You're Addicted to Entertainment, Not Social Media | Digital Defiance Ep. 1

[@subjecttochange2069]

Something else to consider is that "back in the day", like even before the "nuclear family" was the standard, people would complete tasks together and talk, sing, etc. while they worked. I'm sure there was also a fair amount of silence. I think that's why the loneliness epidemic goes hand in hand with media addiction, because on some level we're subconsciously trying to fulfill that social urge while we sit in our boxes and clean and cook and eat all alone.

[@annaluca29]

Just spotted your comment - I basically echoed this with mine. Lack of casual social interaction in our daily activities is driving this screen time- just listening to a video or a podcast while eating/cleaning/doing chores is 80% of my 'screen time'.

[@coolvideos350]

That’s so interesting! Never though about that

[@andreahinojosa978]

YOU ARE THE FIRST TO TALK ABOUT THIS. Yes this is exactly what I’ve been feeling for years. Because even coming off the detox it doesn’t seem like much is different.

[@sumsimitpo8337]

No. Didn’t your parents tell you to turn off the tv because otherwise you’d get rectangular eyes?

[@phoneypseudo]

Oh. I've been wondering for a while why I'm burnt out even with reading - I've been trying to use it as a substitute for the rest of the content in my life, and that's why it doesn't feel any better. I must need a break entirely, to sit with my thoughts and finally process all of that goddamn media. I appreciate this.

[@fictionesque1992]

:^)) yep yep

[@lana-jg4ho]

[@nomad1517]

I remember JBL the speaker company talked about how people today dont really listen to music. They have it on in the background. People in the vinyl era would come home from school and listen to a record for an hour or two. They actually listened intentionally. Soaked it up. And felt satisfied. But that isn't really happening anymore.

[@fictionesque1992]

this is so depressing ngl. although not to be like "we're different 💖" but Victor has been telling me to just lie in bed and listen to "Purple Rain" by Prince for like a month now lol

[@victorvale4277]

That and "The Wall", but u don't wanna listen, hater

[@akshayde]

Not just vynil era. Tape era and cd era too. I know cuz i was that kid. Tbh, there were always people who consume music as background noise. I think the internet just turned us non-those kind of people, into those kind of people too.

[@miacccl]

always had a weird feeling playing music while i did my daily sudoku, or playing a podcast while working out, or merely listening to a youtube video while cooking. i see memes about "needing youtube to eat" all the time and that's never been something i found quirky or funny about myself, i actually didn't want to admit i do it because something felt off about it. i never feel present while living my own life. THANK YOU for putting this into perspective. i actually watched this on full screen on my laptop without going on my phone or switching tabs and i think that gives me a glimpse into what intentional consumption can be for me. cause if a video is so unappealing to me to the point where i can't even watch it without multitasking, why even watch it in the first place?

[@fictionesque1992]

yep yep yep exactly what i'm talking about! that weird feeling is overstimulation! i hate those memes too. if people don't wanna eat alone they need to face it head on instead of numbing themselves to the issue with ContentTM. i like sitting outside and eating when Victor isn't around, or eating with a book. soo much more relaxing. and yeah literally. so much content is not really worthy of one's full attention.

[@NJGuy1973]

@@fictionesque1992 We have, as Neil Postman would say, amused ourselves to death.

[@toniamark]

KZbin feels exactly like that for me... It's like I HAVE to watch my subs or "watch later" list... And of course, I need to have something as background, otherwise it's a wasted opportunity when I do chores etc. I'm glad your video found me

[@fictionesque1992]

god Google has us by the balls lol

[@PurpleBatProjects]

this drives me nuts! It's like an additional stress and item on my to do list: "I need to watch all these videos" "I need to go through all my insta saves again" "I need to organize my pinterest boards" etc when NONE of those things are necessary or even enjoyable 😮‍💨

[@1600Awesome]

Omg you hit the nail on the head-this resonates deeply with me. I realized I’ve become a high-functioning addict, constantly splitting my attention and numbing my thoughts with media. Even when I’m trying to relax, there’s always background noise. My social media detox turned into a KZbin binge, starting from the moment I wake up and continuing until I go to bed. It’s left me feeling more anxious and disconnected from myself. Our brains need idle time to sort through our thoughts and return to a creative, self-aware state.

[@l33machine]

Not me listening to this while I clean! Forreal though, I think this video really gets at a core issue here. It's not just the rotting on the phone and staring at TikTok in bed, it's also the constant need to listen to music, watch videos, or have any sort of stimuli going on while you're doing daily tasks. I can barely go to bed without putting on some music from Spotify. I'm slowly working against this inclination to constantly put something on to entertain me but woof, it's gonna take a lot of work. I appreciate your thoughts and insights, they inspire me!

