five books about social media that you need!

a list of some of my favourite books that have made me think about the internet and social media! ✿ check out glassesUSA.com! You can find my glasses for a great offer & free shipping: bit.ly/Ariel-GlassesUSA (Additional rules may apply, free shipping to US & CA) ✿
My Glasses:
Ottoto Piero - bit.ly/Ariel-OttotoPiero
Muse Murray - bit.ly/Ariel-MuseMurray
Muse x Hilary Duff Zora - bit.ly/Ariel-HilaryDuffZora
Horace - bit.ly/Ariel-Horace
Muse Byers - bit.ly/Ariel-MuseByers
Blue Light Glasses - bit.ly/Ariel-BlueLight
Up to 50% off Designer Glasses - bit.ly/Ariel-BrandOutlet
books mentioned (*affiliate links):
☞* libro.fm: libro.fm/redeem/ArielBissett
☞* see physical copies here: bookshop.org/lists/social-med...
☞ Support my channel by joining my Patreon family: / arielbissett
☞ Instagram: / arielbissett
☞ Goodreads: / arielbissett
☞ Website: www.arielbissett.com
☞ My book podcast: www.booksunboundpodcast.com/
☞ Music by: cjbissett.com/
☞ My name is Ariel and I’m a Canadian writer, poet, and KZbinr. I organize my shelves by genre and then colour and my favourite book is Animal Farm. I've been making bookish content online for over 8 years and love spreading a love of reading through videos, panels, articles, and more! Think we could make something cool together? Send me an email!
☞ Thanks for watching! ☜

[@ArielBissett]

Because people seem a little concerned.... no books got wet in the making of this video, the camera makes it look like they were close to the water but the rock was up high

[@thowaibabenslema1811]

oh! i am relieved!!

[@sidneyn1366]

Phew

[@shreyabooked9309]

Oh I'm so glad about this disclaimer!

[@rebeccamedusasrockgarden4781]

I was low key anxious the whole video because of the water shots. Glad the books are safe.

[@n_c1913]

thank you for this video ariel :)

[@dearlyintrovert670]

*yelling into the wind* “I HATE TWITTER.” I’ve never related to anything more. 😂

[@stenohero]

Hey, Ariel! I submitted captions for this video, and I just learned that (sadly) community contributions are going away after today. But I'd totally be willing to volunteer to send you transcripts/caption files for future videos if you like! I'm a stenography student, so it's good practice! Let me know if you'd use them!

[@Snowflake8147]

+

[@parker664]

+

[@olive4616]

+

[@meerarajasooriar8342]

This is so kind!

[@EpicConverseLove143]

:)

[@lisapocketchangeyo]

This shoe/sock combo is everything

[@ArielBissett]

THANK YOU

[@tonidue9317]

YESS

[@rosejermusyk]

“You know how people say we vote with our dollars? I think we also vote with our accounts.” Brilliant!

[@hiddenrainbow12]

I've never had an instagram and I'm the only person my age I know that doesn't. I always knew it would make me feel anxious and lonely and shitty (fb did back then), but I still feel the pull to join and keep up with my friends. People think it's weird but I think it's sad that to protect your mental health you have to go against the tide. Great video btw!

[@littlemssunshine1804]

Same here. As a high schooler that has grown up around social media I feel like I'm always having to battle this pressure from friends and family to install Instagram, Tiktok, snapchat and whatever else. But, I just have no interest.

[@hiddenrainbow12]

@@mentallyunstable1926 wow, that's horrible. People can be awful. It's ok to not want to be on social media! Btw, I'm pretty sure you can flag/report it for them pretending to be you. Take care 😊

[@serenekho7030]

“I HATE Twitter” Such a mood

[@megan6027]

I deleted all my social media last month except KZbin and Reddit (which I use mainly productively) because they don't trigger my desire for external validation. This comes at a perfect time for me when I'm delving into podcasts and books to help me stay off it - I do still have my FOMO moments. Ultimately, I'm much less anxious now though. I will definitely be picking some (more likely all) of these up :) Thanks!

