I've Been Thinking About Social Media Lately, Namely Which Specific Features Make Some Platforms Much

I've been thinking about social media lately, namely which specific features make some platforms much worse for mental health than others. I know I am not alone in feeling like TikTok in particular has affected my inner life.

One thing I've noticed is that I feel so much more inhibited than before. I will barely begin to have an idea for anything--an art piece, a text post, a joke while talking to a friend--before another part of me criticizes it and ultimately talks me out of doing or saying anything. I think there are a few mechanisms found on many major platforms that promote this kind of self-policing.

First of all, comment section design. I know the comment section is a cesspool on most platforms, but it seems particularly bad on TikTok, Instagram reels, and Twitter. On TikTok and Instagram reels, you can view the comments while simultaneously viewing/ listening to the post. I would assume that the human brain is simply not wired to process feedback and criticism of a thing while simultaneously processing the thing itself for the first time. I think this really prevents the viewer from being able to authentically react to the content they're seeing, and also intimately links the content with the feedback in a way you don't get with books, movies, etc.

The sheer number of commenters versus the single poster also creates a weird dynamic that I'm sure we're all familiar with by now. I think a lot of us want social media to function more like a conversation, but instead it is a performance. This sucks if you don't want to perform, but simply to engage with people around you. Of course, this is all amplified by anonymity and algorithm-driven dissemination of content, where people engaging with your posts don't necessarily care about you and there are no consequences for aggression and negativety.

I think overall, these factors make it feel like the world is full of infinite, faceless critics. The part of your brain that evolved to keep you in good social standing with your community hates this. You truly can't make everyone happy, and maybe if you knew the people who can be so ruthless online you genuinely wouldn't care how they feel about you.

Anyway, we live in a society of control. Try to be yourself and have fun, even though it's apparently much harder than it sounds.

Virginia Woolf, from The Waves

counting down the days until fall break

this is going to be difficult -> i am capable of doing difficult things -> i have done everything prior to this moment -> this difficulty will soon be proof of capability

19.09.2023

The travel back to Germany is taking more time than expected, but look! A cat!