The Battle for Your Time: Exposing the Costs of Social Media | Dino Ambrosi | TEDxLagunaBlancaSchool

Summary

The speaker analyzes how the average 18-year-old today will spend their remaining free time and finds that most will spend 93% of it staring at screens. This has negative impacts on mental health, cognition, attention spans, and personal growth. Social media platforms are designed to capture as much of users' time and data as possible to sell to advertisers. The speaker urges the audience to consciously limit screen time and invest their precious free time into pursuing their passions, relationships, and personal growth.

Takeaways

• 😟 We have less free time in our lives than we think due to obligations like work, chores, etc.
• 😴 Over a third of our lifetime is spent sleeping
• 📱 The average 18-year old spends over 90% of their remaining free time looking at screens
• 😥 Excessive screen time is linked to mental health issues and impaired cognition
• 🤔 Social media platforms influence our beliefs and worldviews based on how they are designed
• 📈 Social media companies profit by maximizing the time users spend on their platforms
• 🤑 Users pay for 'free' social media with their time and attention rather than money
• 💰 Most people drastically overpay in time for the value they get from social media
• 🔍 It's important to assess the actual value provided by social platforms
• ⏰ Your free time is extremely valuable - be mindful of how you spend it

Q & A

What does the visualization at the beginning represent?

It represents an adult life in months assuming a life expectancy of 90 years. It shows how much time is spent on various activities like sleeping, school, work, chores etc.

What percentage of free time is the average 18 year old spending looking at screens?

93 percent according to the data presented in the script.

What are some of the negative impacts of excessive screen time?

Depression, anxiety, impaired cognition and attention, negative messaging from social media platforms.

How do social media platforms make money if they are free to use?

They monetize user data and time. They show users targeted ads and influence behavior to benefit advertisers.

What is the opportunity cost of spending too much time on social media?

The time could have been better invested in pursuing passions, spending time with loved ones, travel, leaving a mark etc.

What is the central message of the script?

We are drastically overpaying for social media with our time and need to use it in moderation to live meaningful lives.

What is the thought experiment presented regarding paying for social media?

Considering how much time is spent on social media, users would actually be paying over $1000 a month for some platforms if charged based on an hourly rate.

How can social media provide value if used properly?

It can foster relationships, introduce new ideas, enable collaboration and even spark social movements.

What two key questions does the speaker recommend asking regarding social media use?

What value do these services provide and how much of your time is that value worth?

What is the speaker's recommendation regarding managing free time?

Don't give your valuable free time away for free. Invest it consciously in meaningful activities instead of mindless scrolling.