Please Don't Show This To My Therapist

     Let's talk about the elephant in the virtual room: the hidden risks and perils of our constant use of social media. In a digital world where connectivity reigns supreme, it's crucial to acknowledge the shadow side of our beloved social media platforms. In “The Social Dilemma,” a film released in 2020, the veil over our beloved social media platforms is lifted, leaving no room for doubt. The film alternates between tech experts sharing their experiences at numerous well-known companies and a fictional family encountering the very harsh realities the experts are discussing. While the whole film is kind of disturbing, there are some points I found interesting and want to highlight.       I want to start by sharing a quote that appears about 30 minutes into the film. Since it appeared on the screen I haven't been able to shake it. It’s from Yale University professor Edward Tufte and it goes, “There are only two industries that call their customers ‘us...

          As a part of the younger generation, I frequent Snapchat. It’s a part of my everyday life. I am without a doubt more active on Snapchat than I am on any other social media platform such as Instagram or X (formerly known as Twitter). I probably know the app inside and out. But for some reason, when I think about Snapchat, I don’t think about advertisements or shopping for things like I do when I think about other platforms. However, in recent years, Snapchat has become the place for businesses to run their advertisements and many people don’t even know.  Here’s how they did it:   Shows:       You know those random stories that pop up on your discovery page? They always have some sort of cliffhanger or dramatic title or even feature a popular artist or athlete. Yeah, those are actually paid advertisements from companies. Snapchat offers two kinds of shows: Snap Originals, which are basically mini-documentaries or T...