When You Just Can’t Quit Social Media

Gen Zers spend a ton of time on social media, but a large share think it’s bad for them. (NYT)

A new Harris poll: Over 60% of Gen Z adults spend at least 4 hours a day on social media, with 23% spending 7+ hours daily.

• 60% believe social media has a negative impact on society.

• 52% say it benefits their lives, but 29% say it has hurt them personally.

• 50% regret that X/Twitter was invented, with 47% saying the same about TikTok.

The politics: The House of Representatives is currently weighing the Kids Online Safety Act, a bill which would require social media companies to install safeguards and controls to protect minors who use their platforms.

• Studies suggest a possible link between social media use and negative mental health outcomes among young people.

Bubba’s Two Cents

The discussion about social media toxicity is often centered around social platforms and technology and the different ways algorithms are used to keep people hooked. But I think an overlooked part of the conversation is the content. Scroll through social media for a few minutes, and you’ll see it’s a dumpster fire. And sure some of the garbage content is incentivized by the algorithms and technology. But it’s also the fault of creators, publications and, yes, consumers, who click, share and engage with it. I’m not trying to scold, I’m merely suggesting a way to improve the problem is for all of us to raise our standards.