[@fictionesque1992]

it honestly hasn't been that much "work" so far because i genuinely feel happier when i'm moderating my use. i can feel that my brain is relieved and i've been noticeably more relaxed, mature, optimistic etc. why would i want to introduce artificial stress into my life that makes me objectively a worse person? this isn't even cold turkey too it's just literally being aware of "what i feel like doing"

[@eg4441]

i think something genuinely might be off with me though cause while cleaning my shower i had to yap to myself and at several points just yell because the process gives me so little pleasure my brain is like "you need to create noise or else we're not doing this." okay i guess

[@fictionesque1992]

@@eg4441 very alarming but i relate. and i don't mean to freak you out but that behavior you're describing is very evident to people who don't hyperconsume. we can tell who DOES hyperconsume by the fact that they act that way. you'll find that hyperness goes away the more you detox. the first time i ever detoxxed though it took literally months for me to stop "thinking in posts/memes" if that makes sense. slowly it got more quiet and i realized how exhausted and tortured my brain was from the overconsumption. i hope you can find some peace soon, and please don't interpret this comment as shame-y, because i've been there! it's nothing wrong with you either, it's that you've been exploited by a corporation wanting to make a quick buck off you, and for that i'm sorry.

[@zikhonamakala5847]

It’s so said that we all can’t be in silence with our thoughts 😭 I deleted my TikTok and instagram 6 months ago. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the app but I still spent hours on KZbin

[@luna-7193]

This makes so much sense.. ive been trying to fix my attention span and try to reorganise my day by getting up earlier, only to mindlessly eat in front of the tv before work. And then i feel less focused when working. I am going to seriously consider what imput i actually want to consume. I think being intentional and giving myself actual breaks is what i need to heal

[@fictionesque1992]

i'm the same way. eliminating consumption before 12pm was one of the best things i did

[@schererl181]

Pleaaaase do this series - especially the thing about social media making us feel like we have more financial means than we actually have.

[@fictionesque1992]

noted.

[@zhaklinsmilkova]

I totally agree with everything you said. Another thing I've observed when I go on a social media detox or just try to limit media/entertainment in general, is that I start craving junk food or sweets in the times when I deny myself access to entertainment. And I'm starting to think it's another way my addicted brain tries to get some quick stimulation. I honestly am starting to think all of this addiction is a much, much bigger issue than we actually think :/ I'm looking forward to see your furute videos on the topic and how it goes with the entertainment detox :)

[@martirubio2970]

Congratulations for this video! Some weeks ago I read the Gioia article but didn't know how to act on it. Your discourse is spot on, and also such a fresh view on an issue that either feels like "that has always happened" or "the new generations are cooked". ACTIVELY wanting to see more videos on the series. :)

[@fictionesque1992]

thank you for your support :) but godddd the views and subs are scaring me a little :(

[@martirubio2970]

@@fictionesque1992 understandable... Doing something for the heart and not for the views makes the content enjoyable and hence the views! Enjoy this moment in the spotlight (and if not, you can always go private haha)

[@cryingselfie]

I think this also serves to dissatisfying interpersonal relationships, most people I know treat their friendships and real life connections like some passing thing, not the fundamental to our essence. People have forgotten how to spend time together, I know so many people who can't sit together without the presence of some sort of media. Or the treatment of music itself, people BARELY engage with music, they don't move to it, they don't feel moved from it, it's a simple background noise or a way to signal personality. Everything is so devoid of connection!! There's no place for the present, everything is treated as if it's meant to be watched/seen/consumed and not lived or experienced!! I love this video thank you so much for sharing your thoughts 💬

[@catsotorious]

So interesting to hear someone else's opinions on this. When I am constantly trying to "mutlitask" by watching or listening to videos while doing something/walking/etc, I feel it turns my brain into an overwhelmed mess that can't operate well on either front, after. One way that I've noticed this affects me the most is when I am in public. I walk or ride the bus everywhere I go, so I use my ear buds and listen to videos 24/7 while I'm out. I noticed that when I would walk into a store and talk to the clerk, or even if I was walking and someone spoke to me randomly, I'd feel so... Weird internally, and unable to reply to my fullest ability. Like my brain felt all gummed up-- I was just somewhere else completely in my head, and then brought back into reality suddenly to interact in a human way. It makes me feel almost dissociative, that transition from listening and walking mindlessly, to needing and trying to be present IRL. Same thing when I listen to videos all morning before a class, or on my way before hanging out with a friend. I FEEL mushy in my head, like brain dead almost? Scatterbrained and weird, it's so hard to explain. We all need to be more aware of our mental hygiene, and also to practice being content with hanging out with just yourself, WITHOUT the extra stimuli. Edit: wording for conciseness.