[@megan6027]

Also I am currently reading 'The Cyber Effect: A Pioneering Cyberpsychologist Explains How Human Behaviour Changes Online' by Mary Aiken which so far I highly recommend (also for those into podcasts - Your Undivided Attention is really insightful too especially episode 1)

[@Audreyperson37]

I also just deleted all of my social media except for KZbin 2 weeks ago! Has also reduced some of my anxiety

[@ArielBissett]

"external validation" is something we all need to think a lot about (... please ignore the fact that I make youtube videos for a living for a second...) because these platforms prey on that. why else do they show follower counts? that information is so unimportant except to pit us all against each other

[@Audreyperson37]

Ariel Bissett someone who makes a living off of social media encouraging people to think critically about social media and delete it if necessary 😂 love it

[@musicissimo07]

Ariel Bissett that’s such an important point, actually speaking of external validation, have you ever read any of Thich Nhat Hanh’s books or any works focused on Buddhist philosophy? I’m not a Buddhist or religious myself but there is undoubtedly so much wisdom in those texts about the root of wanting “external validation.”

[@leenanorms]

GET ME IN THAT LAKE.

[@anyawillowfan]

I don't disagree that the internet, and especially social media, can be harmful to many people's mental health. But as someone who is mostly housebound due to chronic illness I don't feel I could disconnect from online as I would have barely any social interactions most days if I did that, and loneliness can be just as detrimental to our health. Like you, I have issues with the ethics of many sites, but those sites have also made it possible for the disabled to find each other and support one another, when previously we were all alone inside our four walls, hidden from the rest of the world. That said, I think we should all think about how we spend our limited time and energy (every healthy person only has 24 hours a day to take care of themselves and everything else, and unfortunately many of us have far less), and discuss the implications of those things (whether it be social media or watching Netflix), both negative AND positive.

[@DreamsSketcher]

Agreed Tamara. I hear you! In the same position. We just have to be aware and smart about using the internet. Take care.

[@Teresebooo]

I really feel like the internet would have been a better place if more people had read So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed

[@thebookhunter]

every Ariel Bissett video is a capital V VIBE.

[@rosesilver5176]

The amount of joy I experienced in these first :30 is absolutely astounding

[@melanieperina7531]

that pure emotion when you say “i hate twitter” is admirable

[@HeyItsShey]

"I hope this works and I'm doing my best" is my mantra for 2020

[@ochoheido]

Love the choice of location. I started listening to "How to Do Nothing" even before having finished this video haha. I'm finding it very interesting, particularly her distinctions on the attention that "productivity" gets over "maintenance". As a mother and homemaker, I struggled with only keeping up with the bare minimum, like "All I did today was cook and clean dishes and fold laundry..." and the list would go on but I felt like I hadn't "done" anything. I am doing a lot! A lot of maintenance. Which I now see as important, thanks to Jenny Odell. And you! Thank you for making and posting videos that YOU think are interesting.

[@vanessalaughtland4417]

Digital Minimalism is a fantastic book, I've read it twice now and it's probably the book that's been the most impactful on me in terms of my social media usage. I'm still learning what works for me, but it's definitely a really useful tool.

[@JoshsBookishVoyage]

That outfit is giving me Loonette from the Big Comfy Couch Vibes.

[@ArielBissett]

the greatest compliment!!!

[@elizabethclaire14]

YES!

[@lydiagappa3938]

A creator promoting thoughtful and aware internet consumption of thoughtful and aware internet content- we love to see it. ;) Great Video!

[@hannahwitton]

"data version of the film Eighth Grade" - I'm in.

[@fionamurphy7658]

What a beautiful setting 😍😍 I recently fell down a similar rabbit hole of content and have been rethinking my relationship with social media since the start of lockdown. Since I had nothing else to do, I spent an insaaaaane amount of every day scrolling. It was a complete wake-up call, and now I no longer use Facebook or Instagram. And I’ve gained much more than I lost by deleting them!! Totally agree that books like So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed should be mandatory reading. Great video as always - content like yours makes it impossible to quit KZbin!

[@MidwestMaria]

AART and ABFE are soooo good! I was blown away by how enjoyable they were while also forcing me to critically think about the internet, power, and influence.

[@TheSoCaMa]

the setting of this video is so beautiful, thank you Ariel

[@marionl8901]

I absolutely adore Hank's duology, thank you so much for your recommendations (and for your channel in general, you bring me so much joy). Glad the books that fell are okay ;)! Have a lovely day/night everyone

[@maryjanegoldenberg7109]

I've never commented on a video before but this is literally the most amazing setting ever- your channel is keeping me sane 😩🥺💕

[@marinnabelchior]

Thank you thank you thank you for this video! I'm kinda obsessed with this issue! It is so important to really learn and think deeply about it

[@ginademartino6109]

This was fantastic ! I loved Hank Greens books excited to try some of these other suggestions.

