Your Loneliness Was a Design Decision Made by Your Enemy
13 days ago
- #loneliness
- #capitalism
- #solidarity
- The author reflects on the best days of their life being those spent away from screens, engaged in real-world activities and social interactions.
- There's a common fantasy among people to destroy their digital devices, symbolizing a desire to escape the hollow connectivity offered by social media.
- The online ecosystem is designed to isolate rather than connect, a deliberate choice by those who benefit from our loneliness and consumption.
- Historical and personal examples of unproductive acts (like growing food to let it rot) highlight the value of activities outside the productive economy.
- The gig economy and digital platforms sell isolation as freedom, exacerbating loneliness and alienation.
- The labor movement's strength came from collective organizing, contrasting with today's digital 'engagement' that lacks real connection.
- Algorithms encourage conflict and hot takes to drive engagement, further isolating individuals.
- The author distinguishes between solitude (a chosen state) and isolation (a forced state), emphasizing the importance of real social interaction.
- Solidarity and real social connections are proposed as solutions to systemic isolation, requiring collective action against common enemies.