6 degrees of Kevin Bacon

Everyone wants to be seen (online)

Missed a couple days.. that ones on me.. Man enough to say it.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the net value of social media. The Pro’s v.s. the Con’s. Some would say that if you catch yourself making a pro’s and con’s list, you’ve already lost. And I think that’s mostly correct for two-way doors - reversible decisions - but deleting social media is kind of a one way door. It is at least in the sense that re-making it wouldn’t be the same.

So headlining the con’s is obviously the wasted time and energy. Studies come out all the time saying it increases neuroticism, depression, etc.. and to be honest I don’t even really think it’s a debate.

But there’s a pro - connection. It helps people stay connected and keep up to date with each-other. We used to be 6 degrees separated between one person and another. In the age of social networks we are 4. Probably closer to 2 when you account for people in your industry, education level, etc…

Thats a pretty mind blowing fact that I don’t think can be understated. In a sense, the world has become smaller, literally everyone on earth over 8 billino people are within FOUR degrees of separation from you.

It is actually an asset. I’m sure everyone has heard some guy say “your network is your net worth” and thought what a tool…but there’s just enough truth to stick around.

There’s also a question of the strength of connections. Is it just an illusion of building a network, when in reality it’s just building parasocial relationships with strangers on the internet? Is watching someone else do things tricking you into thinking you don’t need to do things?

I think that is the real risk honestly. It’s the illusion of being productive by learning little factoids on twitter, or the illusion of being social by sending posts to your friends on instagram. But it’s just entertainment. Not education, not being social.

My sense is that it’s largely a net negative unless you’re making $$ off of it in some way. For every ounce of value it provides there are multiple pounds of dead weight.

But it’s honestly addicting, and it feels like it would be isolating to not have social media.

Where I stand is that i’ve heard a couple people have success with this brick thing that blocks the apps on your phone. If that helps, I probably wont take any other steps. If not, I’ll probably just delete Instagram and Twitter.