Is concern about social media overblown?

In writing about the dangers of social media, I’ve encountered the objection that social media probably isn’t worth worrying about because people said the same thing about the internet, television, radio, books, and so on. I think this objection is flawed for two reasons.

Image by Kirill Averianov from Pixabay

First, it suggests that these earlier technologies didn’t cause very much harm. I disagree. The printed word continues to be an effective means of disseminating misinformation. Murderous dictators have used radio to broadcast their propaganda to private homes. Television turned news into entertainment, with disastrous results that we’re barely beginning to grapple with. The internet has fostered deeply meaningful connections, but has also helped conspiracy theorists find each other.

A poster promoting the Volksempfänger, the “people’s receiver,” a radio developed at the request of Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels. The caption reads, “All of Germany is listening to The Führer with the Volksempfänger.”

Second, this objection suggests that all technological advancement is of similar magnitude and impact, or at least that the magnitude and impact of social media is similar to that of previous technological advancements. I don’t think that’s correct. I won’t cover the reasons in depth here, but I’ve discussed the unique and profound harms of social media extensively on my thoughts page and on this blog. The documentary The Social Dilemma also makes the case thoroughly, much better than I will ever be able to. In fact, the film was quite prescient. It received criticism for predicting civil war, but that criticism suddenly ceased in January, 2021, a few months after the film was widely released.

We have created tools that are ripping apart the social fabric… It is eroding the core foundations of how people behave.

— Chamath Palihapitiya, former VP of Growth, Mobile, and International at Facebook, in a conversation at Stanford

If you’re interested in learning more about the specific dangers of social media, I recommend studying the above-mentioned resources, as well as the works of the documentary subjects and the Ledger of Harms published by the Center for Humane Technology.

An image from The Social Dilemma, depicting increasing suicide rates among girls around the advent of social media on mobile devices

As if all that isn’t bad enough, in employing artificial intelligence, social media may be able to exploit weaknesses in human psychology faster than human beings are able to adapt. TikTok, Facebook, and other platforms may be able to evolve their engines of addiction and outrage more quickly than we can develop strategies for disconnecting and calming down. It’s not a rosy picture.

The real problem of humanity is the following: We have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions and godlike technology.

— Dr. E.O. Wilson

I’m left wondering whether this objection, that social media is no more dangerous than earlier technology, has ever been tried on the topic of nuclear weapons. “Surely, they won’t destroy civilization,” one might say, “because people said the same thing about TNT, and yet, here we are.”

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay

Yes, books, radio, television, and the internet can be used for ill, but we would be wrong not to recognize that social media is significantly more dangerous than what came before it.

This short piece originally began as post for my thoughts page, where I write about social media and other topics. If you found this interesting, consider reading my posts over there. Consider creating your own thoughts page, too. I don’t get any kind of reward for recommending the platform, but I do genuinely recommend it as a “small internet” alternative to social media that’s much more pleasant to use.