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Why Facebook is a Joke (And various social media/smartphone insanity)

Sanj Modha

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jsk29

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IMG_2024.JPG Tweet by @naval that sums it up quite nicely:

The modern struggle

Lone individuals summoning inhuman willpower,
fasting, meditating, and exercising,

up against armies of scientists & statisticians weaponizing abundant food, screens, & medicine into junk food, clickbait news, infinite porn, endless games & addictive drugs.
 

Sanj Modha

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I remember GaryVee's advice to a young woman, it goes something like this: the time you spend looking at other people's "success" could be the time used to build your own success.

I'm also guilty of this from time to time, so I remind myself of that advice.

Regarding social media: My problem with social media is distraction.

It's easy to think, "Okay I'll just check for a moment. Let's see what friend X has posted." After 30 minutes, you find yourself mindlessly browsing the News Feed/Wall/Status/Post.

I still struggle with this, but not as distracted as before. Now, I also just use social media for business/advertising purposes. Other than that, I stay away.

"Winners focus on winning. Losers focus on winners" - I can't remember who said it.
 
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Brian Suh

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I believe there is two sides of humans. The ego and the self. The ego is what we portray to others and how we want others to view us because we feel shitty about ourselves. The self is how WE want to view OURSELVES and if others dont like it F*ck em because we feel GREAT about ourselves. They use social media as a drug to fill a void in their soul that has been ripped out of them when they kept saying "yes" to others which automatically means saying "no" to oneself.
 

Cyberseraph

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How do you guys deal with your girlfriends?

I have quit most of my social media (except messengers). I spoke to my girlfriend about the reasons and she gets it. But she is still checking Instagram and Facebook news feed every day. To be honest, I think it's almost impossible to meet women nowadays who are not using social media daily. But it feels like, I'm a guy who quit smoking and have a partner who supports me but keeps smoking in front of me every day. Other than that she is a keeper.

Just curious how other guys here are dealing with that in relationships.
 

Sander

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How do you guys deal with your girlfriends?

I have quit most of my social media (except messengers). I spoke to my girlfriend about the reasons and she gets it. But she is still checking Instagram and Facebook news feed every day. To be honest, I think it's almost impossible to meet women nowadays who are not using social media daily. But it feels like, I'm a guy who quit smoking and have a partner who supports me but keeps smoking in front of me every day. Other than that she is a keeper.

Just curious how other guys here are dealing with that in relationships.

Let her check it.

Maybe you need to cut the strings and delete your profiles (I guess you still have your profile/profiles since you have messenger)?

If you feel the way you describe with your smoking example, it seems like you're not all in on quitting social media. Why do you bother whether she's checking it or not?

Sounds like a want-to-quit-smoker, who still keeps a pack of cigarettes in the back pocket, you know, just in case.
 
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Xeon

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Really, as mentioned before, I really don't want people to quit FB or social media, because then, it'll be harder to use FB ads to target humans.
And Google Ads is not only expensive, but it works only when someone already knows what they want to search for.
 

MJ DeMarco

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How do you guys deal with your girlfriends?

I have quit most of my social media (except messengers). I spoke to my girlfriend about the reasons and she gets it. But she is still checking Instagram and Facebook news feed every day. To be honest, I think it's almost impossible to meet women nowadays who are not using social media daily. But it feels like, I'm a guy who quit smoking and have a partner who supports me but keeps smoking in front of me every day. Other than that she is a keeper.

Just curious how other guys here are dealing with that in relationships.

I wouldn't worry about it, but I would have some agreed upon guidelines, no smartphones at dinner, while at a movie, while sharing some experience, etc.
 

Zcott

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How do you guys deal with your girlfriends?

I have quit most of my social media (except messengers). I spoke to my girlfriend about the reasons and she gets it. But she is still checking Instagram and Facebook news feed every day. To be honest, I think it's almost impossible to meet women nowadays who are not using social media daily. But it feels like, I'm a guy who quit smoking and have a partner who supports me but keeps smoking in front of me every day. Other than that she is a keeper.

Just curious how other guys here are dealing with that in relationships.

I don't think it's gender specific. I've come across girls who quit social media but their boyfriends are still addicted.

I've significantly decreased my time on social media and how I use my phone. Typically leave it in another room and if we go out together for a short time I will leave my phone at home. She gets it. If you don't use your phone when eating out or doing things together, your partner will pick up the social ques and copy you.

