ClassX Video Lessons Social Media’s Dark Side: How Facebook and Snapchat Try to Steal Our Self-Worth | Tristan Harris
Many people believe that technology is neutral, and it’s up to us to decide how we use it. While personal responsibility is important, it’s crucial to understand that engineers and developers intentionally design technology to capture our attention. This article examines how technology has evolved from empowering tools to manipulative platforms, affecting our self-worth and well-being.
In the early days of computing, especially in the 1970s and early ’80s at Xerox PARC, technology was seen as a “bicycle for our minds,” meaning it was meant to enhance our abilities. The first iPhone followed this idea, aiming to empower users. However, as competition for our attention grew, technology shifted. Platforms like YouTube changed from neutral tools to systems designed to keep us engaged, using features like auto-play and notifications to focus on consumption rather than empowerment.
The attention economy has changed how technology is designed and monetized. Success in app stores now depends on capturing and retaining user attention. This shift forces developers, even those with good intentions, to use manipulative design tactics to succeed. For example, meditation apps might send notifications or create gamified experiences to encourage use, raising questions about their true intentions.
New technologies have always raised concerns about their impact on social interactions. Newspapers, television, and telephones all sparked fears about reduced communication. Society adapted, and these technologies became part of daily life. Today, however, platforms like Snapchat are constantly updated with manipulative features. Engineers create systems that foster dependency, like Snapstreaks, which encourage daily interactions to avoid losing progress.
Modern social media platforms significantly impact self-worth, especially among children and adolescents. Users often base their self-esteem on likes and interactions, leading to a cycle of seeking external validation. Research by Emily Weinstein at Harvard shows how children feel pressured to maintain Snapstreaks, even sharing passwords with friends to keep streaks alive during vacations. This focus on external validation is concerning, as it shifts attention from intrinsic values like kindness and integrity to metrics defined by tech companies.
To counter technology’s influence on our self-worth, we must reflect on what we truly value. Instead of letting external metrics dictate our self-esteem, we should prioritize virtues like friendship, compassion, and integrity. We need to redefine success, focusing on personal growth and well-being rather than monetizing attention. By doing so, we can reclaim our autonomy and resist the manipulative tendencies of modern technology.
The shift from empowering tools to manipulative platforms challenges our self-worth and well-being. By recognizing the intentional design choices behind these technologies and redefining our values, we can navigate the digital world more mindfully. It’s essential to prioritize our intrinsic goals and foster a healthier relationship with technology, ensuring it serves us rather than the other way around.
Engage in a structured debate with your classmates. Divide into two groups: one supporting the view that technology is a neutral tool, and the other arguing that it is inherently manipulative. Use examples from the article to support your arguments and challenge the opposing team’s points. This will help you critically analyze the dual nature of technology.
Analyze a case study of a popular app or platform that utilizes the attention economy. Identify specific design features that aim to capture user attention and discuss their impact on user behavior. Present your findings to the class, highlighting both positive and negative aspects of these design choices.
Keep a journal for one week, documenting your interactions with technology. Reflect on how these interactions make you feel and whether they align with your personal values. At the end of the week, write a summary of your observations and share insights with your peers on how technology affects your self-worth and well-being.
Participate in a workshop where you and your peers brainstorm and define what success means to you beyond digital metrics. Create a personal manifesto that outlines your intrinsic values and goals. Share your manifesto with the group and discuss strategies to maintain these values in a technology-driven world.
Work in groups to design a prototype of a technology product or app that prioritizes user well-being over engagement metrics. Consider ethical design principles and how they can be implemented to empower users rather than manipulate them. Present your prototype to the class, explaining the design choices and their intended impact on users.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry; in psychology, it often refers to tools and platforms that facilitate research and therapy. – The use of virtual reality technology in therapy sessions has shown promising results in treating phobias.
Manipulation – The action of controlling or influencing a person or situation cleverly or unscrupulously; in psychology, it often refers to influencing behavior or emotions. – Researchers studied how subtle manipulation of environmental cues could alter participants’ decision-making processes.
Attention – The cognitive process of selectively concentrating on one aspect of the environment while ignoring other things; crucial in understanding human behavior and learning. – The study explored how digital distractions impact students’ attention during lectures.
Self-worth – The sense of one’s own value or worth as a person; an important aspect of mental health and well-being. – The experiment examined the effects of social media feedback on participants’ self-worth.
Validation – The recognition or affirmation that a person or their feelings or opinions are valid or worthwhile; often discussed in the context of social interactions and self-esteem. – Receiving validation from peers can significantly boost an individual’s confidence and motivation.
Engagement – The act of being involved or committed to a task or activity; in educational psychology, it refers to the level of interest and participation in learning. – The introduction of interactive elements in online courses increased student engagement significantly.
Social – Relating to society or its organization; in psychology, it often refers to interactions and relationships with others. – Social dynamics within a group can greatly influence individual behavior and decision-making.
Interaction – A reciprocal action or influence; in psychology, it refers to the communication and behavior between individuals or groups. – The study focused on the interaction between personality traits and stress responses.
Values – Principles or standards of behavior; one’s judgment of what is important in life; often studied in the context of moral and ethical decision-making. – The research explored how cultural values shape individuals’ attitudes towards technology use.
Autonomy – The capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision; in psychology, it is often related to self-determination and independence. – Promoting autonomy in the workplace can lead to increased job satisfaction and productivity.
