suggesting that good art can reduce the need to mindlessly scroll on social media.

The importance of a 'social media diet' is discussed, drawing parallels with dietary guidelines for physical health.

The speaker questions the lack of infrastructure and guidance for navigating the internet, especially for younger generations.

The emotional desensitization caused by the rapid consumption of media is compared to the effects of a poor diet on physical health.

Art is presented as a vehicle for sharing stories and emotions, capable of fostering empathy and understanding.

Social media has the potential to increase levels of oxytocin, which can spark empathy and connection.

The concept of 'meta-modernism' is introduced, describing society's rapid oscillation between optimism and nihilism.

The impact of the internet on our emotional responses, leading to a form of emotional PTSD, is explored.

The speaker advocates for a conscious 'e-diet' filled with meaningful art to improve mental health and foster human connection.

Guidelines and recommendations for media consumption are called for, similar to nutritional labels on food.

The importance of making conscious choices about the type of content we consume on social media is emphasized.

The conversation concludes with optimism for future guidelines and the personal responsibility each individual has in selecting the art they engage with.

Transcripts

so a few weeks ago I was catching up

with a friend over dinner and we're

having a conversation about the negative

effects of social media on people

because she asked me whether or not I

thought I was contributing to the

problem

because of my current job publishing

short films on YouTube and making a

living from it

we looked up some research and found

that 91 of 14 year olds now own a phone

and with the average screen time being

seven hours a day internet addiction is

now linked to structural and functional

changes in the brain associated with

emotional processing executive attention

and decision making

so she looked at me again and said do

you feel like you're contributing to the

problem

and I said well to be completely honest

no because I think in creating art on

social media and Publishing that art can

be part of the solution to offsetting

this epidemic she looked at me and said

art on YouTube how so I told her about

this new movement on social media called

the YouTube New Wave It's a reaction to

the clickbait content that propagates

most of our feeds today by pushing for

more meaningful content that tells

stories instead of begging for attention

she said okay good luck with that but I

was confident about my thesis so I use

the only analogy that came to mind and

asked her when was the last time she had

a nice meal for a special occasion

perhaps at a fancy restaurant or some

well-prepared and intentional meal and

if after that meal she went back home

and still felt really hungry and wanted

to eat a lot of snacks

she paused and said no and said I felt

satisfied after the meal I said exactly

it's the same thing with our brains

whenever I watch a good artistic or

Indie movie I never feel compelled to go

on social media to Doom scroll because I

feel satisfied and I want to properly

digest what I just consumed

she agreed and said yeah sharifi had

changed her diet had been intentionally

cooking all of her meals and felt like a

new version of herself

and

got me thinking about this food analogy

we consumed both media and food yet one

seems to be talked about a lot more than

the other a group learning about food

pyramids plate charts recommended

portions and ratios and different diets

but

never had I heard about a social media

pyramid a social media consumption Ratio

or social media diet aside from just a

detox

as a matter of fact I think the only

solution I've ever been presented with

is to knock on my phone

but imagine you went to the doctor and

you're like ah my stomach hurts I have a

stomach ache and they told you to not

eat food as a solution to feeling better

I really don't think consumption is the

problem I think it's what we're

consuming I think we need to acknowledge

that our phones are here to stay but

it's our relationships with them that

need to change

over Thanksgiving I was with my

grandmother and after dinner she asked

me to help her with her phone because

she had been logged out of Facebook and

needed help getting back in we logged

back in the first post that popped up

was I posted 6 000 civilians had been

killed because of the war in Ukraine

I scrolled down a little bit and saw a

cute cat video

you know if we all pause for a second

I'm sure we can think to a moment in our

lives where we read a shocking headline

sometime in the past year

or let alone the past month week day or

even hour

now let me ask you this do you think you

would have had a larger reaction to that

maybe five years ago 10 years ago 20 or

even 50.

