Man… is social media going to be the death of our society?

[Lord Ash]

So, I’m on Twitter, and recently a tweet crossed my feed… I don’t even remember HOW, maybe it was suggested or something? It was something about Covid being a hoax bc they got it and felt okay. I causally responded, just something along the lines of “Most people who get Covid actually get through it.”

And I’ve now been dragged into this bizarre universe where I am getting tons of angry, aggressive responses, all from being with barely any Twitter footprint but who do not appear to be bots, absolutely going nuts with conspiracies. And when I look at their profiles… holy cow. Con trails and flat earth and on and on and on.

And I was thinking… it used to be that these crazy people were isolated and alone. But now they see a seemingly endless number of people who agree with them, which absolutely amplifies and justifies their crazy beliefs, causing them to get crazier and crazier.

Honestly I am horrified by it… I had to flee the Twitter “conversation” because of how absolutely nuts it was.

I cannot help but think that social media, and the internet, is going to the most damage just by bringing together people who should be isolated.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

So, I’m on Twitter, and recently a tweet crossed my feed… I don’t even remember HOW, maybe it was suggested or something? It was something about Covid being a hoax. I causally responded, just something along the lines of “Come on, this is silly.”

And I’ve now been dragged into this bizarre universe where I am getting tons of responses, all from being with barely any Twitter footprint but who do not appear to be bots, absolutely going nuts with conspiracies. And when I look at their profiles… holy cow. Con trails and flat earth and on and on and on.

And I was thinking… it used to be that these crazy people were isolated and alone. But now they see a seemingly endless number of people who agree with them, which absolutely amplifies and justifies their crazy beliefs, causing them to get crazier and crazier.

Honestly I am horrified by it… I had to flee the Twitter “conversation” because of how absolutely nuts it was.

I cannot help but think that social media, and the internet, is going to the most damage just by bringing together people who should be isolated.

Short answer to your title: yes

[Lord Ash]

Sorry for all of the mistakes in my post, typing with one hand and my iPad stopped autocorrecting (except for the word ipad, of course)

[camion]

People take their civic duty seriously. Particularly when they don't have to do it face to face.

duty_calls-xkcd-big.jpg

[YmoBeThere]

It is a cesspool...

[rsvman]

Wouldn't know. Never been on.

[budwom]

nor I. That shipped has sailed...

[aimo]

Man… is social media going to be the death of our society?

So, I’m on Twitter, and recently a tweet crossed my feed… I don’t even remember HOW, maybe it was suggested or something? It was something about Covid being a hoax bc they got it and felt okay. I causally responded, just something along the lines of “Most people who get Covid actually get through it.”

And I’ve now been dragged into this bizarre universe where I am getting tons of angry, aggressive responses, all from being with barely any Twitter footprint but who do not appear to be bots, absolutely going nuts with conspiracies. And when I look at their profiles… holy cow. Con trails and flat earth and on and on and on.

And I was thinking… it used to be that these crazy people were isolated and alone. But now they see a seemingly endless number of people who agree with them, which absolutely amplifies and justifies their crazy beliefs, causing them to get crazier and crazier.

Honestly I am horrified by it… I had to flee the Twitter “conversation” because of how absolutely nuts it was.

I cannot help but think that social media, and the internet, is going to the most damage just by bringing together people who should be isolated.

Going to be?!? That ship has sailed.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Wouldn't know. Never been on.

I mean, one could argue that DBR is a version of social media.

[bundabergdevil]

I mean, one could argue that DBR is a version of social media.

Internet forums are considered social media.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Internet forums are considered social media.

Hence my statement that one could argue it.

It's not Insta-Face or Twit-Tok, but it certainly has legions of idiots arguing with one another to the death.

[CameronDuke]

I think the death of our society via social media has already started a long, long time ago.

[bundabergdevil]

Hence my statement that one could argue it.

It's not Insta-Face or Twit-Tok, but it certainly has legions of idiots arguing with one another to the death.