[@catsotorious]

Also, listening to your cicadas cleaned my brain out during this video. Real life living Glockenspiels

[@HxH6666]

You really conveyed my thoughts so concisely. I 100% agree. I’m always listening to music, watching videos or reels. Even at night I listen to ambient music while sleeping. This is a wake up call. Thank you so much for your perspective, I haven’t seen anyone specifically talk about this.. subbed 🖤

[@H-Defect]

This is it, this is the push I needed. I have been genuinely so tired of just constantly feeling the need to be distracted and I hate that I feel so much discomfort with just existing in silence. I have been thinking about buying a dumb phone for a while to help get rid of the temptation, think I'm just gonna bite the bullet and give it a shot on top of attempting to be more intentional about when and where I consume media. We will see how it goes.

[@dmitrifyodorov9663]

one book suggestion i have that is not exactly related is "The Body Keeps the Score". it is mainly centered around trauma but it speaks to the fact that humans hold our emotions and our tensions IN OUR PHYSICAL BODY and not only in the mind. when we SIT and scroll all day, or SIT or LAY DOWN and watch all of these things, as you said our mind does not relax but also our BODY doesn't have a chance to move through our tensions and our stress. ---- I also wanted to add to the myriad of people who are saying they needed this today, I needed this today, thank you for posting. I have been struggling to set clear goals for myself, and have been really confused as to what even is the problem. your points about the passivity and compulsivity really stuck with me. I usually convince myself that I can scroll as long as I pick intellectually stimulating content, and you've helped me to realize that even this is a trap that I'm putting myself in. my new goal is to incorporate more intentionality in my consumption, and of course to be kind to myself when I inevitably screw up.

[@fictionesque1992]

love that book, ty for suggesting. need to reread at some point...

[@jasperlindenbergh7777]

This video appeared on my homepage and you perfectly put into words what I've been thinking about for the past couple of months. I've actually been experimenting with this 'intentional' media consumption and felt so much better. For me 'intentional' consumption means when I watch a video, I just watch a video, when I play a game, I just play a game, when I listen to music, I just listen to music etc. I think of it like this: if the media I consume can be consumed while doing other things (chores etc.), it's probably not worth consuming. All the media that has left a lasting effect on me (memories, fullfilment, life-lessons etc.) has been media that has required my full attention and engagement. It's actually very fun to see how much more interesting good media becomes when you give it your full attention. Try actively listening to music, without doing anything else; pretty amazing experience!

[@Tkm-bi8gk]

My dad tried to teach me not to go on the internet unless I had a plan, an intention, an end goal to guide me. My mom tried to tell me that spending so much time without moving was bad for me. Being taught these things, being told about them, is not enough. I will continue trying to do better, but for now I do know that just being taught in theory is not enough.

[@s.tiaira9081]

You hit the nail on the head! As someone with ptsd and grew up with violence/yelling I would always use my tv to drown out the noise coming from the outside and inside my head! 28 years later I live alone peacefully yet I still always have something playing in the background😅

[@luvya112]

watching this video bc i'm on day 3 of a screen binge and i really needed to hear this. i wanted to hear this. thank you for talking about this. i appreciate your authenticity. so refreshing!!! i will definitely be returning to this video for the reminder.

[@falafelbeagle8467]

Omg this is amazing. This is so true. I noticed this in the gym how I and many other people listen to music and don’t socialize. How everyone listens to music as they walk, and how I listen to it in the background. I distract myself a lot and I’m trying not to anymore

[@nomad1517]

People fail at most habits because they dont know how behavioral psychology works. A great book that was made by Stanfords behavioral psychology director BJ fogg has a step by step guide. One of his students was the guy who created Instagram. He uses the same model bj fogg uses to form and break habits. But basically, its gradual and based on emotions, not accountability or habit tracking.

[@catsotorious]

Thank you for the recommendation!!

[@EarlGayTea711]

YES! This is why I eat breakfast at my kitchen table with my phone out of reach and take showers without music. Your brain needs SPACE to process and having constant input doesn't give your brain time to do that. Then you wonder why you can't shut off your brain to fall asleep and listen to something else to fall asleep to turn off the thoughts.

[@samsprague3158]

Shout out to the algorithm for showing me this. Dare I say you have absolutely nailed it. Looking forward to wherever you want to go with this, and incorporating some of these ideas in my own life. I actually already sort of came to this conclusion myself w help from Dr K. Started going no audio on long drives and walks. This is one of the biggest things that helped me heal from years of depression.

[@w0obat]

thank you, this really opened my eyes. I am a person that gets easily overwhelmed and this made me realise why I always feel so tired and why I can never get things done.

[@MaddhouseKB]

here to say your necklace is really pretty ☺️!! I actually am gearing up to do another social media detox, and am trying to understand where I’ve gone wrong in the past. What you’re saying here seems so intuitive now that I’ve heard it, but also, my mind is a little blown. I’ve definitely used Reddit, podcasts, a Wikipedia and audio books to cope. I got a timed lock box for this upcoming detox bc it’s so bad.

