# The Dilemma of Social Media: A Personal Reflection on Its Impact
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Chapter 1: My Struggles with Social Media
If you were to take a quick look at my Twitter or Facebook accounts, you'd probably notice my disappointingly low follower count and lack of engagement. This could lead you to believe that I’m either uninterested, disconnected, or apathetic. In 2022, social media has become a significant metric for assessing one's social presence, and I seem to fall short.
In truth, I find social media incredibly off-putting—I'd rather subject myself to something truly painful than engage with these platforms. For a considerable time, I opted out of participating in them altogether. Even now, when I do find myself on Twitter or Facebook, it’s a begrudging act, primarily to share an article I've authored, as if I'm shouting into a void, and then I promptly exit, feeling drained from my brief venture into this digital realm.
It truly feels like being trapped in a matrix, and there simply aren't enough red or blue pills to keep me invested. To me, it represents an intellectual desert by design.
When Twitter first emerged, I created an account but hardly used it. The limitations of 280 characters struck me as insufficient for meaningful communication. It seemed like a format that rewarded the loudest and most abrasive voices while sidelining nuance and truth. This approach felt like a deliberate effort to degrade public discourse and diminish the democratic process.
I was not keen on contributing to that. While I might enjoy sharing pictures of dogs or travel, I often feel repulsed by the nature of these platforms. From the very beginning, I harbored a deep ambivalence and was concerned about the impact they would have on society, democracy, and our everyday lives.
Section 1.1: The Cultural Decay of Social Media
Unfortunately, my initial concerns about social media have manifested in ways I never anticipated, underscored by our current reality. Major social media companies have become central to American life, gradually undermining our democracy like a cultural parasite as traditional media outlets close their doors.
Approximately half of Americans now source their news from social media, a staggering statistic considering the rampant misinformation that floods these platforms. Despite valid critiques of media in the U.S., it appears a functioning democracy relies on some form of informational gatekeeping to prevent harmful falsehoods from gaining traction.
This lack of gatekeeping has had disastrous outcomes. Our political landscape has become unhinged, public discussions are tainted, and democracy itself is under siege. The American political scene now resembles a typical Facebook feed or Twitter trend—overrun with conspiracy theories and falsehoods.
As someone who writes about politics, I’ve observed these platforms consume our society in real-time. Unscrupulous actors have learned to leverage this new information landscape for financial and political gain, with troubling consequences.
Donald Trump famously utilized Twitter as a platform to propel himself into the presidency, only to be banned after inciting a violent insurrection. His political journey began on Twitter, where he spread disinformation and unfounded claims, including those about Obama’s birthplace.
Twitter played a pivotal role in shaping Trump's persona, ultimately serving as a tool for his final acts of aggression when he lost the 2020 election. This convergence of misinformation and politics is a reality that should have come as no surprise.
Section 1.2: The Personal Toll of Social Media
The story of social media doesn’t inspire much faith in these platforms, nor does it enhance my growing disillusionment with them. Beyond the overarching negative impact on democracy, I simply find them tiresome.
As a writer, I seek depth, complexity, and nuance. However, the driving force behind these companies seems to prioritize simplicity and loudness. Personally, I find these platforms to be the antithesis of educational or enlightening experiences. The fact that half of America turns to them for news offers some insight into our political dysfunction, which is often dominated by easily disproven falsehoods.
Social media stands in stark contrast to the experience of immersing oneself in a good book. Given my love for reading, this comparison is perhaps the harshest critique I could offer. Yet, there’s a silver lining, as these technologies birthed Medium.
Ev Williams, a key figure in the creation of Medium, emerged from the foundational elements of Twitter, and I genuinely appreciate Medium, despite its imperfections.
I wonder if I’m simply being a curmudgeon or if my political leanings are skewing my perspective. In my view, everything is political; it’s challenging to dissociate the significant harm these platforms have inflicted on the United States from my own experiences as a user.
Nonetheless, I don’t judge those who enjoy using Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. I only wish these platforms would take more responsibility for mitigating the damages they cause.
Perhaps I would feel less conflicted if they prioritized users and societal well-being over profit margins. Then again, maybe that’s unrealistic. Regardless, there’s no denying the influence these platforms wield, and now I’m off to share this article on Twitter.