Is social media dead?
Social media once carried a promise. It would bring us closer, enrich our relationships, and create a world of authentic connection. We bought into it wholeheartedly, believing it would transform how we relate to each other. But somewhere along the way, that dream soured.
Today, the reality is hard to ignore: social media feels less like a thriving marketplace of ideas and connection, and more like a graveyard. The conversations are hollow, drowned out by bots, influencers, and relentless advertisements. What was supposed to be a tool for human connection has become a machine that profits off our attention. And worse—off us.
It’s an unsettling realization. When you stop and think about it, social media didn’t just fail to fulfill its promise—it betrayed it. Instead of fostering community, it turned us into commodities. Every post, every like, every click feeds the algorithms that sell us to advertisers. We’ve become products, not participants.
And people are starting to wake up. The disillusionment is growing. More and more, I see friends stepping back, logging off, or abandoning platforms entirely. What’s left behind? A digital wasteland where bots reign supreme, and “engagement” is just a numbers game. The promise of deeper relationships has been replaced by cold, calculated manipulation.
This isn’t just a technological misstep—it’s a human one. Relationships, by their very nature, resist speed and efficiency. They require time, care, and presence—the very things social media strips away. What we’re left with are shallow interactions that leave us feeling more isolated than connected.
It makes me wonder: is this the future of technology? Will artificial intelligence, for all its potential, follow the same trajectory? Like social media, AI promises to solve problems, streamline processes, and improve our lives. But at what cost? Are we paving the way for another cycle of unmet expectations, where convenience trumps authenticity and humanity gets lost in the shuffle?
There’s a part of me that yearns for something different. A return to what makes us human—connection, stillness, even boredom. Maybe the answer isn’t more technology but less. A deliberate pause, a kind of "digital hermitry," where we step back and reclaim the parts of ourselves we’ve given away.
I think about my kids and the world they’re growing up in. They’re navigating a landscape of fleeting trends, constant comparison, and a relentless pressure to perform. It’s a world that offers infinite possibilities but little stability. I worry that they’re losing the luxury of boredom—the quiet moments that once gave us space to discover who we are.
But maybe this is the lesson. That progress isn’t about chasing every new innovation or jumping on the next big thing. It’s about knowing when to stop, when to reflect, and when to walk away. Because in the end, the promises of technology mean nothing if we lose ourselves in the process.
Social media may have started with good intentions, but its legacy feels more like a cautionary tale. The question isn’t just whether it’s dead, but whether we’re ready to leave it behind and find something better. Something human.