[@fictionesque1992]

thanks it was my grandma's :^) she gives me her old costume jewelry sometimes

[@noahl3681]

Just wanted to say that lots of the reason why I compulsively consume media (especially streams/letsplays) is because I feel extremely lonely. When I watch these people play games or whatever, it makes me feel less alone, like I have someone in the room with me. If I had more regular social interactions with friends I don't think I'd feel so compelled to watch that kind of stuff. Anyway thanks for the video! I resonated with a lot of your thoughts on this subject :)

[@lilyflower444]

Same

[@ariverdreaming]

Wow thank you for sharing your thoughts this is helping me understand my screen addiction so much better. The struggle for me is that when I’m depressed or overwhelmed it feels like I truly don’t have the willpower to choose to walk away from the screen and just exist and process even though I know it’s what I need. I just went on a camping trip without my phone and it was amazing but coming back I relapsed into hours of video games 😮‍💨

[@beasome]

girl you called me out so hard with this one, I'm rethinking my whole routine now 😭

[@LOLmisscrazy]

I think you’d love the book “Entertaining Ourselves to Death”. It’s more about the introduction of TV in the 1980s, but it’s an interesting perspective and historical analysis of the idea of entertainment itself.

[@zandybyrd]

Really insightful video! I find sometimes on my drives home from work I just want to be in complete silence. And I'm starting to feel like its my most creative and productive time because I have an hour to just let my mind wander. Probably time to structure my days a little more thoughtfully to make more space for that

[@margaretliston8950]

I’ve been taking my dog on walks in the morning without listening to anything and it has been wonderful. I was very anxious about it at first, because I thought I wouldn’t be motivated to walk very far without something in my ears to distract me. I actually find that I walk farther and really get a lot of joy out of watching my dog and looking around at my town. I highly recommend it!

[@MicahRion]

I wanna stop using my phone on my bus ride for the same reasons.

[@Dazamu]

Really feeling this. It was nice to get this perspective. I have been social media free (minus KZbin) for a few years now but have KZbin on in the background often. I've been journaling on and giving more thought to entertainment/distraction/music/streaming/apps/smart phones etc. lately. Your video helps, thanks for putting your thoughts out there.

[@Sammipewpew]

Needed this. Reminded me to be bored. Like when I was a child.

[@catsotorious]

I miss the ingenuity that came along with being a bored child. I'd like to find that again

[@vvitch-mist20]

Sometimes I catch myself, especially while my daughter is at school, going "I'm kinda bored", and I cherish those moments because it means I'm relaxed lol.

[@rosewith100thorns]

Three cheers for not thinking all the time!! 😂Seriously though, I love this conversation. Intentionality feels like the key to finding a good balance with media consumption and just tapping into when my mind needs rest and when it needs stimulation, then being intentional about the kind of stimulation I turn to. This is making me think of how overwhelmed I get in stores or at the mall because there is ALWAYS MUSIC PLAYING!! There is already enough stimulation in just being around so many people and trying to find what I need, the loud music on top of it feels like stimulation for the sake of stimulation, and I do feel like a tortured dog sometimes lol. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and leading a convo on this!

[@chloooooeeee24]

Currently am super sick and have found myself unable to do anything without my phone, since im not going outside or talking to friends right now it’s very easy to get sucked into short form content, especially when you don’t have the energy for much and really need to rest, not be on the phone

[@xobeautygoddessox]

thank you for making this!! it’s made me reflect on my own addiction to distraction. love that you actually included solutions instead of saying “this thing is problematic” without providing a roadmap toward getting better. love the idea for the series :)

[@addieclark2026]

Thanks for talking about this! I had this issue until I started creating more than I am consuming and my life improved sooooooo much. Now I have zero issues using it when I need inspiration.

[@Mom-dj8wp]

I’m like 5 minutes in and you’ve already touched on something I’ve had building for months now, but never seen talked about exactly this way. Scrolling gets sad, music gets boring, relaxing music gets irritating. It’s so confusing, why can’t I just enjoy these things I love so much? And then it begins to dawn on me that my life before my phone, or consistent internet for that matter (didn’t have it until I was 17) didn’t require these things to be A FRACTION as interesting or pleasurable. It’s an obsession with something that keeps us pleasantly submissive, as opposed to letting the natural activity carry us towards what would fill that space that boredom seeps out through. I don’t view it as an evil plan to do anything to us, but rather a pleasant thing that we are far too good at making into a central part of our daily existence. Norm MacDonald said in an interview that the most surefire way to make you sick of something is to really indulge in it, so to people that are in the same position as me; way overindulged, have been for a while, and ready to be rid of it please take the big step and turn this damn thing off and go do ANYTHING ELSE (except bad drugs) PS thank you very very much for this video!

[@fictionesque1992]

"except 'bad' drugs" lol at the out you've given yourself there 👀

[@abeckorilla]

This is so great!! You helped me realize finally it's only KZbin but also music. I was on the right track but you've just made me see it even more thank you!!!

