What if I told you that the social media platforms were the real Big Brother in society, that social media platforms currently have the power to manipulate an entire population. Sounds a bit crazy, right? Indeed, a conspiracy like this is crazy. However, we are in fact living in a time when people have stopped paying attention, in a society where social media gets more attention than our planet. How did we end up here?
“The Social Dilemma”
In the digital age, smartphones have become an essential part of our daily lives, connecting us to a new world of unlimited information and opportunities. Interacting with the rest of the world has never been easier. The rise of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok have played a significant role in transforming the way we communicate, share content, and consume information. However, a lot of people have developed a toxic relationship to their phones in recent years. Personally, I consistently keep my smartphone either in my pocket or on the table in front of me, a habit I find quite problematic. “The Social Dilemma”, a documentary about the dark side of social media, expose how social media nurtures addiction to maximize profit and examines the hidden impact these platforms have on the society.
The New Society
Focus is a rare skill to find in the new digital era. No one is paying attention anymore. You should think that the internet, smartphones, and social media would make our life more efficient, leaving more time to focus on the real important things in life. However, the endless opportunities that follows with the world online is leaving us on an unorganized path full of distractions. The biggest distraction of them all is hidden in our pocket the whole way. Social media platforms are designed to capture and retain our attention. An average employee is estimated to pick up his phones 30 times a day during working hours, or every 16 minutes during a full eight-hour shift. Constant disruptions caused by our smartphones is fragmenting our focus, preventing us from engage in deep work or sustaining attention on important tasks. A lot of people think they are doing more if they multitask, but the truth is that behavior like this is leading to decreased productivity and a shallow understanding of the information we consume.
We are stuck in the Matrix. No one looks up from their phone anymore. People find themselves constantly checking their social media feeds, driven by the fear of missing out (FOMO) and the anxiety of being without their smartphones, a phenomenon known as nomophobia. Social media platforms are built on a reward system that triggers the release of dopamine, capitalizing on keeping their users on the screen for as long as possible. The anticipation of receiving likes and comments fuels our desire for validation, often leading to addictive behaviors. Engineers are constantly working to find new ways to enhance addictive behavior, implementing streaks on Snapchat, infinite scroll on Instagram, and autoplay on YouTube. At the same time, we are told that lack of willpower is the source to our addiction. It is time that the social media platforms take some responsibility for the product they have made.
Is Virtual Climate Activism Enough?
While social media platforms have played a vital role in raising awareness about climate issues, it is important to differentiate between virtual activism and real-world impact. Reposting a story on Instagram is easy, do the work that is required to make a change is not. A lot of people demonstrate their concern for the climate on social media, few people implement actual lifestyle changes that benefit the environment. Awareness is great, but there is not enough to talk the talk. We must walk the walk to make a significant change. We can start by taking a break from our digital lives and start paying attention to how our own lifestyle is affecting the environment.
Virtual activism has emerged as a powerful tool in the digital age, enabling individuals and communities to raise awareness and advocate for social and environmental causes through online platforms. It allows organizations to provide information, mobilize supporters, and organize campaigns efficiently. However, the phenomenon of greenwashing has also become prevalent. Greenwashing refers to the deceptive marketing practices employed by organizations to present an environmentally friendly image while engaging in harmful or unsustainable practices, creating an illusion of commitment to environmental causes.
Where Do We Go from Here?
Our attention is more valuable than ever. With climate change looming as one of the greatest challenges of our time, it is crucial that we allocate our time and attention towards solutions rather than getting lost in the endless scroll. A change from addictive social media platforms that capitalizes on our attention, isolating us from the offline world, towards an existence where social media platforms encourages their users to meet face-to-face and engage in important conversations, could be the change required to shift from the current dystopia towards a new utopia.
