Tag: social media

Closed up image of a Female using TikTok application on a smartphone in home. 5 September, 2022. ChiangMai, Thailand.

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post

Peter Biles
Date
January 16, 2025

Categorized
Technology

Tagged
addiction, FBI, Foreign Adversary, Information, Jonathan Haidt, National Security, RedNote, social media, TikTok, tiktok ban}

TikTok is on the Verge of a Ban. Now Users Are Flocking to Another Chinese App.

_{National security and the mental health of a generation are at stake} _{Peter Biles
January 16, 2025

3

Technology}

A federal ban of the wildly popular social media app TikTok is set to take effect on Sunday, unless a last-minute intervention occurs, or an American-owned business buys the company. The FBI, as well as several state authorities around the country, have said the app represents a national security threat, as it allows a foreign adversary to access the data of the 170 million Americans who use it. Apart from the issue of national security, plenty of people, particularly sociologist Jonathan Haidt, have pointed out TikTok’s profound negative impact on kids and users in general. TikTok uses an advanced algorithm system to hook its users. Haidt and his research assistant, Zach Rausch, list out the multiple harms: Executives within the Read More ›

Conceptual illustration of people with eyeballs as their heads looking at mobilephones

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post

Peter Biles
Date
January 6, 2025

Categorized
Technology

Tagged
AI, attention, ChatGPT, Distraction, Experience, Gen Z, internet, Jonathan Haidt, online life, Smartphones, social media, Tech, the anxious generation, tv}

2025: Rejecting Brain Rot

_{Toward a more embodied and human way of life} _{Peter Biles
January 6, 2025

3

Technology}

Following the data, observing personal experience, and developing another vision for human flourishing can get us a step closer to a fuller, intentional life. Read More ›

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post

Peter Biles
Date
December 18, 2024

Categorized
Social Media

Tagged
Bluesky, social media, society, X}

Is Bluesky Any Better than X? Social Media’s Real Problem Remains

_{Whatever platform it is, social media will always have toxicity} _{Peter Biles
December 18, 2024

3

Social Media}

Singal wisely concludes the essay by saying that we don’t have a right-wing or a left-wing problem but a human problem. Read More ›

Woman reading book at evening at home close up

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post

Peter Biles
Date
December 13, 2024

Tagged
C.S. Lewis, Digital media, Distraction, fiction, Literature, Novel, social media, Tech}

In a Changing Media Landscape, Keep the Novel

_{Novels are unique in their capacity to shed insight into the complexity of our world and human nature} _{Peter Biles
December 13, 2024

3}

The novel is one of those traditional mediums that struggles in our screen-heavy society. Read More ›

Cerebral cortex disintegrating into ash, surrealism, muted grayscale tones, digital sketch, brain cells collapsing into void, signifying loss of memory

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post

Peter Biles
Date
December 8, 2024

Categorized
Technology

Tagged
addiction, attention, China, dopamine, Free speech, social media, Supreme Court, TikTok}

Oxford Word of the Year: Brain Rot

_{The flood of online content deteriorates our mental and intellectual states} _{Peter Biles
December 8, 2024

4

Technology}

Ironically, “brain rot” started making the rounds primarily on TikTok, one of the biggest culprits when it comes to getting people addicted to screens. Read More ›

Social Trading In this image we see a futuristic financial technology innovation where social media platforms have become a hub for trading and investment discussions. The

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post

Peter Biles
Date
November 11, 2024

Categorized
Arts & Culture

Tagged
CNN, Content creation, democracy, Free speech, Joe Rogan, Legacy media, Podcast, Politics, social media, Substack, Trump, Twitter, Washington Post}

A Big Question: Is Legacy Media Dead?

_{The rise of citizen journalism and considering what we lose without traditional "gatekeepers"} _{Peter Biles
November 11, 2024

4

Arts & Culture}

Used to, you had to go through the media gatekeepers to put your work out there. With the advent of the internet and platforms like X, Substack, YouTube, and others, however, the masses can all create personal accounts and honk news and opinions into the world. The competition is no longer just between different outlets, but now extends to individual people. Who can speak the loudest and draw the most attention? Who can create the most effective personal “brand”? The Washington Post saw a massive drop in subscriptions following its decision not to endorse a presidential candidate for the 2024 election. But its influence was already declining. The media giant responsible for breaking the vast background story of the Watergate Read More ›

World Day against Human Trafficking. A man with his hands tied. Illegal human trafficking often involves serious violations of fundamental human rights

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podcast

Charlie Crockett and Robert J. Marks
Date
October 31, 2024

Tagged
Charlie Crockett, Human Trafficking, social media}

How Human Trafficking Flourishes in the Age of Social Media and How We Can Push Back

_{Charlie Crockett and Robert J. Marks
October 31, 2024

1}

It’s tempting to think that human trafficking is a problem in a far-away land. Unfortunately, it’s much closer. Like in our back yard closer. On this episode, host Robert J. Marks speaks with Charlie Crockett, head educational trainer with Unbound Now, an organization that works to combat human trafficking through education, training, victim services, and partnerships with law enforcement. The Read More ›

Retro cell phone vintage concept. White old mobile telephone in neon pink blue light. Retro wave. Pop art. minimal idea concept.

