Myth and Metrics: How Social Media Robs Us of Ritual, and How to Revive It
Alexander Beinerbeiner.substack.com
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Myth and Metrics: How Social Media Robs Us of Ritual, and How to Revive It
The illusionary perception that social media has brought us closer has faded. Living a performative life for the Internet is a recipe for emptiness. What has been revealed is that we are alone. We crave connection. Wherever we end up going, we want it to be more real. This means we should probably stop supporting centralized platforms, even if they... See more
As I’ve written before, the speed of technology and the hyperconnectivity of society have placed us in a “never-ending now.”Like hamsters running on a wheel, we live in an endless cycle of ephemeral content consumption — a merry-go-round that spins faster and faster but never goes anywhere.Even the virtues of information consumption have changed.Mo
... See moreThe mythologist Martin Shaw refers to the internet as a ‘toxic mimic’.52 What does he mean? Well, as a species, we have evolved over tens of thousands of years to immerse ourselves in stories, to let ourselves be taken on imaginary journeys. A good storyteller can send us to distant realms and settings, warm firesides in imagined castles, imposing
... See moreRob Hopkins • From What Is to What If: Unleashing the Power of Imagination to Create the Future We Want
By portraying our opponents as beyond persuasion, social media sorts us into ever more hostile tribes, then rewards us, with likes and shares, for the most hyperbolic denunciations of the other side, fuelling a vicious cycle that makes sane debate impossible. We mustn’t let Silicon Valley off the hook, but we should be honest: much of the time... See more