[@marinnabelchior]

twitter really sucks! I deleted mine 2 years ago Life got lighter

[@jennicemishra6425]

This is so calming! Thank youuu!

[@bk4698]

My name is brooke and I play flute in band that's crazy

[@ifihadfriends437]

Brooke K can I swipe to unlock?

[@Julia-jm5yu]

You are my favourite booktuber, kisses from Spain.

[@jay75.61]

Great topic. I grabbed a few of those for the TBR. Thanks!

[@Sam_BBarnes]

i LOVE the location of this video

[@pamnogueira]

I finished watching your video and immediately bought "blue horses". I read it in 2 hours +-. I ADORED IT, I'm so in love with her poems. Thank you for this sweet and touching recommendation! Definitely a 5/5 read!

[@ArielBissett]

omg!!! what a success story!!! thank you for sharing, its such a relief when people like the books i recommend, hahaha

[@milenaraeva4053]

I just started reading 10 arguments and you uploaded 😱! Just on time ! Thanks for the recommendations! 💕

[@arnoldanibal4194]

Great landscape and great video!

[@eliodelio5600]

oooh thank you for this!! i just recently read digital minimalism and then watched the social dilemma and i'm so eager to read more haha

[@teresarosereads]

The setting of this video is so lovely😌❤️

[@abigailmcdowell813]

Oh please do more recommendation videos on nonfiction books! trying to read more like that

[@jaymoussamann]

I can’t cope with the cutaway of the book balancing on a stone over the water!! 😱 nooo! Great video! I’ve been wanting to read some of these books for ages.

[@musicissimo07]

Great video Ariel! I’m so so glad that you’re promoting discussion about social media since it seems like the consequences and risks associated with using it are still under-appreciated. Especially now that children are basically growing up on the Internet, and a lot of parents are literally publicizing their children’s lives so readily. It kind of scares me. I also really hate Twitter xD I’m looking forward to reading your suggestions!

[@elettralastra]

OMG such a beautiful location 😍😍😍 Can’t wait to watch this! Such a beautiful idea 💕

[@harlequincafe]

love the choice of location!

[@lejanne]

U are looking so cute! Love the setting 😍 I think this is a very interesting subject, it’s so important to educate ourselves on the way we use social media!

[@aqtbenz]

Great recs, thank you! I think The Circle (the book, not the terrible movie) also fits into this category, and it really made me think about social media and “connection”!

[@kai200731]

Reading books make my mind taking a brief of what kind of era we ware going living through, were more people who use social media sometimes don’t really know how social media is affecting in people’s life

[@SonjasMaschensalat]

„The Circle“ by Dave Eggers is great. It‘s about likes and followers and social pressure.

[@tanyaserrato4312]

We’re actually reading “The Circle” in my English class. It’s a great book!

[@katia9192]

the recommendations?? amazing the outfit? also amazing!! i love your videos

[@roorooreads]

Thanks for all the amazing recommendations 😃

[@blaaabllaaaa]

I read An absolutely remarkable thing at your recommendation and I LOVED IT!!! I went on to buy A beautifully foolish endeavour as well and I loved it even more. They've become my favourite books this year, if not my favourite books period. So thank you for that 🤗🤗

[@mahimathakur6997]

this is the 1st time i have seen any booktuber didn't shoot in their room. THE BACKGROUND AND THIS VIDEO IS AESTHETIC💖

[@andrearobyn3701]

Even though I was born in late 1996, because of where I grew up in Canada and our socio-economic status, my childhood was very analog. Many of my peers had flip phones in junior high, TVs in their parent's cars, video games etc. Life before social media and being drowned in technology seems bizarre; a time before a degree of false connectivity, constant info dumping, and comparisons of life milestones felt much more free and less stressful. The benefits of social media have been great for me since moving across the country and still being able to keep in contact with friends and family, but deleting certain platforms from my life entirely have made me a lot happier and being present.