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post

Peter Biles
Date
October 3, 2024

Categorized
Technology

Tagged
Anxiety, Gen Z, Jonathan Haidt, News, phones, Smartphone, social media, Tech}

The Dumbphone Revolution?

_{It's a crazy idea, but what if we just started using our phones to call and text people?} _{Peter Biles
October 3, 2024

4

Technology}

But being constantly online, constantly available to reach, and constantly bombarded with the woes of the world is a recipe for emotional turmoil. Read More ›

Artificial intelligence chat, anthropomorphic robot artificial intelligence talking with human. Generative AI

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post

Peter Biles
Date
September 20, 2024

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence

Tagged
AI, Artificial Intelligence, social media, Technology, Twitter}

AI-Generated Social Media? Looks Like It’s Already Here.

_{The only problem? You can't simulate community.} _{Peter Biles
September 20, 2024

4

Artificial Intelligence}

Do we need another app simulating human experience to solve the loneliness crisis? More simulation entails further disconnection. Read More ›

Mars, the red planet with detailed surface features and craters in deep space. Blue Earth planet in outer space. mars and earth, concept

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post

Peter Biles
Date
July 26, 2024

Categorized
Technology

Tagged
Anxiety, Depression, Gen Z, Jonathan Haidt, mental health, religion, social media, Technology, the anxious generation}

Growing Up on the Internet is Like Growing Up on Mars

_{We need to come back to Earth} _{Peter Biles
July 26, 2024

3

Technology}

Not only is the online world making us angry and sad. It's also causing our character to atrophy. Read More ›

Incredible night view of Stellisee lake with Matterhorn Cervino peak in Swiss Alps. Millions of stars in the pre-bright sky. Zermatt resort location, Switzerland. Landscape astrophotography

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post

Peter Biles
Date
July 24, 2024

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence

Tagged
AI, censorship, Culture, Elon Musk, Humanity, Jordan Peterson, religion, social media}

Musk Wants to Use AI to Understand the Universe. Will it Work?

_{Could AI ever aid our quest to fully understand the universe?} _{Peter Biles
July 24, 2024

2

Artificial Intelligence}

Jordan Peterson and Elon Musk sat down this week for an extensive conversation ranging from technology, AI, politics, and even religion and questions of the metaphysical. These two prominent figures are active on Musk’s X, and frequently call out infringements on free speech and other authoritarian measures they see as a danger. In one interesting point in the interview, Musk described how he diverged in his views from his friend Larry Page on AI safety. Page evidently believes that we will “upload our minds to the computer,” to which Peterson said, “There’s not much difference between that and the death of humanity.” Musk nonetheless is the developer of his own AI system and believes that AI can aid humanity’s perennial Read More ›

Horizontal surreal magazine collage of young female look at giant hand hold phone addicted social media news fakes on creative background

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post

Peter Biles
Date
June 24, 2024

Categorized
Social Media

Tagged
addiction, Facebook, Frances Haugen, Instagram, Mark Zuckerberg, mental health, Meta, New York Times, Screen addiction, social media, Vivek Murthy}

Zuck and Co Are Under Fire (Again)

_{Meta targeted teens, according to internal company emails} _{Peter Biles
June 24, 2024

3

Social Media}

Is there any company out there who has hurt young people more than Mark Zuckerberg’s gargantuan Meta empire? A host of lawsuits and a damning report from the New York Times tells us that the massive parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp willingly pursued its addictive business model despite the evident damage its products were doing to users, particularly kids. Who remembers when Facebook launched and its promises of a more connected world? Who remembers the optimists hailing the internet as the next step in human connectivity? A mere twenty years later and the technology lords are facing an overdue reckoning. Natasha Singer writes, The state lawsuits against Meta reflect mounting concerns that teenagers and children on social media Read More ›

Young beautiful caucasian purple grey hair woman outdoor in the city on the subway using smart phone hand hold - technology, social network, communication concept

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post

Peter Biles
Date
June 17, 2024

Tagged
addiction, freya india, Gen Z, New York Post, social media}

Ozempic: Weight Loss Drug or Supermodel Shortcut?

