I remember the smokers puffing away outside office buildings, even in the cold. I’m sure they still do that. But there are fewer people in office buildings now, thanks to remote work.
There are also fewer smokers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco use globally has declined. They estimate that in 2000, 1 in 3 adults smoked, compared to 1 in 5 in 2022.
Many factors played a role in this decrease. But the US surgeon general thinks that the warning label on cigarettes made a difference.
That’s why he wants a similar warning label on social media sites. He says that social media poses a harm to the mental health of children and teens.
Older but not wiser
There is plenty of research about the negative impact of social media. I don’t have children, so I don’t have to worry about their mental health.
Of course, older doesn’t mean wiser. Social media can also impact the mental health of adults. Another article suggests online activity may reduce our energy for live social interactions.
I don’t know. Until recently, I spent very little time on social media. Then I wanted to sell some items on FaceBook, which meant being on the site more often.
Brain rot?
And yes, that led to hours wasted that I will never get back. Social media platforms are designed, first and foremost, to keep you there.
I watched a few short videos, and the FaceBook algorithm kicked in with a vengeance. Now FaceBook shows me reel after reel of people doing amazing athletic feats.
Apart from wasting time, I may be at mental and physical risk. The mental risk is that I’ll feel inadequate because I can’t do a one-handed hand stand (or any hand stand). The physical risk is that I’ll be stupid enough to try one of these moves and injure myself. I’m still recovering from a torn muscle (not due to FaceBook), which protects me from that stupidity.
People did lots of stupid things before social media. But now we have so many more ideas for ways to be stupid. I wonder if there is a link between social media and those epic fail videos.
This rant on Reddit about short videos might have a point:
“They’re designed to be addictive and mindless and I’m convinced there’s some unsavory logic … Best case scenario they’re mining data. Worst case scenario they’re attempting to actively rot our brains.”
Side-tracked by falling blocks
There are other ways to waste time. I’m over my recent rediscovery of Mahjong, but got sidetracked by a new variation of an old classic: Tetris.
I played that enough to dream of falling blocks. I hope that Tthis, too, shall pass. Perhaps not for the two developers who decided to create a Tetris font.
I’d love to hear your thoughts.