I caught up with a friend for a couple hours over a coffee today, and as usual we talked of many things together, but one thing stood out. Well, maybe it was a collection of things, but it sparked an idea in my brain about how we set ourselves up for failure through our behaviors. We were talking about Smallsteps' birthday and how she asked for books rather than toys, and my friend was saying how if he could go back (adult son), he would have spent far more time reading than buying toys. He now readily admits that he spoiled his child, with a garage full of toys that have hardly been used. He wishes he had pushed reading more on his son, and encouraged more skill activities, rather than time wasters.
As many of you know, I am not a fan of centralized social media or perhaps, social media in general, because I don't see the value it brings to the user, other than taking up time that could be spent on better things. I get it from those who are able to monetize themselves through the platforms, but for the consumer, it is very low value, and is a very poor alternative for direct social interaction.
It is for amusement.
And it is this last bit that got me thinking, because the smartphone itself is like an amusement park, that is filled with a whole range of sideshows and games of "skill" that make the user fell like they are getting value. However, there is a fundamental difference from an amusement park, which I asked my friend to confirm.
Have you ever gone to an amusement park alone?
No.
Because the value of the amusement park isn't in the sideshows, cotton candy or the rollercoasters; it is in sharing the experience with other people, friends, family, partners. I don't know about you, but just imagine going to an amusement park and playing some game, winning a prize, and being alone. Just imagine walking around with a big fluffy teddy, that you won for yourself.
That is most of social media.
An amusement park full of strangers, all in the same place, but not actually connected by anything personal, anything real. But it is more than that, as there is still this sense that for some reason, things have to be done to impress those strangers in some way, even though they are unlikely to ever cross paths with us again.
My friend spends a lot of time scrolling Twitter, even though he knows he gets no value from it, other than the occasional piece of news, that he could have got elsewhere. Again, it is just entertainment, an amusement park, a way to pass the time. But, it is filled with people who are all clamoring to be heard, to make a mark, to get some attention. But imagine going to a movie and the person sitting behind keeps loudly commenting and making bad jokes in the hope that the other viewers will laugh.
Impressive, or pathetic?
My friend was saying that he doesn't even really enjoy his time on Twitter, yet he keeps on scrolling through in the hope that there will be something interesting, funny, or useful. It really is like one of those games of "skill" in the amusement parks where there is some chance of winning, isn't it? Even though the algorithms have the game rigged so that the house always profits, people keep on spinning that wheel, and scrolling to the next post, and then the next, looking for the win, the dopamine hit.
Essentially, what we are doing is filling up our proverbial garage with toys that don't help us develop ourselves, and will soon be forgotten. Rather than having a garage full of equipment that we use often, we collect a lot of crap that takes up time and space, but brings us nothing.
I have been to a few amusement parks in my life, but there was very little value for me if I was alone. Of course I wasn't, so it was a shared experience with people I care about, playing games, having a laugh, and creating a memory that can be recalled at another time, to enrich a conversation with those people again - to relive the moments that matter.
What moments from online experience are worth reliving?
Do you remember all the hours you have spent scrolling social feeds? What about all the shows you watch, or even the books you have read? How much time have you spent online alone and what value has it brought you? Are you smarter, more skilled? But more importantly,
Are you happier?
As said, I get it if you are earning, if your business benefits from you being online, scrolling those feeds. But if you are just scrolling and not creating, not generating, what are you getting out of it?
Maybe it would be a good test for everyone to go to an amusement park alone and then see if it really is amusing, or is it just a waste of time. Sure, you could look at some people, and maybe go on a ride or two, but does the park have the same appeal, or is it lame?
When alone, are we still amused?
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]