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#TheSocialDilemma is taking the world by storm, even ranking at #1 on @netflix in Israel.
It tells the tale of how social media has evolved from a cute gimmick into the mind control tool it is today.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Thread
It tells the tale of how social media has evolved from a cute gimmick into the mind control tool it is today.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Thread
Social media activates something primal in our brains. Anyone who's ever felt fear, FOMO or excitement from a notification understands.
#TheSocialDilemma highlights just how premeditated this is. Big Tech knows what buttons to push to hook us, which they smash repeatedly 2/14
#TheSocialDilemma highlights just how premeditated this is. Big Tech knows what buttons to push to hook us, which they smash repeatedly 2/14
The Good - @tristanharris
Like many of his peers, Tristan learned how to make products addictive at a biological and physiological level at @Stanford's Behaviour Design Lab.
Unlike them, he put them to use in helping people, first at @Google and then at @HumaneTech_ 3/14
Like many of his peers, Tristan learned how to make products addictive at a biological and physiological level at @Stanford's Behaviour Design Lab.
Unlike them, he put them to use in helping people, first at @Google and then at @HumaneTech_ 3/14
The Bad - Proposed solutions
When it came to finding a way out of this mess, most interviewees had one word to offer - regulation.
It's surprising that intelligent innovators who spend their time in agile environment think that slow-moving regulators are the answer. 4/14
When it came to finding a way out of this mess, most interviewees had one word to offer - regulation.
It's surprising that intelligent innovators who spend their time in agile environment think that slow-moving regulators are the answer. 4/14
Watch a congressional hearing with tech CEOs and you'll understand how the snails-pace legislative process fails to protect against lightning-speed innovation.
Additionally, profit-motivated tech giants can always find creative ways to skirt the edges of legislation. 5/14
Additionally, profit-motivated tech giants can always find creative ways to skirt the edges of legislation. 5/14
Regulation is clearly not enough on its own.
What could be the X-factor for sustainable, benevolent social media? Decentralization and community control.
Taking absolute power away from tech companies and distributing it across a network of participating users. 6/14
What could be the X-factor for sustainable, benevolent social media? Decentralization and community control.
Taking absolute power away from tech companies and distributing it across a network of participating users. 6/14
From algorithms understood by a few Silicon Valley engineers to federated learning models created, curated and audited by the user community.
From closed-door committees for policing platforms to community moderation.
Distribution of power can complement regulation nicely 7/14
From closed-door committees for policing platforms to community moderation.
Distribution of power can complement regulation nicely 7/14
Big Tech knows this, and has already started paying lip service to decentralization.
@Facebook has Libra, @Twitter has @bluesky.
Pay attention to @reddit - the only massive platform that already incorporates decentralized elements & is making big moves in that direction. 8/14
@Facebook has Libra, @Twitter has @bluesky.
Pay attention to @reddit - the only massive platform that already incorporates decentralized elements & is making big moves in that direction. 8/14
There are also countless talented teams in the blockchain space working to make social media more equitable & humane.
My fave has to be @yup_io - a curation tool for online opinions, that is leveraging @LiquidAppsIO tech. 9/14
My fave has to be @yup_io - a curation tool for online opinions, that is leveraging @LiquidAppsIO tech. 9/14
The Ugly - Addiction is Uncontrollable
You would think that the builders of these systems would be immune to device addiction.
Tim Kendal, frmr President at @Pinterest, showed us otherwise.
Tim would come home and waste precious family time on his phone. 10/14
You would think that the builders of these systems would be immune to device addiction.
Tim Kendal, frmr President at @Pinterest, showed us otherwise.
Tim would come home and waste precious family time on his phone. 10/14
Clearly, being conscious of our bias towards screens is not enough to mitigate the risk of overuse.
Which brings me to the concluding solution:
Shabbat
11/14
Which brings me to the concluding solution:
Shabbat
11/14
For thousands of years, Jews have abstained from any creative work from sunset on Friday for 25+ hours.
We turn off our screens, reconnect to ourselves, our values, our families, communities and our natural world.
Never has the message of Shabbat been more relevant 12/14
We turn off our screens, reconnect to ourselves, our values, our families, communities and our natural world.
Never has the message of Shabbat been more relevant 12/14
So if you left the #TheSocialDilemm feeling a little hopeless, chin up.
You don't have to be Jewish, you don't even have to take off an entire day.
Just pick a set time each week and shut off all your screens. And stick to it! 13/14
You don't have to be Jewish, you don't even have to take off an entire day.
Just pick a set time each week and shut off all your screens. And stick to it! 13/14
In conclusion, while I believe that decentralization is essential to the future of humane tech, the real magic is Shabbat.
Shut your phones & laptop once a week. Go for walk. Meditate. Have a delicious meal with family & friends.
You gotta disconnect in order to reconnect 14/14
Shut your phones & laptop once a week. Go for walk. Meditate. Have a delicious meal with family & friends.
You gotta disconnect in order to reconnect 14/14
