Psychotherapist Reacts To Bo Burnham - Welcome To The Internet

[@xZeroCCx]

Bo isn't just talking about how addictive the internet is, he's talking about how it was designed that way on purpose to infect the next generations. If we aren't watching they don't make money off of us.

[@j9lorna]

It wasnt designed that way. It evolved into what it is today. It was designed to be resilient enough to survive a nuclear war with no node being crucial to its operation. Destroy a data center or even an entire country, and the internet will just switch routes and keep working. It was never meant for Normies. Never meant for instagram posers, it was meant for boobs, cats and gambling. Boobs and gambling were the big investors in internet technology. Webcams for talking to grandparents? NO, its for showing boobs and cock to each other!

[@krectus]

It's nice to see someone get the point of the different paces of the song, that Bo's pre-internet verse is much slower paced for a reason.

[@Tehblood]

i came to the comments to say thats exactly what he missed.

[@vorpled]

Someone said recently (I can't remember who, could probably find it if I looked), imagine how the world would be different if the algorithm that powers Facebook wasn't trained to "maximise engagement" but to "maximise happiness".

[@myboatforacar]

I think even just being able to have a formula for maximizing happiness would be world-changing

[@itsaUSBline]

It's a lot more difficult to quantify happiness, and they need to be able to turn engagement into metrics so that they can get money from advertisers. The whole thing is an entire that exists to turn a profit.

[@MrSlothJunior]

@@myboatforacar Make a dislike reaction, and/or an eyeroll reaction, or whatever. Take notice of whether they are liking and laughing at posts or disliking and eyerolling at posts, and you're already pretty far on a path towards showing people what they like, rather than what they are engaging with. Engagement with comment sections is more tricky, of course, but if the posts themselves are maximizing happiness, I'm sure the comment sections would do better too.

[@vorpled]

@@itsaUSBline Maybe if it actually made them happy instead of sad and angry they'd actually be willing to pay for the service, rather than be the product.

[@Sylfa]

@@vorpled I was about the point out the same thing.

[@antivanti]

I am certain that a 17 year old going back in time 30 years to 1994, just before the internet came to regular people, would face a much larger culture shock than Marty McFly did going from 1985 to 1955. Manufacturing, attitudes and fashion changed in those years but basically every day life worked basically the same. Meanwhile internet and computerization has fundamentally rewritten absolutely everything. We don't really realize that the world has turned because we've slowly turned with it. I was in my late teens when the Internet really got its breakthrough and I think that even I would be pretty lost if I had to go back

[@goeienacht]

Meanwhile, if a teen from ‘85 traveled to the present, they’d be like Marty McFly when Biff was in charge.

[@raisnaix]

As a psychotherapist, you should react to the entire INSIDE special he did

[@felixhenson9926]

Yeah honestly this is not as great on its own, it's best viewed as a part of Inside for sure.

[@craftyarts7431]

Yeeeesss

[@julialeslie692]

The psychological and philosophical aspects are certainly important, but I think a lot of people miss that this is, first and foremost, a villain explaining his master plan.

[@MusicHealsHQ]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts

[@crimiusXIII]

"Sinister"...there's some really wonderful adjectives that don't get used much anymore, and that's one of them, and it's spot on here. Tempting, what you want, exactly what you want, warts and toxins and hidden fishhooks and all. But it's fine, right? It's wonderful... Ha...Ha ha....Muaha hahahahahahaaaa...

[@simple_scribe]

I grew up on the internet in the early 2000s. It was a lawless place. My parents had no idea and I had almost no oversight. I saw things only hardened police veterans or soliders would see. It absolutely affected my development and I'm still deconstructing that.

[@AP-gb3eh]

💔 I wish you had been protected. Best of luck

[@kirstonemmm1423]

I was just behind you, first online about 1996/1997. The shit we saw was unhinged.

[@Khaoscntrl]

Oh man feel that. I grew up directly with computers, my uncle made a business working on them so even as a young child with aol I was always on it. I’ve definitely seen,heard, experienced things that messed me up that I’m just now deconstructing. I’ve forgotten the name of my best friends in high school, remember those shock site urls though. Oof

[@Khaoscntrl]

8:54. Is such a good discusssion point. I’m sure their are people who want to say it was only helpful. I am great full for the internet but I also am only now realizing how dependent I personally am on it. As a Chronically online kid from the early 90’s. I have learned so much from the internet that I am great full for, met some great people. I’ve also seen some crazy stuff that is burned into the back of my subconscious now and it’s all on me.