_{Social media fuels impossible body standards. So, Gen Z flocks to weight loss drugs.} _{Peter Biles
June 17, 2024

4}

Ozempic, the weight loss medication that diminishes one’s sense of hunger, has been used as a simple and yet effective treatment for obesity. There is debate on whether the use of drugs to combat weight gain is healthy, or should be pushed back against by simply eating better and engaging in regular exercise. Now, though, a certain brand of Ozempic users is complicating the discussion. People, particularly the young, are starting to use Ozempic to carve out the ideal beach bod. But the risks to this aren’t benign, according to a report by the New York Post. Using Ozempic or other weight loss drugs without a proper prescription can be dangerous. Per the Post: “Drugs including Ozempic and Wegovy should Read More ›

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post

Peter Biles
Date
June 5, 2024

Categorized
Social Media

Tagged
Elon Musk, social media, Twitter, Twitter and adult porn, X}

X Now Allows Adult Content According to Policy Update

_{Formerly, the platform didn't have an actual rule. That's now changed.} _{Peter Biles
June 5, 2024

2

Social Media}

The pushback against the decision continues as users are concerned that the site will come to resemble little more than a traditional pornography website. Read More ›

Cell phone addiction concept. Many teens hold smart device. Social media like obsession. Online communication problem. People watch mobile gadget screen. Art illustration. Cyberspace internet network.

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post

Peter Biles
Date
June 3, 2024

Categorized
Social Media

Tagged
AI, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Gen Z, Jonathan Haidt, social media, the anxious generation}

Haidt on AI: Social Media Companies Use It to Hook the Vulnerable

_{The famous American social psychologist and professor at New York University, Jonathan Haidt, thinks phones have essentially ruined a generation} _{Peter Biles
June 3, 2024

3

Social Media}

His new book The Anxious Generation dives into the data that shows it. Adolescent mental health took a nosedive in the early 2010s: Smartphone world. Read More ›

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post

Peter Biles
Date
May 28, 2024

Categorized
Technology

Tagged
addiction, Big Tech, Gen Z, Jonathan Haidt, screentime, social media, the anxious generation}

Governor Huckabee Sanders Against Big Tech

_{Governor takes action based on Jonathan Haidt's research} _{Peter Biles
May 28, 2024

2

Technology}

It's a strong sign that political figures are starting to realize the negative effects of social media on young people. Read More ›

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post

Peter Biles
Date
May 26, 2024

Categorized
Arts & Culture

Tagged
censorship, Content creator, Elon Musk, Free speech, Mainstream Media, media, social media, Substack, Writing, X}

Substack: A Return to the Golden Era of Blogging

_{The writing platform is friendly toward free speech. So why doesn't Elon Musk like it?} _{Peter Biles
May 26, 2024

5

Arts & Culture}

Substack very well could the future of independent writing. As mainstream journalism shrinks, we could see Substack grow even more. Read More ›

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post

Heather Zeiger
Date
May 7, 2024

Categorized
China, Technology

Tagged
censorship, China, Communism, data, Data privacy, espionage, Free speech, social media, Surveillance, TikTok, tiktok ban}

Is TikTok a National Security Risk?

_{Consuming without thinking is fertile soil for propaganda} _{Heather Zeiger
May 7, 2024

7

China, Technology}

To be clear, the bill does not actually ban TikTok. It is a forced sale. This is an important nuance. Read More ›

Composite collage image of delighted black white colors person hold telephone raise fist celebrate like notification facebook instagram tiktok

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post

Peter Biles
Date
May 1, 2024

Categorized
Addiction

Tagged
addiction, Facebook, freya india, Jonathan Haidt, mental health, Narcissism, pleasure, screens, social media, virtue}

Beyond Social Media’s Impact on Mental Health

_{Social media addiction can harm more than our moods} _{Peter Biles
May 1, 2024

3

Addiction}

A young writer, herself a member of Gen Z, has dared to point out the obvious about social media. Sure, it’s verifiably making us sad and anxious, but it goes beyond that: it’s turning us into bad people. Freya India, a columnist at Quillette and a new contributor to Jonathan Haidt’s Substack After Babel, notes that while it’s important to talk about social media and mental health, it’s just as vital to talk about what this stuff is doing to our character. She writes, Our loss of empathy, our lack of regard for others, our neurotic obsession with our own image — it’s taking a toll. Maybe subconsciously. But I think deep down we know it. We know when people are using Read More ›

Child watching cellphone screen at night. Blue light from smartphone device glowing on little girl face

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post

Peter Biles
Date
April 19, 2024

Categorized
Technology

Tagged
Anxiety, Cell phones, Depression, Gen Z, iGen, Jonathan Haidt, loneliness, mental health, social media}

Helpful Video Maps Out Gen Z Mental Health Crisis

_{The glow of the screen is swallowing a generation, and it needs to stop} _{Peter Biles
April 19, 2024

2

Technology}

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s new book The Anxious Generation topped the New York Times bestsellers’ chart two weeks in a row, and has been stirring up a lot of commentary in the meantime. Haidt’s basic thesis is that we have drastically overprotected children in the real world and woefully under-protected them in the virtual world. A new video helpfully lines out this argument, and shows why today’s generation, more than the Millennials who preceded them, struggle so intensely with anxiety, depression, and loneliness. In a recent interview, author and public intellectual Andy Crouch said that while he doesn’t know if it can be backed up neurologically, there is something about the “glow” of screens that wakens something primordial in the Read More ›