Yeah. Social media encompasses a lot of channels and platforms that enable user generated content, profiles, etc. But, yeah, “social media” in the derogatory use typically just refers to Twitter, FB, etc.


I dunno, like most things, it’s not all good or bad. It depends on how it gets used and unfortunately people aren’t all good or bad either.

[aimo]

Yeah. Social media encompasses a lot of channels and platforms that enable user generated content, profiles, etc. But, yeah, “social media” in the derogatory use typically just refers to Twitter, FB, etc.


I dunno, like most things, it’s not all good or bad. It depends on how it gets used and unfortunately people aren’t all good or bad either.

Remember how DBR used to have a Public Policy Forum?

Yeah, DBR is social media.

[bundabergdevil]

Remember how DBR used to have a Public Policy Forum?

Yeah, DBR is social media.

See Camion’s post above. 😂

[acdevil]

I think the negatives of social media have far outweighed the positives.

I have shunned many forms of it over the years (Facebook, etc) which has been hard to do at times, but it was the right call at the end of the day. Without wading into PPB territory, it really saddens me to see what Facebook has done to my in-laws.

Unfortunately, Pandora’s box has been opened and I don’t think there is any reasonable way to go back.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

I think the negatives of social media have far outweighed the positives.

I have shunned many forms of it over the years (Facebook, etc) which has been hard to do at times, but it was the right call at the end of the day. Without wading into PPB territory, it really saddens me to see what Facebook has done to my in-laws.

Unfortunately, Pandora’s box has been opened and I don’t think there is any reasonable way to go back.

I mean, to have a more honest reply - DBR has one very important quality of most social media... the echo chamber aspect. If you want to find people who agree with you in regards to K, UNC, recruiting, etc - here's the place!

Of course, the difference is that here, everyone is CORRECT in their opinions...

[camion]

I mean, to have a more honest reply - DBR has one very important quality of most social media... the echo chamber aspect. If you want to find people who agree with you in regards to K, UNC, recruiting, etc - here's the place!

Of course, the difference is that here, everyone is CORRECT in their opinions...

Well, not everyone is CORRECT. There are some people here who inexplicably disagree with me.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

I mean, to have a more honest reply - DBR has one very important quality of most social media... the echo chamber aspect. If you want to find people who agree with you in regards to K, UNC, recruiting, etc - here's the place!

Of course, the difference is that here, everyone is CORRECT in their opinions...

I agree with you that everyone here is correct - you are correct about that...

I think the problem is fourfold:

1. Social media has made it easier for those with alternate opinions to voice those opinions (note that alternate opinions are not always a bad thing - differences of opinions are healthy when they aren't wackadoodle conspiracy theories)
2. Social media has made it easier for those with alternate opinions to find each other
3. Social media has made it easier for those with alternate opinions to tune out more traditional opinions, particularly in regards to new issues
4. Social media has made those without alternate opinions more aware of those with alternate opinions, who already existed to some exist, but more lurking in the background.

Someone else can probably state this more eloquently or boil it down to two or three. But if I hear another person with some crazy ideas defend them by saying "I read an article online that said..."

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

I agree with you that everyone here is correct - you are correct about that...

I think the problem is fourfold:

1. Social media has made it easier for those with alternate opinions to voice those opinions (note that alternate opinions are not always a bad thing - differences of opinions are healthy when they aren't wackadoodle conspiracy theories)
2. Social media has made it easier for those with alternate opinions to find each other
3. Social media has made it easier for those with alternate opinions to tune out more traditional opinions, particularly in regards to new issues
4. Social media has made those without alternate opinions more aware of those with alternate opinions, who already existed to some exist, but more lurking in the background.

Someone else can probably state this more eloquently or boil it down to two or three. But if I hear another person with some crazy ideas defend them by saying "I read an article online that said..."

I mean,"vicious circle" would be a way to describe it. Someone's more outlandish ideas are reinforced by other like-minded people who call point to one another as citations.