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cover of episode Ep. 355: Quit Social Media (For Real This Time)

Ep. 355: Quit Social Media (For Real This Time)

2025/6/2
logo of podcast Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
A
Algo Transparency创始人
B
Brian Koppelman
C
Cal Newport
通过深度工作和数字极简主义等概念,推动人们重新思考工作方法和技术使用方式。
F
Frederick Wertham
W
Wendell Berry
Topics
Cal Newport: 我认为人们不愿从手机上移除社交应用,是因为担心这是过度反应,可能陷入道德恐慌。我将用超加工食品的比喻来分析社交媒体是否只是这种轨迹上的另一件事。超加工食品被设计用来劫持我们的欲望机制,导致我们摄入过多的卡路里。社交媒体内容通过算法找到难以抗拒的组合来吸引用户,并形成反馈循环。我们应该像对待超加工食品一样对待社交媒体内容,营养专家建议完全戒掉超加工食品,因为它们不重要且容易避免。社交媒体内容是超加工食品,其他数字娱乐是普通加工食品。社交媒体将内容分解成最小的元素,然后算法重构成令人上瘾的东西。社交媒体内容让人感到空虚、恐惧或愤怒,就像超加工食品对身体的危害一样。超加工食品的比喻可以解释为什么我们不应该使用TikTok。随着技术的发展,其危害能力可能会变得更糟,所以我们应该避免使用更高级的版本。 Brian Koppelman: 人们常常对新技术感到担忧,但最终会适应并接受它们。我们应该学习如何使用这些技术,而不是抵制它们。汽车就是一个例子,最初人们对汽车有很多担忧,但最终汽车成为了我们生活中不可或缺的一部分。 Frederick Wertham: 漫画书是导致青少年犯罪的重要因素,蝙蝠侠宣扬同性恋,神奇女侠宣扬虐待狂。 Wendell Berry: 电视正在将生命和意义从家庭中吸走,我们应该拔掉电视的插头。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter explores the common argument that concerns about social media are simply another moral panic, similar to past anxieties over technologies like comic books and television. Cal Newport uses the analogy of ultra-processed foods to provide a nuanced perspective, arguing that while some processed content is acceptable in moderation, ultra-processed content like that found on TikTok should be avoided altogether due to its addictive nature and detrimental psychological effects.
  • The moral panic argument suggests that past concerns about mass media technologies were ultimately unfounded, implying that social media anxieties are similarly overblown.
  • The analogy between ultra-processed food and ultra-processed content highlights the addictive and psychologically harmful nature of certain social media platforms.
  • The chapter differentiates between processed content (e.g., streaming services) and ultra-processed content (e.g., TikTok), suggesting moderation for the former and avoidance of the latter.

Shownotes Transcript

A common complaint about social media skepticism is that we’re falling into a classic moral panic. We’ve been concerned about many past mass media technologies, and ultimately came to realize that they’re not so bad. So why would we expect anything different about social media? In this episode, Cal tackles this complaint, drawing on an unexpected analogy to find clarity. He then answers listener questions and discusses the books he read in May, but not before first confronting a truly bizarre (or, perhaps, brilliant) piece of art work created by a fan of the show.

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com)!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo)

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia)

Deep Dive: Quit Social Media [6:18]

  • How can I become a better, more analytical thinker?  [23:04] - How can I stay motivated, productive, and balanced while working mostly alone during my first remote internship? [28:56]- How much time should I dedicate to developing secondary skills? [30:10]- How does TikTok seem to know so much about me? [32:09]- What are the best workflow strategies when using AI agents? [43:45]

CASE STUDY: A simple, analog approach to productivity [49:31]

CALL: Too focused on metrics [53:15]

MAY BOOKS: The 5 Books Cal Read in May 2025 [1:03:19]

May Books:

  • Building: A Carpenter’s Notes on Life & the Art of Good Work (Mark Ellison)
  • Thoreau’s Axe (Caleb Smith)
  • 9 Innings (Daniel Okrent)
  • Let Them (Mel Robbins)
  • Against the Machine (Paul Kingsnorth)

Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow)Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/)Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?)amazon.com/Four-Days-Week-Life-Changing-Well-Being/dp/0063382431/r)calnewport.com/on-ultra-processed-content/)podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cal-newport-5-28-19/id814550071?i=1000647135862)rehearsal.so/blog/how_to_stay_in_flow_while_using_cursor_or_windsurf)

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.