As someone still using a flip phone, who racks up 4 minutes of talking time per month, whose texts consist of Yes, No, and OK, has never taken a selfie in his life, and doesn’t have a facebook, linkedin, or twitter account, I think I’m an excellent impartial observer of the extreme narcissism and shallowness of our iGadget culture. At the recent Foo Fighters concert I attended 80% of the audience was so busy recording the concert on their iGadgets they couldn’t actually enjoy the music.
The vast majority of people in NYC during my recent trip were mesmerized by their iGadgets as they blundered down the streets. Idiots sit in restaurants and take pictures of their food to post on Facebook as they check in and let the world know where they are and what they are eating. Meanwhile, their food has gotten cold and their kids are left to play on their iGadgets rather than talk with their parents.
We are the shallowest culture in the history of mankind. Make sure you give me a like. My self esteem depends on it.
Society’s New Addiction: Getting a “Like” over Having a Life
New research shows obsession with posting photos, checking phones corresponds with lower enjoyment.
A mother of a 3-year old writes: “I disciplined my son and he threw a tantrum that I thought was so funny that I disciplined him again just so I could video it. After uploading it on Instagram I thought, ‘What did I just do?’”
A new study by Joseph Grenny and David Maxfield, co-authors of four New York Times bestsellers, reveals that more and more of us are losing connection with our lives in order to earn “likes” and social media praise. We have, in a sense, turned into social media “trophy hunters.” According to the study, 58 percent of respondents say posting that perfect picture has prevented them from enjoying life experiences—and has sometimes even caused them to behave in bizarre or immoral ways. One in four have even allowed their smartphone to distract during “intimate” moments.
What’s more, the online survey of 1,623 people revealed that this obsession with social media interactions and trophy hunting isn’t just distracting—it’s dictating lives. Consider:
- Nearly 3 out of 4 people admit to being rude or disconnected from others because they’re more focused on their phone than on the other person
- 91 percent have seen a tourist miss enjoyment in the moment trying to get it on social media—and many acknowledge doing the same thing themselves.
- 79 percent have seen a parent undermine their own experience in a child’s life in an effort to capture the perfect post.
- 14 percent have risked their own safety to try and get a good posting.
Many cited increased unhappiness due to:
- Not spending time listening to or being present with people they cared about: “Trying to capture and post my daughter’s dance event, I completely missed it. She asked me, ‘did you see me?’ and I really didn’t. It was awful.”
- Reckless behavior while driving: “I was severely disappointed in my myself every time I couldn’t ignore the urge to pick up the phone in the car. Thank goodness nothing bad happened.”
- Embarrassing moments taking ‘selfies’:“I’ve seen people dodging cars, tourists and pedestrians to get a quick selfie in the midst of busy Hollywood Blvd. – only to yell out “Noooo” on the curb when they realized it didn’t turn out.”
- Posting something online they otherwise normally wouldn’t have said.
Continue reading “GETTING A “LIKE” OVER HAVING A LIFE”