[@Lillowh]

The bit in the middle of this song is the greatest tragedy to me. Especially with the starting of web 2.0, it became so exciting. So many hobbyist small things made by people like you and me could do so much more, transforming in unique ways. Then, the corporations noticed and started to slowly poison the well. "Mommy let you use your ipad. you were barely 2.... and it did all the things we designed it to do" is something that makes me cry every time i hear it. What I had growing up: the open viewpoints and communication across countries and cultures to form new bonds and a hope for the future... was gone. Replaced by the corporate, SEO infested trap that we just let happen because most people using the internet beforehand "knew better" like you mentioned with experiential learning. The Ipad youth didn't, and fell right into the carefully laid snare they set in front of our faces. We just stepped aside and let the following child walk into it. And it has came to destroy the very thing i loved growing up in for nothing but more profit and "engagement". It's not longer a place to "Explore," no longer a "Safari" or a "Netscape" to navigate, finding 3 different small pages or forums made by people passionate about the topic. It's all a streaming river leading to the corporation ocean.

[@kirstonemmm1423]

This song always chokes me up and makes me cry. I'm not entirely sure what the emotion is, but it's overwhelming.

[@tomlangdonec]

The choice of using carnival music is so apt.

[@tattoodude8946]

I think another point is that the internet doesn't judge. No matter how horrible, sadistic, or fanatical your thinking is - it's there. And not only is it there, but it's also sitting right next to the mundane. Like when he speeds up and is rapid-fire shooting scenes at you - see a man beheaded, a power ranger quiz, how to get a woman and the best breakfast cereal - all these things are presented and offered to you on the internet, but none is done so with more importance or judgement than the other. It makes the playing field equal for things that should not be equal! It removes the morality or societal acceptability from everything.

[@MusicHealsHQ]

Great comment. Thanks for being here.

[@chemdent421]

History will remember Bo Burnham as one of the great 21st century philosophers.

[@sam_are_i]

yay bo burnham reactions in 2024

[@unclefoot]

Sinister is a great word for it!!! I think you nailed it in terms of the effects (both seen and unseen) on our collective psyche. I think the point that you side stepped a little bit (which, as a psychotherapist it makes total sense why you wouldn’t dig into it) is how much of this is by design. Bo’s character is that of an algorithm. 1 of thousands of algorithms running out feeds and his only job is to entice you to enter, and convince you to stay. No moral compasses, no consideration of context or subject matter, no restrictions. He exists to churn your attention into money for the industry that made him, and he is VERY good at his job. I too would love to see some kind of shift towards a more healthy online environment, but Silicon Valley is the home of some of the wealthiest corporations on the planet. Getting them to do literally anything besides prioritizing profits over all else is beyond a Herculean effort atm. Maybe someday though…that would be nice. Loved the reaction/perspective! Cheers

[@callmekrismael7023]

It reminds me of Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka in the tunnel. The switch to a carnivalesque sinister narrator

[@sandybeach12]

Im aware its a lot to ask but i would truly love love to see your reaction the entire inside special by bo its just phenomenal and such a deep dive into how he felt during the pandemic

[@Marc-lu2vo]

It is a masterpiece that chronicles a man with a history of mental health battles losing himself in his work during lock down

[@42Mrgreenman]

4:30 Totally agree, as Alan Moore wrote in V for Vendetta, "Man is least himself when he speaks in his own person, give him a mask (Internet anonymity) and he'll tell you the truth." (Have you seen places like the -chans, R34, and E621?) but also as Alan More said, "Words and images are like a magic spell, we can contort the entire perception of a human with but a few puffs of air or inscribed runes." We are indeed interesting and contradictory creatures, are we not? (Just for reference, I'm American, born '85, and was raised on existential themes as presented in games like Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, and Xenogears...the last of which is particularly important, namely because it is based on psychology and two of the main characters are named Id and Lacan...hint hint...It's a PSX JRPG so it's hard to get a hold of, but definitely worth a watch, even if it's just the anime FMV's or a synopsis on YT...the game faced many deadlines, so the "second disc" is basically just a novel interspersed with boss fights, but the whole universe is way more compelling IMHO than it's spiritual successors, Xenosaga and Xenoblade).