[@andreaspromenade]

Something I have learned lately is that I am ever-changing. It makes no sense to define myself as one thing, and live through that identity label. If I want to try something, even if it goes against the labels and ideas I have defined myself by, then I should try it without feeling out of myself, or even guilty. I have a right to experiment and change. I have the curiosity to try new things, and that is okay. Thank you for this video, loved it 💕

[@allgoodtings]

Thank you for sharing a great list of books on the topic of social media! While it's truly terrifying how swift social media changes cultural landscape, there are people (namely me) who relies on it as a community. I appreciate your determination to delete Twitter, while I am bracing myself entering it, in hope to connect with writers and publications. Or like-minded souls in general, until I move to a destination where I brush shoulders with them. I also understand that Twitter isn't the end all be all (Hardly)! A long winded appreciation for your content :) xx

[@jennaserv]

I would recommend continuing Digital Minimalism as an audiobook. I read it about a year ago and while I really enjoyed what he was saying it did get a little dry in some parts and he felt very anti- all social media. He had really great inputs but because he has never really partaken in social media he really only talks about the negatives (from what I remember).

[@bookishmamablooms2776]

I really enjoyed this video Ariel and I think it's a great response to all the stuff that has happened this year x x x

[@acorn_woman]

I love the reccomendations! Thank you for always brightening my day. I hope you are doing well❤

[@StaceyScribbles]

Hi Ariel! Love this video - it's nice to see creators encouraging a more mindful approach to social media :) I recently discovered your channel and am enjoying catching up on all your content! Keep up the amazing work

[@ileanaaaaa]

I just wanted to say that I love your content! That is it! 😆🖤

[@dalimran]

Beautifully explained 👍

[@jessicas4380]

I love all your content so much!! Thank you so much

[@ArielBissett]

thank you so much for watching and commenting!!!

[@vikki237]

I always feel so safe on this channel :)

[@intellectgrime]

What a lovely video! I was wondering if you had any suggestions for reading about literature in the digital landscape?

[@prarthanachandra6646]

I have noticed that my creative flow has increased so much since I quit instagram! And its true, it is necessary to be “bored”!

[@francescakyanda9182]

I ADORE An Absolutely Remarkable Thing!!!

[@ifihadfriends437]

One I loved this year was Stand Out of Our Light: Freedom and Resistance in the Attention Economy by James Williams. It’s on Scribd too at least in Australia.

[@Lily1Dfan]

the sound of the wind is the sound i hear when my eyes are watering a lot and it made my eyes water.

[@ChristyLou]

No one but Hank Green could have written An Absolutely Remarkable thing (and it's sequel). People will try to write books about being famous on the internet but I don't think they'll come as close to what he has written. Those books are so good.

[@nafisehasadi9113]

You're THE gem I found on KZbin.

[@chelseathetimetraveler3888]

I deleted social media a year ago and I’m happier than I was then, I’m in 8th grade and everyone has social media and a lot of people make fun of me for it, it’s a little hard to be actually social with people when everyone’s on their phone, in my opinion, Tik Tok is the worst, so I really recommend that people delete their social media accounts and someday I hope to raise more of awareness for how bad social media is

[@hollyexley]

When I saw this title I just knew you would have How To Do Nothing. Such a great book! And I agree on Jon Ronson's book too, think about it all the time! I love the colours you wear Ariel, so pretty.

[@ArielBissett]

aw lady it's always so nice to see you in my comments!!! And yesssss so glad you liked those two books too, I get so excited when friends have read them!

[@caraforbes5076]

How cute are you! Your outfit is giving me big Loonette vibes from the Big Comfy Couch lol

[@norareads]

If anyone wants a memoir more generally about tech I have to recommend 'Uncanny Valley' by Anna Weiner - it's a about an ex-editorial assistant and her forays into tech. Such a cool read for anyone in the book community because she understands the predicaments of tech vs lit - she even starts out at a disruptive 'book' start-up

[@Blossobat]

Thanks so much for this recommendation ! Sounds super interesting I’m gunna order :)

[@maggie453]

I love Jaron Lanier! And I would second all the suggestions. I’d also recommend Sherry Turkle’s “Reclaiming Conversations” and Roger McNamee’s “Zucked”.

[@AnnaCristy01]

Watching your video from Brazil. Love yours recommendation.

