Is Social Media making people dumber?

1. 0

   savvydatingposted 3 years ago

   We already know that social media is adversely affecting young people by making them anxious. Would we all be smarter if we turned off the TV and deleted most of our social media sites? Many clinical psychologists think so.
   
   https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/the-dilemma/

   replyreport
   1. 75

      wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      When any information you want, true or false, is readily available without effort OR questioning, then yes.  We are getting dumber because of it.
      
      When the portion of the brain making decisions and conclusions is not used, merely hearing whatever it is you want to hear, it will "atrophy" just as any other unused part of the body.

      replyreport
      1. 0

         savvydatingposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         Agreed. Here is another article about that.
         
         https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/b … ou-dumber/
         
         Also, the pre-frontal cortex of young people has not even developed thoroughly. Consequently, they find it nearly impossible to stop looking at their smartphones. Not good.

         replyreport
   2. 75

      tsmogposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      At this time just sharing thanks for the link! I read a couple of the articles. Interesting and providing for some future pondering. I'll comment later, yet will say last night I noticed watching The Beauty and the Beast for the first time, which is a Disney production, there was an emphasis on books with Belle one of the main characters. hmmm . . .

      replyreport
      1. 0

         savvydatingposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you, tsmog. I chose the Social Dilemma link purposely. Even if someone chooses not to comment, my hope is that they will appreciate the link and begin thinking about this matter seriously.  Look forward to your response. No rush.

         replyreport
         1. 75

            tsmogposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Savvydating getting back after a little bit of time. I watched all the videos and attempted to read all the articles. Some of them looked really interesting but required a subscription to access them. With what I was able to access I received good insight and food to ponder later. Yet, today I am on a journey of discovery on another subject. So, I created a folder in a file for such journeys.
            
            I liked that the videos were short and sweet, yet left me hungering for more. The one that impacted me the most was Your Brain on Social Media. And, another video that was actually listed in the reading list; Want to Work for Google? You Already Do. Another I discovered if interested while watching that one was listed in the recommended section by YouTube titled Quit Social Media.
            
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E7hkPZ-HTk
            
            Sharing a little from my mobile home sitting in my chair I watch people walk passed and guesstimating 8 out of 10 are looking at their phone while speculating it is social media they are looking at or a text. That includes teens to the retired folks. The kids are busy breaking the rules and skateboarding ha-ha
            
            Also, from my distant past below is a stanza from a Frank Zappa song that I think applies.
            
            
            I am gross and perverted
            Im obsessed n deranged
            I have existed for years
            But very little had changed
            I am the tool of the government
            And industry too
            For I am destined to rule
            And regulate you
            
            I may be vile and pernicious
            But you can't look away
            I make you think Im delicious
            With the stuff that I say
            I am the best you can get
            Have you guessed me yet?
            I am the slime oozin out
            From your tv set
            
            Just substitute tv set with digital device. Of course both have good sides too, yet I think you get the jest of the point.

            replyreport
            1. 0

               savvydatingposted 3 years agoin reply to this

               tsmog... Apt lyrics by Zappa and an excellent video by Dr. Cal Newport. You may want to watch the Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma when you have extra time. I believe it will answer many of your questions as it is told through the lens of expert coders, all of whom said they would not allow their children to own a smartphone.
               
               Here is the trailer to the movie:
               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaaC57tcci0
               
               My son and his best friend watched the film. Afterward, they deleted all of their social media, even though they especially loved Instagram. They were alarmed at what they learned.
               
               I do not use social media except for Hubpages. I will also say that since allowing cable into my life a couple of years ago, I've read much fewer books than I did before. That is not a good thing and it is time for me to consider a change.
               
               If you decide to watch the movie, I think it may be on YouTube (if you do not have Netflix). My particular area of concern is that social media absolutely influences elections (in many countries) and that fake news stories travel at least six times faster than the news that is accurate. In short, most Americans who rely on social media for their news are badly uninformed.
               
               My son's concern is that young people are being negatively impacted by social media, sometimes to the point of committing suicide.
               
               Thanks for getting back to me. I enjoyed the link. Enjoy your current studies!

               replyreport