I think we can all agree that because of

the internet we're becoming largely

desensitized to the world around us

increasingly I feel like I care less and

less about the issues people around the

world are facing but I'm not a bad

person right

people Now consume 90 times the amount

of information they did when compared to

the 1940s so it's no wonder we often

feel over stimulated and consequently

desensitized

and if we say in the past for a moment

and take a peek back into our history

there are time there have been movements

that reflect you know humanity and

society's view about the world modernism

for example is a 19th century literary

and artistic movement that captured the

idealism of a newly industrialized world

and the Eiffel Tower is a fantastic

example of this post-modernism on the

other hand

reflected the Lost state of humanity

after the second world war we see this

in existentialist literature or even the

irony of Andy Warhol soup can but where

are we now

well our society is described as being

in a meta-modernistic state which is

essentially an extreme oscillation

between optimism and nihilism about the

world around us but at a very rapid pace

an example would be one moment feeling

like you can help save the environment

by doing your part driving an electric

car cycling or saving water but the next

you read a headline that large companies

are doing more environmental damage than

anything your individual actions might

ever offset

you end up feeling like the world is

doomed and that nothing you ever do will

actually have an impact

with the internet we've been exposed to

this emotional Whiplash in a much faster

Pace than ever before in history

now show that people can displace

symptoms similar to PTSD just by

consuming violent news alone

and psychologists now believe that we're

becoming emotionally desensitized as a

defense mechanism against our hyper

consumption of media

so I thought back to the conversation I

was having with my friend

how does this tie back into art and how

could I put art forward and push it as a

solution in the wake of all of this

noise

well what do you think of when you think

of art do you think of the Mona Lisa do

you think of an old Greek statue or

perhaps the long line into a museum

but what I'm guessing didn't pop into

your mind was a video on your phone of

someone playing guitar

person singing or perhaps an avocarned

film on YouTube

throughout history art has been a

vehicle to share stories and emotions

that transcend time our brings us

together it helps us better understand

The Human Experience we quite literally

have the ability to put ourselves in

someone else's shoes through a process

called embodied cognition which then

leads to cognitive empathy

social media gives us the ability to

share stories and art that brings us

together in a way that we've never been

able to before in history

it's proven to increase levels of

oxytocin which spark empathy and

connection but it also reduces bias and

helps bring us together and helps us see

and understand different perspectives

and ways of life

I don't think social media is the

problem I think what we're consuming on

social media is the problem

but as I was thinking about this it kind

of clicked to me in the moment and I

thought back to my childhood and

everything I've been told about the

importance of eating veggies I was like

huh could the consumption of online art

be the metaphorical veggies for the mind

I grew being told about the importance

of eating healthy in my schools I saw

posters of food pyramids with

recommended portions and ratios and we

were drilled that breakfast was the most

important meal of the day now having a

colorful plate was a necessity if we

wanted to grow up to be strong and

healthy

but still I'd never heard of the same

guidelines let alone the same

specificity regarding our consumption

of media

what was the equivalent of social media

vegetarianism of social media veganism

would it be no social media would it be

no online news would it be a limited

number of hours per day

you know growing up is one of the first

generations with a smartphone there's

virtually no guidance on navigating the

complex Wild West that is the internet

it's kind of shocking considering that

there is this lack of infrastructure

that's commonly discussed considering

this is one of the largest issues we

face

so

I thought back to my friend

and the conversation that we were having

and

how art plays a role in all this

and

I thought back to

this kind of emotional desensitization

that we are facing in these moments in

this kind of emotional Whiplash that

we've been faced with

and you know within the food industry

there are regulations to protect us from

all of this right we have information

labels so that we know what we're

consuming and then we have calorie

amounts so that we know how much we're

consuming

but

the whole industry again is based around

this 2 000 calorie diet that's a

recommendation it's not a

one-size-fits-all solution but it's at

least a helpful reference

you know we've been reinforced in our

schools and by our teachers the

importance of eating healthy

but we lack this guidance and

reinforcement when it comes to our

consumption of media

my question is where are the guidelines

to protect us from this cognitive

manipulation

what is the equivalent of a food

why don't I know what I'm consuming and

how much of it

should I be watching YouTube and what

type of videos should I be watching on

YouTube

given this operation

guidelines and recommendations and all

of that how could anyone let alone a kid

make good decisions about what they're

consuming its impact on their health

well I believe art can provide us with

the answer

and art in its broadest sense I believe

art is content that adds meaning to our

lives it's more available and accessible

than ever

my grandma for example loves comedy and

likes to take walks and listens to

comedians on her phone

my mom on the other hand is a teacher

who likes to watch videos about French

history and me I love to watch

first-person documentaries from people

all around the world

we all find our own pockets of the

internet that's something more to our

lives but what we're adding doesn't have

to bring us down

I believe that these pockets on the

internet that we find are art and they

can bring us together and but more

importantly they spark are oxytocin as

well which Sparks empathy and connection

but it also releases our blood pressure

levels and rates of anxiety and

depression

so I believe that the more we can

consciously fill our e-diets with art

the better our mental health will be the

more connected we'll all become but most

importantly the more human we'll all

feel

by the end of the night my friend and I

had found some sort of common ground and

thankfully she didn't think I was a part

of the problem and it's agreed that art

could be a part of the solution

I'm optimistic that we will see more

guidelines and regulations and

protections over time I really am but at

the end of the day just like with food

we're the ones pushing the metaphorical

shopping carts in the grocery store each

and every time we pick up our phones

let's choose art

thank you