[@arcadianico]

the “man is least himself when he speaks in his own person” quote is actually an oscar wilde quote, not originally from v for vendetta. i believe its from the happy prince

[@internaut4257]

Its genius that when Bo goes back into the chorus after the maniacal laugh the camera starts slowly zooming out, giving a sense of perpetuity to what he's describing, and he's right, because there is no stopping this demon that we have unleashed and shackled ourselves to.

[@bobkaboggle4445]

Good chat! I feel like this is an example of how the “speed of consciousness” is increasing. I wonder, isn’t it always increasing? Is technology responsible? Or is consciousness unchanged, just more manifest?

[@tylerbarksdale9174]

Love the reactions to Bo Burnham! Definitely a great rabbit hole to go down for anyone.

[@joec8903]

This guy really is a genius and like I commented on another Bo Burnham vid you reacted to, you HAVE TO check out, That Funny Feeling, by him because I feel that is his most haunting, catchy, and deeply moving and truthful song he’s ever written… and he’s written some real masterpieces. That song though perfectly captures where we are all heading and it’s incredibly sad.

[@kokiena]

Bo talks like a parental figure during the slow part which sets me off. He also talks as if he’s trying to convince you to stay on the internet which just makes me feel funny

[@photopazo]

PLEASE, you MUST react and give your impressions and opinions on "That funny feeling" by Bo Burnham. Pretty please with sugar on top!

[@Amused_Comfort_Inc]

You brought up Carl Jung and Freud and I’m hooked now. I love when people can see how they’ve influenced modern psychology

[@HunterLikesSoda]

i just stumbled across your channel and i have been binging all your videos lol

[@kiche08]

Great as always! Thanks Jim!

[@MusicHealsHQ]

My pleasure!

[@SeekinOne]

Great breakdown, as ever. Keep up these awesome vidos, you are quite insightful and always present some aspect of these songs, that I was missing, even after listening to them as often as I have.

[@digitaltrekkie]

On the topic of how this advancement changes us: When I was a kid growing up in the 90s, whenever I'd brush my teeth I would watch myself in the bathroom mirror for the couple of minutes I was busy. You know what I did when I brushed my teeth this morning? I was watching this video.

[@moni13000]

Something I don’t see a lot of people comment on is his use of sound in this song, which, like most things Bo does, is basically genius. He used the theme of a carnival barker, welcoming you to something that is incredible and behind your imagination. And it is all of those things, but once you look closer behind the curtains you see the horror behind it. A circus would have mistreated animals and people who were so malformed or “grotesque” they could only find acceptance from the world by being a part of the Freak Show. The circus was both fantastic and unsettling in its operation and its performance. Just like the internet. There’s a lot of good and amazing things to find, but also a lot of awful things. And it’s hard to filter through all of that, especially now when short form media is becoming more popular. I stepped away from pretty much all social platforms aside from KZbin for that reason. Especially since 2020 with the way the world seems to have just gone out of control, I was noticing my own mental health declining. And I realized the biggest reason was because I was constantly bombarded not just by classic media (news, tv) but also my the types of things I was reading on Facebook and other platforms. It was changing how I viewed people and I realized after time that my anxiety was entirely created from the constant barrage of negativity I was seeing online. Even when I avoided all the horrific news stories, I would still run into them on platforms that used to feel pleasant and fun. So I cut them all out. I kinda sucks that I miss out on some things, like seeing pics of my nephews going apple picking or whatever. But if it’s something worth seeing I know my family and friends will tell me about it or show me pics directly. So I truly don’t miss it at all.