[@angelina4487]

It's funny I actually had just watched a video about this topic the other day and tried/failed to implement a lot of the advice the youtuber had suggested. If I find it I'll link it. Anyways, I've been struggling with this addiction for a long time. Not being satisfied in my own life sense I was a child, I turned first to books and occasional media consumption. It was satisfying then, because It wasn't most of the day and was limited to certain interests. These days I find myself just watching whatever, browsing whatever, even if I'm not interested in the subject; Only using media to fill the void and fix the boredom. This has had a profoundly negative impact on my productivity and ability to focus on any tasks. I'm even starting to wonder if I have ADD, or am just experiencing ADD-like symptoms as a result of constantly overwhelming my brain with stimuli. I don't think the addiction itself causes ADD/ADHD or other mental illnesses, but I certainly believe it worsens many of them; I hope at some point in my life I can have a concrete answer to this. I will say though as a disclaimer, I understand the role genetics play in mental illness and and that correlation doesn't equal causation, but I'm shocked by how many people supposedly have ADD/ADHD now. Thank you for reading my long-winded tangent, have a lovely day!♥

[@jbaileyy1]

Ahhh thank you for this video; ive been journaling about this exact topic for days trying to understand this feeling of dissatisfaction that comes with an entertainment addiction. Also the dog analogy is a real eye opener

[@LaraR_Art]

this just opened my eyes in so many ways, thank you so so much... what´s funny is that every single excuse i started making while listening to you talk was imediately debunked lol, i feel so seen

[@doctorwhobeyond]

Great video! I so agree, I’ve noticed myself compulsively reaching for *any* YT video because I can’t cook or eat breakfast without distraction but I’m rarely ever satisfied with the video so I simply skip between various options until I’ve finished eating. It also makes me think of many of my friend’s parents (aged 60+) who have the TV playing all day long in the background or have the local radio station blaring complete with ads. It might not be YT but again, it’s just extra noise. Even if they mute the TV you always find your eyes wandering across the room to the screen so it’s hard to be present with one another. Definitely food for thought!

[@katzenfrau]

Cal Newport's book Digital Minimalism discusses all of these topics and gives a really good outline for finding other things to fill your time first before reducing media consumption. Definitely worth a read!

[@ViridianCityCards]

I agree we can’t even give each other attention anymore. It’s sad. I’m going to go for a walk without my phone after work now. Ty.

[@clairechocolate12]

Yes, please make this a series!!!

[@nusi4043]

Wonderfully articulate sentiments. Can’t wait to check out, and keep up, with the other episodes of this series. But first let me process this video lol. Thank you!

[@starisrandom2016]

Uh huh, been thinking this as well, I'm totally with you. I've been practicing this mindset for a few months now with my scattered notes that all come around to the idea of respecting intentionality more. Excited to expand on them with the key takeaways I took from the video. Thanks! Edit: I hope you have picked up journaling since this video because going outside just to sit and ponder with only a notebook in hand has been one of the best things I've started practicing this year. I am blown away by the amount of epiphanies I've experienced by seeing all my messy disconnected thoughts slowly come to one consistent idea. It makes it the more rewarding finding concepts that I've unknowingly been describing all along or engaging with videos like this and being to actually relate to what you're saying. As I now feel like my opinion gets the chance to be expanded on and fully realized rather then taken on by mindlessly consuming content. Edit #2: I've also been into the idea of energy management for how to operate and structure your life more meaningfully. I think this answers the question of, If mindless entertainment consumption leaves us drained how do we recharge? Here's a video I found describing my thought's on this better that I could: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqTJYmlslLeXbK8si=MKb2mAjlAKzOamvm (Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time: A Visual Summary of The Power of Full Engagement by @verbaltovisual)

[@MicahRion]

The multitasking is really hurting me, I'm starting to realize. Always (compulsively) listening to something while cooking, browsing while watching a KZbin video. I've left all the other social media apps I think but KZbin still takes up a lot of my day. It's something I'm ready to re-evaluate in a major way. I really appreciated you sharing the new rules you want to try. Inspired me to think of what would work for me and help me experience my own thoughts more.

[@tornadoeyes]

accidentally deleted my own comment (where’s the edit button nowadays!) but just wanted to add that I’ll be following this series with interest :-)

[@fictionesque1992]

coolio :^)

[@tornadoeyes]

yeah cool beans

[@abbyneal2337]

i really appreciated this video and have been having very similar thoughts lately. i've had a lot of time recently to do nothing, which has led to a lot of mindless watching and listening and scrolling, and i've realized that most things being produced lately are just bad. i think about it as the contentification of art and media: things seem to be produced with the understanding that people are going to be multitasking while watching/listening/reading, and therefore are more simple, flashy, and shallow. i've also started getting viscerally upset with the consumption terminology surrounding media: we're not watching movies or shows or reading books or listening to podcasts or viewing art; we're consuming content. we're devouring a book. i'd be interested in hearing another perspective on this consumption frame because that seems like a big shift in how most people are talking and thinking about our engagement with art and media (passive and voracious consumption rather than engagement, consideration, etc). wishing you the best of luck with reshaping your relationship with media and entertainment, and i'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts throughout the series as i also try to find a way to healthily enjoy art and media rather than using it as a numbing tool!