[@sonjawilhelm4318]

Happy belated birthday!!! 🥳

[@lubispensieve]

Thank you soooo much Ariel... I loved all your recommendations! I downloaded "How To Do Nothing" on Audible as I was watching you talk about it. Can't wait to read the rest of the books... God bless! Stay safe!

[@rosiejolly6284]

Gaaawd, what a beautiful backdrop!!! 😍😍😍

[@elliannagrace4245]

You’ve got such a great laugh. It’s infectious. Love your videos :)

[@itsmeerikad1434]

Because Internet by Gretchen McCulloch is fantastic! She's a (Canadian) linguist studying how language is used online. It was absolutely fascinating and the audio book was innovative. It is read by her and she does such a great job of adapting the text into audio format...she uses the medium to further enrich her text. So cool and I can't stop talking about it!

[@teanlit2949]

What a beautiful place!

[@zenholder5790]

Goodness! I'm early ^^ I've never heard from Hank Green before but from the few works that you talked about him, it sounds entertaining Greetings from Mexico

[@violetamorales9991]

That was awesome! I love you!

[@tonidue9317]

Am I the only one who is constantly worried that the books somehow fall into water and that beautiful pages get wet?

[@nynaevealmeera]

You're definitely not alone...

[@borosanikoo]

SPOILER: they didn't fall :)

[@jenturner6737]

I also love reading about social media!! Loved So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed and the Jason Lanier book is on my list! I tried to read another one by him a few years ago (You are not a gadget) but it went over my head a bit at the time - I want to give it another try. Have you read Zucked? It’s written by one of the early investors in Facebook about the dangers he sees with Facebook’s business model. Really interesting! The other one I liked was “Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are”. It’s like Freakonomics but about big data and the internet. I don’t necessarily agree with all the conclusions he draws / how he draws them but lots of interesting stuff in there! :)

[@keepfearless]

I have plenty I could say about your video (I agree!!! sums it, though) but I mainly want to tell you this video was beautifully shot and planned. More rocks, please.

[@ArielBissett]

thank you so much

[@jamie6202]

"the other side of lost" would be a great addition to this list! love this video ariel...trying to gather enough courage to delete my twitter....

[@brittanyrossi8662]

seen alot of your videos all your videos are positive 😊

[@mariajosepenayo4874]

dude, i was literally looking for books about social media on my local bookstore's web site 10 minutes ago haha

[@katehickey2047]

You should read Followers - it's like, tech dystopian about social media. Maybe for a time where you're in a mood and really hate social media and want to stew in that feeling, and feel satisfied with how bad it is? Sometimes we all need that kind of reinforcement lol.

[@giselle371]

Hey, Ariel! Thanks for making this video. I always find your opinion very interesting. You explain so clearly. I was wondering if you would make a video giving tips to understand or appreciate poetry better. I cannot bring myself to read poetry because I usually don't understand it, I find it so hard! So maybe you have some useful suggestions. Thank youuu! Stay safe! :)

[@tobiajojesu3312]

You rock!

[@KeiraAndGeo]

Have you seen the movie Ingrid Goes West? It tackles the toxicity of social media perfectly and I think you would love it!

[@AnaLanguageCoach]

I totally agree with what you are saying about social media, they are overrated and I found very useful the books you recommended. Beautiful scenario for your reviews! 😊

[@kingyoshi6635]

I like how at the end Ariel says where a mask and the camera is far enough away that it seems like we are there in-person but still social distancing (:

[@augustaholyfield388]

I'm currently reading The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff (who was also interviewed in The Social Dilemma) and so far I'm really enjoying it. It focuses more on the business and security aspect of the internet rather than personal use but I think it helps to know a little about what's going on behind the scenes!

[@TheDaisygirl19]

I read The Circle by Dave Eggers and it made me super paranoid and made me realize how easily people can just ACCEPT shit and how the internet can also be used to control us.

[@jacquileather1329]

I'd love to see a review of Digital Minimalism!!

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I still need to read a bank green book 🥺

[@verarendes9707]

I really liked Nathan Jurgenson's book The Social Photo. It's a short essay collection about social media and photography and about how we think about them. You should check it out :)

[@elyoyo4121]

The social photo it's documentary or book

[@verarendes9707]

@@elyoyo4121 it's a book, I got it from Verso:)

[@elyoyo4121]

@@verarendes9707 think you ,I'll read it