[@haydenduvall162]

Great reaction to brilliant song. Also love that you have Ren's album on the wall :)

[@_spookyskelly3403]

You should listen to Will Wood. His musci might seem... Weird at first, but the lyricism and meanings are relaly unique. I'd recommend "Self-ish" or "the normal album". Both albums, in their entirety, feel like they have a narrative and I'd like to see it from a psychiatrist's perspective

[@samvimes2061]

Those interested can look back on the era when the fundamental protocols driving the internet were made. It was very reminiscent of the optimism behind the era of space exploration, but constrained to a handful of universities and firms. Even while the lack of infrastructure and computing constrained them, these people saw what they were making would change the world and felt the need to share it with utopic predictions and bad poetry. I think that became the first tech mania. We've had a few dozen more, the big ones being smartphones, blockchain or AI. I wonder about all the dynamics going on in a small group on precipice of something extraordinary, and why some become so cultish while other are remembered sympathetically.

[@janeykidd72]

If you like Bo you'll love Tim Minchin. Bo has said himself Tim is an infuence, he's a genius. '15 minutes of shame' is related to this in a way. There are so many others that are utterly brilliant and insightful and funny like e.g. Lullaby, Thank You God or Prejudice and so many others.

[@sarahbuck2506]

Second this. Tim Minchin is wonderfully clever and makes for excellent reaction content

[@sahuero9620]

@@sarahbuck2506 I'll Third this request... Tim Minchin's musicianship is far superior (imo) as well as his lyrics are impressively clever.

[@Kennyancat]

+1 for Tim

[@SableCatDog]

Tim Minchin is fabulous. Would highly recommend The Fence too.

[@rivmusix]

Been loving your bo reactions, boss!

[@MusicHealsHQ]

Glad you like them!

[@rivmusix]

@MusicHealsHQ definitely! He breaks down the barriers of expectations. Kinda forces you to think an feel but disarming you with comedy first. His got so much good stuff. Enjoy the journey.

[@substandardeagle4738]

I remember when I was a kid and the internet was not something everyone had at their fingertips like today. I had a friend who had internet at home and I remember visiting him one day and we were on the computer for maybe an hour playing some flash games and watching some videos (his mom made sure we were only on websites she deemed OK), but eventually his mom kindly asked us to do something else so we weren't just staring at the screen all day, which we did with a little reluctance at first but soon we were back to our regular fun our thoughts and feelings about the internet quickly faded into a cozy little spot in the back of our mind. I think he and I were very lucky that his parents were strict about internet usage and supervised when we wanted to find something specific so we didn't fall into some shady or non-child friendly website.

[@hogandromgool2062]

The internet is literally the average of humanities collective thoughts and none of us are clean. In saying that, it's no wonder the center of gravity tends to be somewhere near the edge of the "Morbid" sphere rather than somewhere between it and the "Good" sphere. I quoted certain words as they could be perceived as either depending on where your perspective lays.

[@Bukoe]

The speed of the song for me is a symbol of the development of the internet.. The Slowdown in the end is when you grow up and realize you need to slow the fook down..

[@Jason-h9l]

What a song got hooked on this few mothens back

[@maxthorn7308]

For some reason, after every single ad break KZbin put in the video (there were six in this video) the video started over, and I had to skip forward to where I was in the video. /: Anyways, thank uoy for making this video, it really made me think about how the Internet has changed since I grew up in the 90s.

[@steveewunder]

I'll just say this: I'm on the edge of millennial and gen Z, so I'm kinda both; but, everyone I know who has cut back on social media since our youth has experienced a much more grounded life and is much less affected by the swings of online discourse. That's not to say they aren't aware or informed, but it just doesn't bleed into their lives

[@jeannemarshall392]

Love your reactions!

[@MusicHealsHQ]

Glad you like them!

[@nimusfell3158]

Loved your reaction! This song is super chaotic but also the perfect amount of chaotic to represent the internet. Would you consider reacting to another music video, from Tom cardy, called H.S - (Official Music Video) if you haven't? It's a fun ride as well

[@exp0391]

I love your videos and how you interpret Bo Burnham’s music!! I really think you should fully watch some of his shows like Make Happy and Inside, even if not on video, you would love them I am sure!

[@dantegonzalezaguilar4657]

Man, so damn good!

[@TheBlackDeck]

Our attention is their commodity. Don't give it away for free.