[@fictionesque1992]

yes yes yes to your first paragraph! and can you elaborate on how you'd like me to go deeper into the consumption issue? i feel like between this video and the Honest Broker article i don't have much more to say...though i suppose i could say something romantic about how *I* consume art...

[@earthtoinfiniti]

I did a social media detox in 2016 and had a similar experience once returning: all the time and peace and stillness I felt was almost nonexistent when I rejoined social media. It was almost like the detox never happened, so I think you may be right about that part. One thing I’m considering though, is that the younger generations right now have essentially never been without social media - like preteens with bebo, we had this addiction hardwired into us from a young age. So I’m thinking maybe it’s not feeling uncomfortable with silence so much as it’s all that we know and have known as “normal” - for example being flooded with more and more ads every year. 10 years ago people would have boycotted most of these apps completely. I think maybe time and normalization, changing our brain chemistry, is the biggest (and scariest) issue. I have my own personal reasoning for why I’m basically constantly taking in outside stimuli, but these are my overall thoughts on media consumption in general.

[@fictionesque1992]

Who's "our"? More people don't use social media/consume entertainment like this than you think...surely you mean only the people with the luxury of having an office job that allows them to multitask like this, Western students, etc etc. Your idea that humanity's collective brain chemistry is being changed is odd as well when the whole point of my point is that the behavior discussed in the video feels Bad and Wrong. Miss me with this defeatist stuff. You are not a superhuman hardwired to watch Blue's Clues or whatever at the same time as playing Family Guy Dress Up. The "baseline" stimulation you say that Western wealthy kids "need" is the same as everyone else's. As long as you're not put in a sensory deprivation chamber, you're fine.

[@faeriesmak]

Well..I really needed to hear this! Thanks so much for putting your thoughts out there. I probably need to be much more intentional about media and information intake online. I look forward to hearing what else you have to say about media addiction. You have a new subscriber! I actually love the bug noise in the background.

[@fictionesque1992]

thank you and welcome! and yessss it's the sound of the summer baybeeee 🦗🦗🦗

[@Loulou-fs6qx]

Thanks a lot for making this video, it’s nice to hear somebody talk about this without « productivity bro » mentality. Maybe you already know this but there is an author, David Foster Wallace, who talks a lot about entertainment (in his novel Infinite Jest and in essays and interviews), I think that you would find what he has to say about it really correlates with what you said.

[@fictionesque1992]

I've read Infinite Jest and unfortunately it was mid for me, but thanks for the rec :)

[@wivineyambo6297]

Thanks for the video, you really have some interesting points, looking forward to the series!

[@elcie04]

KZbin keeps recommending me these. I think it's telling me i have a problem. But for real, this has been an issue I've faved since childhood. I always had e TV on while i would play, which then turned into doing chores, which turned into doing homework, and now at work and at home, i constantly have youtube playing. I can feel the overstimulation, and i still continue it even though i can tell im overstimulated. Even while i work as a cashier, i have a little earbud in, usually playing commentary videos. I was doing pretty well in cutting my screen time (no content consumption until after work. I was even dking morning pages and stuff) until my relationship ended, and i got sucked right back into the bad habits and out of the good ones.

[@fictionesque1992]

girl this is crazy when i was a cashier i was too busy scanning and bagging people's stuff to have a headphone in idk how people can multitask like this. also there was so much insane drama at our store i didn't really care about music or whatever just then because there was so much other stuff to think about

[@stone-sama7314]

great video! :) I feel we re like all avoiding our internal live (outside too probably) and there is probably so much to discover with ourselves and our feelings n thoughts, Im still on that path and although scary Im a lil excited I think :D

[@PolarTurtle6401]

very insightful, thank you for posting this video.

[@goodnewsforyou4156]

Thank you so much for making this video, I think you have some really interesting perspectives and I’d be interested in hear on you talk more about this. I was wondering, could you perhaps talk more about how specifically over media consumption could lead to feelings of numbness and disassociation? I feel like this isn’t something I’ve heard talked about much before and I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts. Thank you so much!

[@amber0290]

Tbh I hope you do go in on this topic cause you’re right, it really is a web. I’ve been off for four years and it’s so interesting from this perspective.

[@MicahRion]

I really appreciate your perspective because it feels really grounded in reality and results. Like, it's about changing one's relationship to entertainment consumption because compulsive consumption is numbing. I've watched a lot of videos from the 'spartan' and the 'granola' perspectives and neither really resonates with me. They both have an external goal that isn't important to me: like super productivity at work or spiritual progression. For the same reason I'm really liking the book 'How to do Nothing' by Jenny Odell. I would love to see this be a series!

