I never fully understood the fact that millions of people especially within the age of 10 to 25 were literally building houses and eating and feeding off the addiction of Snapchat like it was their entire day. I found out about this statistics early January this year and I couldn't believe myself.... You might actually think Instagram is the worst but Snapchat is the absolute demon. I don't know how it got to that extent but it's actually there and no one is doing anything about it David. It's sad.
I don’t think Instagram is the worst. They are all varying degrees of bad (many others like TikTok included) The issue is that Instagram users are older - adults and some parents - should know better. The statistic about 3 and 4 year olds is a criticism of the parents.
I voted and I saw that item on CNET of all places lol
Having worked in product design, I recognize every one of those 'engagement' tactics you listed - they're straight from the 2012 growth hacking playbook. What's sad is how Snap maintained these knowingly harmful features while cultivating a 'kewl' brand image.
Creating illusion always is better than changing reality.' That applies equally to beauty filters and corporate accountability theater. Maybe we need less 'streaks' and more streaks of common sense.
Why am I LMAO that you said we are doomed? Because I actually believe we are. My wife knows I have my own Doomsday clock (currently at 2088). You can only participate and contribute the best you can in life BUT you better be enjoying it. Like you Note yesaterday said
Just finished your excellent article and putting together my thoughts. Between the two of us we could put together an indepth takedown on the whole High Tech BS as you will see in my comments which will show up on Substack sometime tomorrow as I’m actually going to spend 3 hours right now focused on some ideas to “make money”. That is my Entrepreneur line which is barely breathing
I think we need to compare dooms. Mine is actual or close to it human extinction
I love soccer too. My son and I went to Euro 2024 and are going to a couple of games in next years world cup.
I’m not surprised that you got in trouble for the article. Hopefully it doesn’t affect your contract prospects for the future. Or you’ll have to really ramp up writing and restaurant plans.
I would usually run my ify articles by my main client/boss first and I only hit publish if he says YES. Most of the times it’s a low key trolling tactic. Tech is also mind games. I think he will be opening a restaurant soon too. He is an ethical guy and he will never win with that attitude. He says this much.
Besides, your doom definitely wins. I was talking digital decay, and you're over here with the fall of civilization! Euro 2024 must’ve been amazing, especially sharing that with your son. We plan to take the month off for WC.
I LOVE LOVE soccer.
Like ever since I was 12 or 13.
This was a boring article I wrote almost one year ago.
It’s boring so maybe read when you want to sleep LOL
Great article. I am down now to just Euro and World Cup after years of supporting Arsenal in the Premier League. Their teams from 25 years ago were just awesome. The quality of the Italian league has dropped off while the Spanish league is too concentrated.
The hand of God was a bad refereeing decision
But the current Spanish team is breathtaking with its youth and their quality is just truly amazing. They deserved the euro cup and of course I was cheering for England as 3/4 English but the quality of Spain is astonishing.
Totally get that. Those old Arsenal teams were iconic pure grit and magic. And yes, Spain’s current squad is something else. Their composure and creativity at such a young age was unreal. They deserved the trophy.
The three games that we saw live were absolute magic. My son encouraged us to get there early and we literally just sat in the stands for 2+ hours before the game taking everything in and talking to people and drinking beer a bit. When the game started, it was absolutely riveting.
I guess I'm lucky. Except for long-form blogging (and YouTube science and math videos), I've been repelled by social media. I see it as modern-day soma ala "Brave New World". It's so utterly mindless that I've never seen the attraction.
Thorium reactors are da bomb. Oh, wait, actually they aren't. 😁
I think originally some social platforms had a decent reason for existing which gets changed dramatically over time to the absolute negative. I see some small indications on Substack. I love your Thorium note. Great headline that I wished I had thought of!!!
The ability to connect for disenfranchised social groups is a powerful advantage, but it also connects fringe hate groups, so even its main advantage is a two-edges sword (as most powerful tools are).
What they’ve done to mental health is a major downside, though, and we’re learning more and more about the cost.
Thanks for pointing out the folly of guarding against unlikely in-person stranger danger over the real perils of ubiquitous social media. I think Australia and Albania have the right idea.
Thanks for reading and for the feedback. Real life has got a bad rap. Digital life well over-valued. I live on a small island of 10,000 where kids here are living like how I grew up in the 1960s. They get to be outside with their friends Without supervision
Interesting to read more about SnapChat and Insta. I've been reading Haidt for years, too, and it seems convincing. I didn't know about thorium. I appreciate your take on this all, and don't need a morning newsletter. Have a great evening
Thanks for the feedback Hans. I am a great admirer of Haidt. His book on morality The Righteous Mind is brilliant. My wife just walked by and said she was shocked by my article. She had no idea
I never fully understood the fact that millions of people especially within the age of 10 to 25 were literally building houses and eating and feeding off the addiction of Snapchat like it was their entire day. I found out about this statistics early January this year and I couldn't believe myself.... You might actually think Instagram is the worst but Snapchat is the absolute demon. I don't know how it got to that extent but it's actually there and no one is doing anything about it David. It's sad.
I don’t think Instagram is the worst. They are all varying degrees of bad (many others like TikTok included) The issue is that Instagram users are older - adults and some parents - should know better. The statistic about 3 and 4 year olds is a criticism of the parents.