Just don't ram your reasons down your partner's throat or you come across as a 'holier than though' type of person.
 
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rynor

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Powerful video. It's still, probably even more, relevant today. I talk about this often with my girlfriend who spends a lot of her time on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. She claims that it doesn't affect her much, but then she will mention things that are clearly from what she saw on social media. Especially since a majority of her close friends are starting to get married.

In any case, the act of spending time scrolling through social media can turn into an unhealthy habit if not done in moderation (as most things are). The comparative nature of these platforms are partially responsible for more and more anxiety. Seems very clear to me that if you're constantly comparing your life to others', you end up robbing yourself of any joy.
 

Velo

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Fake it till you make it personifies FB...sorry I meant "Metaverse"

BTW Metaverse sounds autistic as hell...no offense to people who actually have autism.
 

MJ DeMarco

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MTF

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Interesting concept, but it just strikes me as more self-important time-wasting...

Yeah it sounds completely useless. Like seriously, who cares what people are doing in a random 2-minute window? Most people would post the same boring shit every day anyway.
 

Black_Mamba_427

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Saw this...

New social media website that aims to strip the fakeness from it.

Interesting concept, but it just strikes me as more self-important time-wasting...

Sounds the same as Instagram stories to me?

I think social media is a great tool. It's great for getting in touch with old friends/connections. It's great for staying in touch or keeping up to date with people you don't see regularly. It's AMAZING for business.

But there is a looooot of bullshit on it and a lot of people post stuff that's completely fake, attention seeking or negative.

I only use instagram now for personal use. Quit using facebook years ago and never missed it once. I use TikTok, YouTube and Twitter for work. Have tried reddit and instagram for work, but only seemed to attract timewasters and people wanting freebies. It's funny, I got called a boomer (I've just turned 30) but some friends kids at a party because I used Instagram. They say that everyone under 25 is using snapchat mostly, then tiktok secondly.

I think FB shot themselves in the foot when everyones parents/grandparents started using it and commenting on their kids photos of them black out drunk or whatever.
 

MJ DeMarco

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Looks like some in Gen-Z are getting it, and understanding that their attention shouldn't be a monetized commodity.

Great to hear this, self-awareness as a teen is great asset.

 
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Felix Nachem

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Thats a very important topic.
Quitting Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook was the best thing that happened to me.
the benefits i've had since quitting(it's now 2 years without):
  • You have better social skills in the real world.
  • You are more focused and can concentrate in the things that matter.
  • You have more joy of the little things(like your morning coffee) in your day to day life.
  • You are just happier

Some people are talking about minimalism, but they just referring to materialistic things.
We should also be minimalistic with the content we consume.
 

Kevin88660

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I have zero addiction to social media except youtube.

I wonder who feels the same.

Maybe I have mild version of knowledge or information addiction.
 

MJ DeMarco

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Nice write up about how social media is distorting reality...


Although I'm not sure the solutions are solutions.

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MattR82

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I have zero addiction to social media except youtube.

I wonder who feels the same.

Maybe I have mild version of knowledge or information addiction.
I am the same. Throwing ourselves to the YouTube algo when bored is no different to getting sucked into instagram. I need to stop doing it.
 

Kevin88660

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I am the same. Throwing ourselves to the YouTube algo when bored is no different to getting sucked into instagram. I need to stop doing it.
I have zero interest in facebook and instalgram other than work or business purposes.

I have zero interest to know where someone had dinner last week and how good the food/place looks.

I find it a bit amusing that this is something that I struggle to even find it interesting where millions are finding it difficult to kick the addicition.

Another thing is alcohol. It just tastes bitter. I don’t find it nice to drink.

Different people do not different weak spots. Just know what your weak spots are.

I do find knowledge based content more addictive. But when you are at a growth stage of your life you should limit time wasting on that too.
 

EasyStu

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I have zero addiction to social media except youtube.

I wonder who feels the same.

Maybe I have mild version of knowledge or information addiction.
I have the same addiction. I love exploring new topics. From AI to evolution to programming to making music to mathematics to body language to financial system - it is awesome what people do and that we have the possiblitiy to learn and watch. But I have to be careful not to become a fractured knowledge consumer.
 
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