Social media is saving you from profound levels of boredom and it's a problem

[C C]

https://www.sciencealert.com/technology-...-a-problem

INTRO: The constant distraction of social media could be preventing our minds from settling into a deeper, more complete feeling of boredom, according to a new study. Which is a shame, given complete boredom can be fertile grounds for innovation.

This 'profound' level of boredom is different to the initial, superficial level of tedium we experience when waiting at a bus stop or waiting for a television program to start. Yet this initial dip into monotony can be instantly dispelled with a check of Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or Facebook, meaning our boredom levels never progress into a zone of creativity.

"Profound boredom may sound like an overwhelmingly negative concept but, in fact, it can be intensely positive if people are given the chance for undistracted thinking and development," says Timothy Hill, a sociologist at the University of Bath in the UK.

"We must recognize that the pandemic was a tragic, destructive, consuming experience for thousands of less fortunate people, but we are all familiar with the stories of those in lockdown who found new hobbies, careers, or directions in life." (MORE - details)

[Magical Realist]

“That's right,' she told the girls. 'You are bored. And I'm going to let you in on a little secret about life. You think it's boring now? Well, it only gets more boring. The sooner you learn it's on you to make life interesting, the better off you'll be.”
― Maria Semple, Where'd You Go, Bernadette

[Syne]

Smart or productive people never get bored, with or without the internet.

[Yazata]

INTRO: The constant distraction of social media could be preventing our minds from...

Maybe because I wasn't born in the 21'st century, I can't help thinking that all this talk about "social media" is overblown and exaggerated.

But then, every kid that I see is staring at a cell-phone constantly, so maybe there is something to it.

Sometimes I feel like one of the last normal human beings, from before everyone else became a cell-phone zombie.

I own a cell phone but I rarely carry it with me. It's normally turned off.

[Syne]

I don't do social media and usually only use my phone for talk and text. I even try to remember things myself before running to Google for answers.
Relying heavily on the hive-mind has to be detrimental to cognitive development, capacity, and utility. Social media often seems to do the same thing for emotions. Whether it's humor, validation, drama, etc., people can get those affects without doing anything themselves, in real life. This can make people delusional about real life, expecting that they can get or achieve more than they actually can.

[Magical Realist]

INTRO: The constant distraction of social media could be preventing our minds from...

Maybe because I wasn't born in the 21'st century, I can't help thinking that all this talk about "social media" is overblown and exaggerated.

But then, every kid that I see is staring at a cell-phone constantly, so maybe there is something to it.

Sometimes I feel like one of the last normal human beings, from before everyone else became a cell-phone zombie.

I own a cell phone but I rarely carry it with me. It's normally turned off.

I don't own a cellphone. Never have and never will. It's one of my last neo-luddite holdouts against the encroaching invasion of superfluous technology into our lives. I have never liked phones anyway. They are so intrusive, demanding our attention and interrupting our activities. I remain human to the extent that I stay in charge of what I choose to engage with.

[Leigha]

I think social media while it has its positives, can turn into a time waster more than a benefit. It often can be a way to procrastinate when you should be doing something else of way more value. I’m very bad at procrastinating (or good at it? hmm …) so, it’s easy to just get lost scrolling through nonsense in my feed and put off tasks that are important. Even forum scrolling can fall into this category, at times.

I’m thinking that most people use social media (unless they’re making money from it) in a similar way. It can feel like you’re doing something productive by posting and offering support to someone etc but in reality, you’re not accomplishing much at all. I’m trying to get this art hobby I’ve started last year, to become part-time income and it probably would be well on its way if I didn’t succumb to online distractions.

Dear diary…

---

INTRO: The constant distraction of social media could be preventing our minds from...

Maybe because I wasn't born in the 21'st century, I can't help thinking that all this talk about "social media" is overblown and exaggerated.

But then, every kid that I see is staring at a cell-phone constantly, so maybe there is something to it.

Sometimes I feel like one of the last normal human beings, from before everyone else became a cell-phone zombie.

I own a cell phone but I rarely carry it with me. It's normally turned off.