[@danielleredman337]

Called me tf out

[@swedenlaundryy]

yes to book recommendations and yes to this kind of analysis videos 🎉

[@fictionesque1992]

i have some book recs already in my digital society playlist 😉

[@swedenlaundryy]

@@fictionesque1992 omg thank you 🤍

[@renairoa]

the way I feel like this video just punched me straight in the gut with just brutal, unembellished truth :'D time to go sit down in silence for a bit & let that sink in lol

[@SierraMcl99]

Loved the video!

[@MathematicalMarcelin]

amazing video! I'd say that I agree, something I'd really like to know is how much entertainment is OK jajaja don't really know if that's a valid question or simply depends, but the same way we do need to eat fat/sugar/carbs how much is enough entertainment. Probably not a matter of quantity but quality who knows

[@fictionesque1992]

thank you! so it's not really about how much is "ok" because that implies some kind of moralism about over vs under consuming. I think it's more about asking yourself if you feel good/calm/steady while consuming media. ex: sometimes I'm really in the mood to listen to some loud music and i turn it on and feel "myself" and enjoy it. but if i were to listen to it all day that wouldn't feel as good. i think the key is learning to distinguish between true desire ("can't wait to rewatch this movie tonight!") and desire to act on compulsion (just turning on media whenever you feel the itch to do so. lmk if this helps

[@girlthatcouldhavebeen]

The "Play Something" button on KZbin has always been funny (derogatory) to me because its literally this concept stretched to its extreme. Noise for the sake of noise button. There are few ways more transparent for KZbin to tell you that the platform doesn't actually respect your time but simply wants your attention to itself so they can sell it.

[@luciefarrell9900]

This is great. Thank you

[@melinamuleiro8001]

thanks for sharing ! very insightful

[@goosewithagibus]

I wish I could find people like you IRL. It's lonely out here

[@fictionesque1992]

i feel the same way. i feel like they must all be hiding in some city somewhere.

[@nopls3054]

I think your ideas resonate with Adorno's criticism of society, he argues that as human beings we are just reduced down to passive consumers by the capitalist society. he also argues that the way out of it is to appreciate art. I kinda think you are familiar with him but his ideas are so relevant to today's society and kinda your video lol. I think notifications play a huge role for addiction.I had also read from somewhere that social media specifically uses the colors that are red and blue to trap people's attention. I would also suggest a book named 'guillaume pitron the dark cloud: how the digital world is costing the earth' while it deals very little about addiction, it talks about how social media platforms harm our environment. I think the content you can touch upon in your 'digital doom' series are endless . btw I think 'digital doom' would be a good title, or maybe something like 'digital hell' might seem even striking. 🏵 lastly you had talked about how communication has receded thanks to media platforms and how communicating has lost its pristine meaning, I think this idea intersects with jean baudrillard's ideas of how everything in our world has lost its meaning thanks to popular media and television's over saturation . I think you can talk about these things to enrich your narration.

[@adonaiel-rohi2460]

It’s a distraction and coping mechanism away from therapy and learning self regulation skills

[@raapyna8544]

Thanks for this video.

[@lynx3845]

I don’t know how you ended up on my home page but this is very interesting. I’ll try to be more intentional with my consumption.

[@denoise_]

Even ambient music... you're right, but :(

[@vanessahargreaves528]

Have u read Digital Minimalism by Newport? "Solitude" was a great idea for me.

[@fictionesque1992]

this is one of the few that i haven't on this topic actually! i've heard him speak on podcasts etc before tho

[@vanessahargreaves528]

@@fictionesque1992 Solitude according to Newport is a state where you are alone with your thoughts. Where ur not consuming anything of other people. That means no podcasts, movies, videos, books, songs, people etc. In today's world we do not get the solitude that we need.

[@roxannsnowden615]

Im here for the series! I would like to hear what "rules"you give yourself and regular updates on how that works out. Last year i had a goal of reading a lot of books and while its the lesser (imo) evil, i sometimes felt like how you described an etertainment addiction. What do you think about that?

[@fictionesque1992]

the rules i gave myself are in this vid but i can totally give updates! maybe on the community tab if it's not "big" enough for a vid. lately i've been pretty relaxed with the rules and have been focusing more on being aware of how i feel than on staying 100% "clean" if that makes sense. the improvement in my mood and emotional control has been noticeable and i can still do small amounts of browsing. this self awareness has also made it way easier to not compulsively stay up late, which is a big issue for me. yes i absolutely think you can compulsively consume books (esp if in audio form as that lends itself to the toxic multitasking i was mentioning in this vid) but a printed book is not wired to be addictive the same way social media and video games are, and moreover it requires more active engagement of the mind than tv or movies or music do. so overall maybe less toxic than other forms of media in printed form, but totally possible to incorporate into an addiction like this.

[@callmerue.]

this is the answer

[@fairyprincessunikitty2032]

I really did turn of KZbin after watching ❤

[@fictionesque1992]

good job! did it feel like you had more time to let the info sink in?

