Phones probably aren’t helping, but there’s another reason why mental health would be on the decline and willing participation in society is less than enthusiastic.
The free sharing of information on the internet has made it incredibly clear just how morally bankrupt our societies are across the board. You can’t pretend that the suffering out there is miniscule when you can see it all play out over the internet. The world is a total mess, the people in power are largely malicious, we’re headed for an environmental catastrophe of apocalyptic proportions, and we seem collectively determined to do absolutely nothing about any of it.
Why would people not be depressed? It’s hardly surprising that suicide rates would be up in such an environment, nor is it surprising that some people cope with it by leaning into the horror hard and straight up endorsing it.
Like okay, maybe kids should use phones less, but what really needs to happen is humanity needs to develop some humanity. We are literal monsters complicit in mass torture and environmental destruction. We have some work to do if we want to not start feeling suicidal the moment we stop and look around.
The free sharing of information makes it abundantly clear that, unless you’re born rich, it’s likely you will suffer a lifetime of poverty, and that’s becoming true for nearly the entire planet. I am really, really glad I never procreated.
The Finnish are lucky, though.
I am really, really glad I never procreated.
Why? Wouldn’t this depend on your particular circumstances?
The free sharing of information on the internet has made it incredibly clear just how morally bankrupt our societies are across the board
It used to be free shaing, now its algorithm based and curated for you to keep you engaged (rageing) and sell you shit.
you have to activly take steps to remove yourself from the negative feedback loop and most people don’t even recognize that they are in one.
Indeed, most seem to miss the point that phones aren’t the problem, people are. But I guess it’s always fun to fear monger about a new piece of technology.
Watching what social media has done to our culture over the last 20 years has made me very glad I grew up without, and even more glad that I’m constitutionally able to delete my FB, Twitter and Reddit accounts and never touched TikTok.
I was a horribly depressed youth for a variety of reasons. I can’t imagine how I’d have turned out if social media had existed when I was growing up.
People on Lemmy: I grew up with the internet and didn’t read the article. I’m fine. Parents just need to parent.
Actual Zoomers: social media is a hell scape but it’s the only place to find people my age. I hate everything.
thats not what lemmings are saying here tho
Phones aren’t the problem, they just enable us to see people are. But I guess it’s always fun to fear monger about a new piece of technology.
Phones and social media aren’t “new”.
I use my phone way too much but it actually is a pretty good way to cope vs say drinking. I’ve had periods where I went without it, and it didn’t resolve my issues. Before phones existed I used games instead, so it just shifts.
We’ve had some strong recessions in the last 15 years and it seems to me that that affects everybody negatively. Like say two parents working all the time. Lower teacher to student ratio. Overburdened healthcare systems.
I might be wrong about that, but that’s how I see it at the moment. For sure there are many factors involved here, I just feel that pinning it on phones goes a bit too far for me.
Archive Link https://archive.is/XepIy