I voted and I saw that item on CNET of all places lol
Having worked in product design, I recognize every one of those 'engagement' tactics you listed - they're straight from the 2012 growth hacking playbook. What's sad is how Snap maintained these knowingly harmful features while cultivating a 'kewl' brand image.
Creating illusion always is better than changing reality.' That applies equally to beauty filters and corporate accountability theater. Maybe we need less 'streaks' and more streaks of common sense.
In other words David, we are doomed.
Why am I LMAO that you said we are doomed? Because I actually believe we are. My wife knows I have my own Doomsday clock (currently at 2088). You can only participate and contribute the best you can in life BUT you better be enjoying it. Like you Note yesaterday said
Just finished your excellent article and putting together my thoughts. Between the two of us we could put together an indepth takedown on the whole High Tech BS as you will see in my comments which will show up on Substack sometime tomorrow as I’m actually going to spend 3 hours right now focused on some ideas to “make money”. That is my Entrepreneur line which is barely breathing
2088 ???
I have mine set for this year or June 2026 right before the World Cup with my bad luck.
I love soccer btw
An indepth takedown might see me without a job hahahaha
I got into trouble for wiriting that article.
My main client/boss okayed it because he was like fuck em but it pissed off a couple people. Oh well.
Happy Wednesday David…
I think we need to compare dooms. Mine is actual or close to it human extinction
I love soccer too. My son and I went to Euro 2024 and are going to a couple of games in next years world cup.
I’m not surprised that you got in trouble for the article. Hopefully it doesn’t affect your contract prospects for the future. Or you’ll have to really ramp up writing and restaurant plans.
I would usually run my ify articles by my main client/boss first and I only hit publish if he says YES. Most of the times it’s a low key trolling tactic. Tech is also mind games. I think he will be opening a restaurant soon too. He is an ethical guy and he will never win with that attitude. He says this much.
Besides, your doom definitely wins. I was talking digital decay, and you're over here with the fall of civilization! Euro 2024 must’ve been amazing, especially sharing that with your son. We plan to take the month off for WC.
I LOVE LOVE soccer.
Like ever since I was 12 or 13.
This was a boring article I wrote almost one year ago.
It’s boring so maybe read when you want to sleep LOL
https://medium.com/illumination/soccer-was-my-initial-love-7afe9183a356?sk=292cdf8cac49808f4d458e0efffa0355
Great article. I am down now to just Euro and World Cup after years of supporting Arsenal in the Premier League. Their teams from 25 years ago were just awesome. The quality of the Italian league has dropped off while the Spanish league is too concentrated.
The hand of God was a bad refereeing decision
But the current Spanish team is breathtaking with its youth and their quality is just truly amazing. They deserved the euro cup and of course I was cheering for England as 3/4 English but the quality of Spain is astonishing.
Thank you for reading David.
Totally get that. Those old Arsenal teams were iconic pure grit and magic. And yes, Spain’s current squad is something else. Their composure and creativity at such a young age was unreal. They deserved the trophy.
The three games that we saw live were absolute magic. My son encouraged us to get there early and we literally just sat in the stands for 2+ hours before the game taking everything in and talking to people and drinking beer a bit. When the game started, it was absolutely riveting.
This is how I picture my World Cup to be next year :)
Cannot wait
Happy Friday David :)
I guess I'm lucky. Except for long-form blogging (and YouTube science and math videos), I've been repelled by social media. I see it as modern-day soma ala "Brave New World". It's so utterly mindless that I've never seen the attraction.
Thorium reactors are da bomb. Oh, wait, actually they aren't. 😁
I think originally some social platforms had a decent reason for existing which gets changed dramatically over time to the absolute negative. I see some small indications on Substack. I love your Thorium note. Great headline that I wished I had thought of!!!
The ability to connect for disenfranchised social groups is a powerful advantage, but it also connects fringe hate groups, so even its main advantage is a two-edges sword (as most powerful tools are).
What they’ve done to mental health is a major downside, though, and we’re learning more and more about the cost.
Thanks for pointing out the folly of guarding against unlikely in-person stranger danger over the real perils of ubiquitous social media. I think Australia and Albania have the right idea.
Thanks for reading and for the feedback. Real life has got a bad rap. Digital life well over-valued. I live on a small island of 10,000 where kids here are living like how I grew up in the 1960s. They get to be outside with their friends Without supervision
OMG this post is worth it just to see the phone protection video! I'm still laughing!!!
Looking ahead I see some of the new products are actually decent just weird looking. This and the gum shooter are the craziest so far
The gum shooter? Are people actually buying these things?
These products are many many steps from commercialization
I am interested in WHY people would spend time doing these things. This is the so-called innovation phase ehich I think is highly overrated
That was my next thought - why in the world are they spending time creating them!!!
Thanks a lot David for the the mention and for sharing the entire gamut of social media. Lot’s of nifty info there!
Appreciated your article and its sentiments
Interesting to read more about SnapChat and Insta. I've been reading Haidt for years, too, and it seems convincing. I didn't know about thorium. I appreciate your take on this all, and don't need a morning newsletter. Have a great evening
Thanks for the feedback Hans. I am a great admirer of Haidt. His book on morality The Righteous Mind is brilliant. My wife just walked by and said she was shocked by my article. She had no idea