Is Digital Culture Disconnecting Us? Media Overload, Ghosting, & Reclaiming Attention with Dr. Annie Margaret

Another thing that I've noticed on social media is that there is a lot of messaging that says things like, you don't owe anyone anything or silently walk away from whatever doesn't serve you.

And also, it's not just social media, but it's TV shows.

Like, every single TV show and probably every movie that I've recently watched has had a ghosting storyline.

So the media is essentially normalizing ghosting.

And in a way, I feel like it's erasing empathy.

What are your thoughts about this?

Okay, I'm going to answer this from two different perspectives.

So one perspective, the more simple one is foundational, let's say, is that media is mirroring ourselves back to us.

Right.

And so as things become more common and the media amplifies in terms of the short form and the intensity of the content that is required to capture attention, it's just like a drug.

right? You take one hit of a drug, the first time you get really high.

The next time you need a stronger and stronger hit.

So the media has to follow the trend toward more outrage, more dramatic, more anger, whatever the strongest emotion they can get is.

And so you can see the parallel in the mirroring of the ghosting content.

So that's kind of a more foundational example of what's going on there.

The second explanation I would encourage folks to do is to follow the money.

Okay, who's producing this media? Who's creating it? Who's funding it? And who is benefiting from you being distracted, confused, exhausted? So when you see media, notice how it's making you feel.

If it's not making you feel more joyful, more aligned, more restored, more inspired, Maybe shut it off for a while.

And then if you feel it's right for you, look up, follow the money back.

Because there are forces behind the media that are not in alignment with the best interest of humanity overall.

In terms of what stories we get shown.

And that then fill

our

minds.

I think it's really a beautiful and smart practice to be extraordinarily selective about the content that you're choosing to consume and really thinking about it and reflecting on it.

Another thing that I've noticed on social media is that there is a lot of messaging that says things like, you don't owe anyone anything or silently walk away from whatever doesn't serve you.

And also, it's not just social media, but it's TV shows.

Like, every single TV show and probably every movie that I've recently watched has had a ghosting storyline.

So the media is essentially normalizing ghosting.

And in a way, I feel like it's erasing empathy.

What are your thoughts about this?

Okay, I'm going to answer this from two different perspectives.

So one perspective, the more simple one is foundational, let's say, is that media is mirroring ourselves back to us.

Right.

And so as things become more common and the media amplifies in terms of the short form and the intensity of the content that is required to capture attention, it's just like a drug.

right? You take one hit of a drug, the first time you get really high.

The next time you need a stronger and stronger hit.

So the media has to follow the trend toward more outrage, more dramatic, more anger, whatever the strongest emotion they can get is.

And so you can see the parallel in the mirroring of the ghosting content.

So that's kind of a more foundational example of what's going on there.

The second explanation I would encourage folks to do is to follow the money.

Okay, who's producing this media? Who's creating it? Who's funding it? And who is benefiting from you being distracted, confused, exhausted? So when you see media, notice how it's making you feel.

If it's not making you feel more joyful, more aligned, more restored, more inspired, Maybe shut it off for a while.

And then if you feel it's right for you, look up, follow the money back.

Because there are forces behind the media that are not in alignment with the best interest of humanity overall.

In terms of what stories we get shown.

And that then fill

our

minds.

I think it's really a beautiful and smart practice to be extraordinarily selective about the content that you're choosing to consume and really thinking about it and reflecting on it.