–Arts and letters for the modern age–

Cathode Ray Zone

–Arts and Letters for the Modern Age–

20 Questions About Social Media

by | Dec 7, 2024

[1] What is the difference between posting on an open social media account and running through every airport, shopping mall, and train station on the earth shouting things?

[2] Re: [1], is the only reason that people don’t do the latter – aside from the stray  “The End is Nigh!” placard holder – because it is too difficult?

[3] Why would you promote your own things on social media, but not promote your friends’ things, given that it only involves pressing one button?

[4] What is the appeal of publicly broadcasting one’s failures and defeats?

[5] What is the appeal of publicly broadcasting one’s debilities or sorrows?

[6] Did large swathes of people always read well in excess of a hundred books a year? Or does social media select for Olympic champion readers?

[7] Why announce your favorite movies, rock bands, books and the like to people you don’t know and will never meet?

[8] In what sense is someone whom you only know through an avatar and what they post online a “friend”?

[9] If you wouldn’t have a particular conversation with a friend in a crowded room, why would you do it on an open social media account?

[10] Any substantial evaluation of a person involves any number of non-discursive elements: facial expressions; tone of voice; gestures; overall body language; etc. What is supposed to replace these on social media and dating applications, beyond “emojis”?

[11] Is social media use in the US a product of our “friendship crisis” or a cause of it?

[12] Given that virtue is self-effacing, why advertise your own to a bunch of strangers? 

[13] What are the constraints on whether something is worthy of a “discourse”?

[14] Aside from sociological interest, why does anyone want to know the opinions of inexpert random people on X, Y, or Z?

[15] Do people really think they will change the minds of complete strangers on X, Y, or Z? If not, why argue with them about X, Y, or Z?

[16] Is it a good idea to provide a service that allows people to fill every second of space between real-world activities?

[17] Has social media made people less tolerant of boredom? Or does it select for people who already couldn’t tolerate boredom?

[18] Does social media infantilize its users, or have grown people always told the world that they “feel cute today” and are “super excited!” and decorated themselves with Lucky Charms-style icons and anime characters?

[19] When did anti-war, “Be Kind!” progressives turn into flexing tough-guy types, threatening to sucker-punch people?

[20] What is the expected effect of telling someone who has no idea who you are that you won’t follow them on social media if they do/say/think X, Y, or Z?

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