Top 20 "Negative Nuggets" Learned About Social Media!

“Top 20 Negative Nuggets Learned About Social Media” by Dave Gerber

It is clear, before we start, there are many positive aspects to the digital age, social media and other technological advances. Also, Social Media is here to stay, we all know that fact. (That said, I am proud to have two friends that are not on any social media…happy people, but many judge them for not being "connected!") For the sake of this piece, my focus is on what I see from social media that is impacting our culture negatively that we need to address for our own health.

In order to truly understand some of the seemingly unrelated problems we are facing in America right now we must begin the discussion about the tsunami of social media impacting youth, young adults and "grown" adults. Pointing out the negative is important to help us create distinctions and be in a better place to improve on the undesirable aspects of this phenomenon...with the hope to make positive change for the future as Social Media charges forward.

So, the “Top 20” Negative Nuggets I have learned about social media (there are more…):

*1. Distracting people from themselves, their work, opportunities and human relationships – these devices and software makes it too easy not to have real discussions or companionship and impact ones overall ability to be present and get present.

2.     False information everywhere is degrading people’s trust in almost all things and people.

3.     Wickedly time consuming and distracting from the creation of real relationships, products, services, volunteering and other things that have face to face contact as a per-requisite.

4.     We have a society of people addicted to cell phone dopamine rushes (and food to cure anxiety).

5.     People lack knowledge of “Inside voice vs. Outside voice” and now their “Historical, Printed Voice.”

6.     People are losing communication skills, patience, courtesies, ability to listen and want things more instantly than ever before.

7.     Relationships are superficial, the “dating scene” lost everything organic and people are desperately either not interested or are not prepared for consistent, successful interactions.

8.     The founders of the devices and software admit it is changing DNA, People and the entire planet.

9.     It is killing both the ability to be present and the reflective moments that help improve life.

10.  Pollyanna lying by omission about lives, trips, relationships and much more has become a structural norm – everything isn’t so fantastic and yes, people have become very fragile.

11.  Most social media “friends” wouldn’t do anything for you that was inconvenient.

12.  Another factor in contributing to the purchase and dispensable society we have.

13.  Pushes people into or closer to financial problems by providing such ease to spend money someone doesn’t have.

14.  Creates another level of entitlement around what people have or deserve to have.

15.  Easy to disseminate hate-based thinking which leads to increased personal frustration/hate.

16.  Becoming a false but very present form of news gathering and sharing.

17.  Easier to unknowingly influence people from those with money, power and other resources

18.  Unknowingly socializing our youth in ways that will not prepare them for being good humans (revenge porn, violence, sexting, spread of ignorance and hate...).

19.  Bullying and Cyber bullying go hand in hand (btw, teenagers are suffering severe depression because of phones, social media and the Speed of Negativity).

20.  In many ways, simply, it’s ruining society...people don't even apologize in person anymore (like I said, there are lots of positives to be discussed in another article).

Most of us would agree that too much time spent on our phone and/or using social media isn’t good. In addition to everything else, look at how many people are suffering (will be in a few years) from neck related issues because of looking down so much. Here is to putting down our phone, picking up our head and making the best of 2018, for a few moments, without the presence of social media.