Could the answers to life, the universe and everything be contained in this tiny rectangle? Zoe Cartwright is determined to find out. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Another day, another dilemma.
This one strikes me, personally, about 20 seconds after I open my eyes.
To open the cursed social media apps, or not to open them?
On the one hand there’s a yoga teacher I like who often posts uplifting, thought-provoking content, and I’m avidly watching everyone’s Halloween decorations go up because I am far too lazy to do my own.
On the other hand, I could stumble across footage of children being bombed or an unexpected vitriolic rant about something insane from someone I previously thought was a pretty cool person.
On the third hand it’s much too early for my brain to digest a book or a news story, and at this point in my life I’m not really sure how to adjust to consciousness without a drip-feed of mindless content.
Over the past few years I’ve noticed most of the people I know post way less – maybe the odd holiday snaps, or a happy anniversary to their partner.
The ones who post more regularly usually have very small children, a business to plug, are highly creative, very politically engaged or … not doing so well. Sometimes a combination.
As a result the classic scroll is less “oh look what X, Y, Z is up to” and more “you cannot make me buy $500 worth of tupperware” and “how can they not tell that’s AI”.
But I keep going back.
I uninstall and reinstall the apps over and over again. I bask in the warm glow of dopamine every time I see something I like and walk around feeling vaguely crappy for the rest of the day when I see something I don’t.
I don’t think I’m alone in this conundrum.
I have three friends who have heroically either disabled all their social media or never had it in the first place.
They’re some of the most creative, fun people I know with rich social lives and a good grasp of what’s going on in the world.
But back to the other hand again – people have always had meltdowns over the latest form of media. TV was going to rot all our brains and turn our eyes square (maybe 50/50 on that one).
When novels became readily available there was widespread concern about the development of “reading fever” among young people – it was blamed for antisocial behaviour, suicides and general social and moral decay.
I wonder if the distinction now is the amount of AI and bot-produced garbage flooding the internet (and social media in particular).
Even when something is shared or said by a friend there’s a good chance they’re regurgitating something that never came from the mind of an actual human.
It makes discussions feel fragmented in a way that’s hard to articulate.
I’ve found I’m enjoying long-form content far more these days – whether it be on a news website, a substack, a podcast, or a YouTube vlog.
Engaging with something that’s been created with some time and care by another person delivers far more enjoyment than the never-ending slot machine of the ‘explore’ tab on Insta.
At least, until my husband sends me another cute ferret video.
