BITES // 08.06.20 // SOCIETY OF SKEPTICS
Every month we collect six of the best pieces of content published on the web and share them with you, because we believe that the most extraordinary thinking is inspired by looking to unexpected places. BITES is a reading list for those who want to bring a little of the outside, in.
1. PETRI DISH FOR CONSPIRACY THEORIES
Conspiracy theories arise in moments of crisis. The allure of ‘secret knowledge’ offers feelings of certainty and control, allowing us to be our own sleuths amid a climate where a sense of agency is hard to come by. Conspiracies circulating pop culture, including Britney Spears, Epstein, and Wayfair, satisfy our psychological needs and tighten the bonds of “us” by rallying against “them.” But how long-lived is this newfound comfort? Conspiracy theories at their best provide false assurances, but at their worst, can deepen feelings of fear or helplessness. In a politically charged world where conspiracies run free, it’s important to maintain the distinction between theory and truth.
2. “EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE”
Toxic positivity has gone into overdrive during lockdown: Overwhelmed consumers are opting for ultra-uplifting content and fighting for positive ideals as a means to overturn pervasive negativity. While there’s nothing wrong with optimism, the concept of toxic positivity is rooted in an aversion to reality, serving as a defense mechanism to avoid dealing with uncomfortable real world issues or unpleasant emotions. As we work through a complicated past, endless present, and unforeseeable future, give permission to experience both negative and positive emotions, before trying to rise above. If done prematurely, we may become disconnected from reality — and subsequently unable to face the raw and messy side of our humanity.
3. ACADEMIA’S DOOMSCROLL
For decades, educational institutions — from elite universities to public schools — have proudly declared themselves champions of “diversity and inclusion.” But a wave of student and alumni-led Instagram accounts suggest otherwise, offering an unsparing counterpoint to the carefully curated images and public announcements in support of the Black Lives Matter. “Black At” social media accounts, like Black at USC or Black at Harvard Law, provide space for students to anonymously share racist experiences. Even if there isn’t a headline-grabbing incident, the myriad of testimonies reveal the power of communities organizing to undermine institutions of power, which collectively could have outsized influence on campus policy, culture and daily life; and pop the “utopian bubble” so clearly a facade.
4. A DEBATE ABOUT OPEN DEBATE
Signed by 153 prominent writers, artists and academics, including Margaret Atwood, Malcolm Gladwell, and Gloria Steinem, A Letter on Justice and Open Debate warns against an “intolerant climate” engulfing culture. “The free exchange of information and ideas, the lifeblood of a liberal society, is daily becoming more constricted,” the letter reads. This set off rounds of critiques, particularly around the hypocrisy of the elite group (see JK Rowling transgender-comments controversy, among others). As an evolving society emerges with a more progressive ethos, it seems the cacophony of new voices are making it harder for the famous and powerful to go on without interruption. Instead of opposing the limits of free speech, perhaps our energy is better spent on debating the parameters of socially-acceptable speech that reflect our transgressing norms.
5. LIVING IN OUR OWN ALGORITHM
As biased coverage of seismic world events continues to erode trust in traditional news outlets, global consumption of news is changing. YouTubers talk about current issues, scientists are taking to TikTok, and award-winning television hosts are on Instagram Live. Simultaneously, a new study by Pew Research Center suggests that those who rely on social media for news are “less engaged, less knowledgeable,” as users collect information within an echo chamber. Further, these bite-sized infographics, while visually appealing, often leave out important context and perpetuate the spread of misinformation. Disillusioned by both traditional and social media, what’s the best way forward? One thought: Resist information dysfunction, rather than grease its wheels.
6. THE EPHEMERALITY OF QUICK BITES
Positioned as a short-form streaming service made for your phone, Quibi, short for “quick bites,” was hyped up to be the next evolution of entertainment. However, despite all the right ingredients (roster of A-list talent, $1.75 billion in funding, high profile founders), Quibi has sputtered since its launch, proving early skeptics right. But the app isn’t failing because of the pandemic, lack of brand awareness or even poor content. It’s failing because the whole premise is based on an incorrect assumption about consumer wants, miscalculating how people take in their short-form content. Quibi might call it bad timing, but others just call it a flop.
TAKEAWAY:
When quarantine arrived, we were preoccupied with being occupied, navigating through new rules, new mandates, new fears. Five months later, the novelty has worn off, and along with it our patience. We have become a weary society, unable to continue denying reality, fed up with our inability to support the needs of humanity. With little advice and missing information, people are adopting a more radical, ‘no-options activism’ approach, fueling local networks to refuse the status quo, hold institutions accountable and unearth realities hidden from our view. It’s a delicate balancing act in how far we take it, but an exercise that’s demanded more than ever from us in a society where leadership and consensus is virtually nonexistent.