[@fairyprincessunikitty2032]

@@fictionesque1992 I mean it’s not as if it wasn’t on my mind anyway, so it gave me the necessary push to act instead of theorizing. 🤗

[@1600Awesome]

Oh she’s spitting fr

[@victorvale4277]

Absolutely stellar :)

[@fictionesque1992]

thanks handsome ❤

[@amandaschnell3353]

Where is the link to the article she mentioned?

[@impersonator4439]

I'm old enough to remember how things were before social media. The boredom was incredibly intense, and you tried to find anything to entertain yourself. I probably read the schampo ingredients a thousand times sitting on the toilet.

[@brittany16950]

oh yeah I believe it

[@BobSure_AKA_PotatoSmasher]

Not all "entertainment" is created equal. There no embedded ads in the books, music and movies I consume. social media was created to addict. Social media is the corn syrup of entertainment. #Idiocracy

[@xxsnow_angelxx3953]

Would you include reading books outside? Because you're not fully focused on the nature.

[@fictionesque1992]

maybe! i mean if you're reading a book anytime you need to walk or drive somewhere or complete a manual task then yes i would say it's the same issue of compulsively keeping one foot removed from reality. lots of people especially compulsively consume audiobooks.

[@xxsnow_angelxx3953]

@@fictionesque1992 yea i do that sometimes. I like audiobooks when the fan suddenly makes jokes halfway through and we laugh together. But sometimes i noticed to prefer enjoying without background noise, i read like 90 pages when into the mood.

[@hereforthememes2351]

Hmm I think people have been putting on radio in the background for ages though?

[@fictionesque1992]

Yes, but you used to have to sit in your living room to listen to the radio, and there were only a few different stations, and it was a pain in the ass to switch the station. Maybe you could listen in your car, too, but again, there was just less to listen to. Besides, that's only two places. Now, you can get music/tv/podcasts literally ANYWHERE you want at all times, and there are a million billion things to choose from, and much of the content is designed to get you riled up on some way.

[@hereforthememes2351]

@fictionesque1992 True, good point on the ubiquity of content now vs just having radio in living room and car!

[@JoëlleWeetjewel]

Sometimes I feel being alone with my thoughts can be quite over stimulating of itself though. My mind always wants to run into a million places, and putting on a video or some music helps it stay focused on one thing. One time I did a digital detox, I got so bored I started maladaptive daydreaming, which was a lot more destructive and timeconsuming than watching KZbin was before. I agree that it's unhealthy to use entertainment to run from problems you're facing, but if your mind is so bored that it's making up issues that don't exist, or it's hyperfixating on issues that are out of your control, I think a little distraction (digital or non-digital) can be useful. I'm curious what your thoughts on this are though.

[@fictionesque1992]

This is a sign that you're overstimulated. The first time I detoxxed off of social media it was literally months of exactly what you're describing, even though I wasn't consuming content chronically anymore. Even being overstimulated from work can have this effect. This is not a sign that there is something "wrong" with your brain, and the "fix" for it isn't to give your brain MORE content as a form of attempting to "focus" the rapidness of your thoughts. When your brain jumps around like that, it's because it has a ton of information it wants to process, but can't, because there hasn't been enough down time. Even things like socialization, cooking, etc can prevent your brain from having the space it needs to process (in my experience). There is no set "solution" for this, but some things that have helped me are just being real with myself about when I feel my brain is doing way too much, taking a quiet walk, listening to relaxing music and journalling aimlessly, or even just staring out a window or something. Exercise, specifically running, helps too, especially with no headphones. Don't give your brain more stuff to focus on when it is screaming for less. Why do you need to be "focused" all the time anyway? Who and what benefits from that?

[@portugeese_man_o_war]

Fuck

[@ellachaddock2795]

this is totally where I'm at right now. i was almost off Instagram for a month before redownloading it yesterday and honestly it's also about how fucking fast and constant everything is too for me personally. I agree with so much of what was said here. not having music constantly playing while I lived made me appreciate and savor the feeling so much more when I found listened to songs that I actually liked. constant stimulation/entertainment is honestly a fucking epidemic and it makes me really sad, it feels like everyone in my life is under it so I don't have a lot to work with as far as talking about this with other people. this is probably getting very rambly to just say that I really appreciate you talking about this and the knowledge that it's not just me🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

[@fictionesque1992]

that's ok! sometimes you need to dip your toes back in to see that you're truly over it, yk? i did that many times with *parts* of youtube and tumblr and it's sorta melancholic just knowing it has lost the ability to entertain you, realizing you've grown out of it etc. and i hear you. it makes me want to diiiiieeee when i'm out with people and get shown some unfunny tiktok. then i stare at it like this 😐 and make them uncomfortable 🖤 like bro i dont CAREE tell a real joke you came up with or die by my sword 🤺