I don't own a cellphone. Never have and never will. It's one of my last neo-luddite holdouts against the encroaching invasion of superfluous technology into our lives. I have never liked phones anyway. They are so intrusive, demanding our attention and interrupting our activities. I remain human to the extent that I stay in charge of what I choose to engage with.

Suppose you’re stuck somewhere and need help? You could use a cell phone for only emergencies. Interesting that you don’t own one, MR! ^_^

[Magical Realist]

I think social media while it has its positives, can turn into a time waster more than a benefit. It often can be a way to procrastinate when you should be doing something else of way more value. I’m very bad at procrastinating (or good at it? hmm …) so, it’s easy to just get lost scrolling through nonsense in my feed and put off tasks that are important. Even forum scrolling can fall into this category, at times.

I’m thinking that most people use social media (unless they’re making money from it) in a similar way. It can feel like you’re doing something productive by posting and offering support to someone etc but in reality, you’re not accomplishing much at all. I’m trying to get this art hobby I’ve started last year, to become part-time income and it probably would be well on its way if I didn’t succumb to online distractions.

Dear diary…

---

INTRO: The constant distraction of social media could be preventing our minds from...

Maybe because I wasn't born in the 21'st century, I can't help thinking that all this talk about "social media" is overblown and exaggerated.

But then, every kid that I see is staring at a cell-phone constantly, so maybe there is something to it.

Sometimes I feel like one of the last normal human beings, from before everyone else became a cell-phone zombie.

I own a cell phone but I rarely carry it with me. It's normally turned off.

I don't own a cellphone. Never have and never will. It's one of my last neo-luddite holdouts against the encroaching invasion of superfluous technology into our lives. I have never liked phones anyway. They are so intrusive, demanding our attention and interrupting our activities. I remain human to the extent that I stay in charge of what I choose to engage with.

Suppose you’re stuck somewhere and need help? You could use a cell phone for only emergencies. Interesting that you don’t own one, MR! ^_^

I have a 911 caller in the glove compartment of my car. As for getting stuck somewhere, I think I'll do what we all did before cellphones were invented and just rely on the courtesy of strangers..

[Leigha]

I think social media while it has its positives, can turn into a time waster more than a benefit. It often can be a way to procrastinate when you should be doing something else of way more value. I’m very bad at procrastinating (or good at it? hmm …) so, it’s easy to just get lost scrolling through nonsense in my feed and put off tasks that are important. Even forum scrolling can fall into this category, at times.

I’m thinking that most people use social media (unless they’re making money from it) in a similar way. It can feel like you’re doing something productive by posting and offering support to someone etc but in reality, you’re not accomplishing much at all. I’m trying to get this art hobby I’ve started last year, to become part-time income and it probably would be well on its way if I didn’t succumb to online distractions.

Dear diary…

---

INTRO: The constant distraction of social media could be preventing our minds from...

Maybe because I wasn't born in the 21'st century, I can't help thinking that all this talk about "social media" is overblown and exaggerated.

But then, every kid that I see is staring at a cell-phone constantly, so maybe there is something to it.

Sometimes I feel like one of the last normal human beings, from before everyone else became a cell-phone zombie.

I own a cell phone but I rarely carry it with me. It's normally turned off.

I don't own a cellphone. Never have and never will. It's one of my last neo-luddite holdouts against the encroaching invasion of superfluous technology into our lives. I have never liked phones anyway. They are so intrusive, demanding our attention and interrupting our activities. I remain human to the extent that I stay in charge of what I choose to engage with.

Suppose you’re stuck somewhere and need help? You could use a cell phone for only emergencies. Interesting that you don’t own one, MR! ^_^

I have a 911 caller in the glove compartment of my car. As for getting stuck somewhere, I think I'll do  what we all did before cellphones were invented and just rely on the courtesy of strangers..

I've never heard of a '911 caller.' Hmm, interesting. I think if social media went dark for say 90 days, the courtesy of many a stranger might return. I believe it has been one of the main causes of political tension in the US.