Lessons from Social Media
- At the beginning of the decade, we idealistically thought to connect the world would bring people together and help them become more tolerant of their differences. Sadly, the rise of intolerance towards opposing views has spread all across the world.
- We started the decade with irrational optimism about new technology, and are closing the decade with irrational pessimism.
- The constant judgment from social media may create stress but is more self-corrective than previous forms of media.
- Social media is not very forgiving. If anyone does anything remotely wrong, half the planet already knows about it.
- To make full use of social media, we have to learn to manage our relationship with it.
MORE IDEAS FROM THE ARTICLE
We lived through the first time in history where the amount of stimulation available to us far outstrips our ability to enjoy it. This creates new problems:
- We have to take responsibility and develop the skill of choosing how we will invest our time and attention.
- We have to develop discipline not to get overexcited by our reactions to the news.
Your ability to learn well on your own is the most important life skill. When there is an infinite amount of information, the advantages of learning and processing information in diverse ways grow exponentially.
This ability to learn well on your own and do so quickly has a compounding effect. The more you learn now, the better you will be able to learn and process new experiences in the future.
In the late 2000s, people believed that we would make better decisions if we were informed correctly. However, it takes a huge amount of energy to cope with contradictory ideas, resulting in blindly believing whatever you want to believe.
The aversion to overwhelming amounts of complex information creates a maturity crisis, which is why the ability to learn will become more valuable in time.
In the entertainment world from before, you were either a great superstar, or you were broke.
Today, the great majority fills the middle. If you're good, it is easier than ever to get your work out there and acknowledged.
Consider the popular virtue of vulnerability. Initially, the message was that vulnerability is not a form of weakness, but a demonstration of strength.
It didn't take long for television shows and social media influencers to grab hold of "vulnerability" and use it to connect with their audience. Today, vulnerability is almost cliche. It is corrupt and the total opposite of real vulnerability.
After at least three generations, it might make more sense to skip going to college.
For some, college still makes sense. However, for many, universities are too expensive, the education they offer is not keeping with the times, and is less necessary for good careers.
Populations are collecting in densely populated megalopolises. The cost of living and level of education is high, so is the access to amenities and art. In contrast, the rural parts of the world are more and more being left behind economically as well as in education, infrastructure, and culture.
This divide causes tension as it drives new attitudes and beliefs about equity, fairness, and justice.
Amazon's logistical efficiency, Apple's global supply chain and other tech companies like Samsung, Facebook, and Google are corporations that are holding the world together more than any international governmental organization.
It is the best time in world history to be alive. We are safer, healthier, less violent, more tolerant, more educated, and more literate than ever. We have more economic freedom, more knowledge, more entertainment, and more connectivity.
But, the overwhelming amount of information and opportunity makes it more difficult to find meaning and purpose. We should learn how to deal with the effects of new technologies and be aware of its limitations.
RELATED IDEAS
Every level of Pac Man the ghosts move in particular patterns. It's a trick most seasoned arcade players have noticed.
In the same way, the answer to a problem or situation may not be immediately obvious. It may take a lot of thinking or planning to achieve your desired result, but it will be well worth it in the end. Especially if you can beat those conniving ghosts.
When most people think of philosophy, they believe philosophers simply argue about arguing. Philosophy is viewed as impractical and irrelevant to current issues.
In reality, philosophy is likely more useful and important to the average person today than any other time in history.
Our narratives are chronically short-term, emotional, and self-centered.
However, regretful mistakes can have some subtle, non-emotional, long-term benefits. They can root out all superficial values and help you replace them with healthier, non-material values. In hindsight, your most painful mistakes can be the best thing that ever happened to you.