[@Brooke_marsh]

You should definitely check out All Eyes On Me by Bo Burnham, it's got a deep meaning and since you already watched Can't Handle This you have some context

[@willgamer101dondon7]

I would definitely recommend reacting to That Funny Feeling next

[@jannecapelle_art]

everytime i hear this song, i start thinking about, SURELY, the internet and the technology we have now is changing the human brain in some way. like, i LIKE the internet. i spend a LOT of time on the internet, big parts of my education and personality cultivation have been at least partly through the internet. ive had so much opportunity for education that i never wouldve had if i didnt have steady access to the internet since i was about 12 years old! but....i agree with you, i cant help but feel that the human brain really wasnt made for this. hundreds of thousands of years of evolution - and then in a span of a few decades, suddenly we see...anything and everything, all of the time.

[@Palitato]

I don't recall where I saw it, but I saw a video a while back about how humans aren't made to know this many people. That because of the internet and our connection to thousands/millions/billions of other people, we're experiencing a level of social presence that humans weren't made for. For thousands of years it wasn't unusual for a person to never meet more than a hundred, maybe a thousand people in their entire lifetime, if even that... and now there's literally millions at the touch of a button. We aren't socially ready for handling that many connections to other people.

[@ianmrtnz]

I think this song is best absorbed after three or four listens, but I appreciate that you don’t listen to his songs before you make these videos. (At least that’s how it seems to me based on your facial expressions and where you pause during the videos). It gives a much more genuine reaction. I really hope this means more of Bo is in the future for this channel. That Funny Feeling, The Chicken and White Woman’s Instagram are all excellent songs for psychological analysis. And that’s just from this special.

[@TabletopTrainer]

Hey there, new here but really enjoying your perspective and breakdowns on Bo's works. Not sire if you take requests, but if you haven't already, you should definitely do a reaction to "left brain, right brain". It's from his special "what.". It's a bit older, but I think it'll be right up your alley.

[@SCUZZI87]

You have to do “art is dead” and “rant” from him!

[@psymar]

The great thing about the internet is it connects the entire world. The horrifying thing about the internet is it connects the *entire* world.

[@chisasukelover1]

I actually found this song originally as a hazbin hotel parody

[@coreyrogers8700]

Apathy is a tragedy and boredom is a crime.....

[@Eville23x]

The internet is a civ 6 tier, or wonder of the world you unlock. It has changed civilization. Maybe advanced it, maybe not, depending on what corner of the internet you're talking about.

[@Smoshy16]

Social media is probably the worst thing that has happened to us as a whole. There is nothing social about it.

[@biancafriesen1285]

This is sadly accurate, God bless 😊

[@SableCatDog]

May I recommend Ekoh's Trauma.

[@AskiFin]

half of the kids dont know what is a folder on a computer.. while yea obs i get trampled at some point at least I know its not the alpha who does mean.. I work 9-to5 and die happy with my place.. sucks but such is life

[@betabravo3300]

Could you talk about Splatoon Music? I feel like its healing, but it might just be me.

[@Jane-y9x3s]

You should react to From The Outside by Eddie and The Gateway

[@GageTheCannon]

Someone else mentioned this, and I promise I'm not trying to be rude here, but Bo is making the points you brought up, but he is taking on a persona from the perspective of both the internet, and those that intentionally designed the modern internet in this way. I.e. to make it more profitable, and even worse... to make it so addictive. Ever wonder why all social media platforms changed from having to load individual web pages to simply scrolling up and down endlessly? It makes it more addictive. Likes and comments are also mini dopamine hits for people. And don't get me started on the algorithm aspect. Good video. Bo Fo Sho.

[@darkwolf9536]

I'm late here, but I want to point out the irony of this. You need to be on the Internet to be able to watch a video/song about how the internet can be a terrible place. About how it is at this point basically an infection, and by being able to watch it you are already infected.

[@Groskaykay]

What would you say to someone diagnosed with ADHD (i think that's what its called in english) thinking the internet and its overstimulation explained here by Bo is actually quite helpful to fight boredom? Asking for a friend.

[@whiterosesalchemist]

I think a large bit of this song is buried in the double meanings loaded into the middle bit

[@Dataanti]

1:18 is it satirical?

[@alta2178]

Please please do art is dead, and deep

[@valm5892]

Ashley a fan of bo and bts and Carl jung.... you should check out some BTS songs that are inspired by Carl Jung

[@zoelefevre3974]

I would like to suggest "Truth" by Godsmack, great song or "7years" by the singer solo..his name is Sully Erna.