10 Reasons to Get Off Social Media - Jaron Lanier 

How many people here deleted their social media accounts? Like if yes.

The man is a genius without ego. He serves Humanity. I am grateful to this man.

It's funny how some comments are addressing his "fitness" to be honest I do not care as he clearly has a fit brain, unlike many who comment him.

I’m done with social media. I’m an empath so I absorb everything very deeply and forget my own intelligence sometimes. When I deleted all of my accounts in 10th grade my life flourished. Went back to it and became so depressed and insecure. Today I am done.

Very intelligent guy, I’ve deleted my Facebook, instagram two years ago and never felt so anxious free in my life..it’s pathetic when people say I’m on Facebook to catch up with old friends but yet they have no time for them in real life! Says a lot 😂

It says something about you when the most interesting thing you can think of to comment is a remark about the appearance of the speaker.

I deleted my Facebook profile when the Cambridge Analityca thing came out, and I've never used Twitter. The only social media I use is RU-vid, because of the videos about my various interests. I've switched off notifications, so I'm not addicted to people liking or disliking anything I say. I click "not interested" on any video that makes me angry and eventually the algorithm stops suggesting that channel to me. My life is so much better now than 9 months ago, and I feel a lot better about myself.

if you are wondering "can I actually delete them?" you can!! I watched this video initially in January 2020, its September now and I'm super happy being off of social media, I don't miss it one bit. my relationships, spiritual practice, fitness, and general ability to be present for the people and moments in my life have all improved dramatically. now when I hang out with people who are constantly on their phones using social media I can feel the difference, they carry the collective anxiety of the hive mind and I feel relaxed and in the moment. Do it!! you'll be healthier and happier for it!!

Jaron Lanier is a national treasure and must be protected at any cost.

Who should care how he looks; He's a brilliant speaker with injections of humor & fine tailored musicianship.

i deleted my facebook ,and my hapiness improved siginifficantly in a matter of days :)

he's a hell of a Yoda. I like this guy. well done Jaron.

I'd LOVE for Jaron and Joe Rogan to sit down and have a nice long talk!

Deleted my social network accounts half a year ago, and it really improved my day to day mood. I've lost acquaintances and people I thought were my friends because of it, and it is harder to meet people when they cant just look you up, so it has objectively made me lonelier, but I do feel as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. That negative feedback loop is gone, I no longer have to deal with a bombardment of outraged viewpoints from people trying to get me just as outraged about something they're passionate about. That weird competitive nature that social media not so subtly shovels onto you isnt stressing me out anymore. I also feel more secure knowing that my identity isnt just floating out there in the ether for anyone to peer at when they choose. It was a tough decision, and there are downsides, but in the end, I encourage it.

One of the greatest thinkers on social media (of all times?) He is really trying to save you and I, pay attention please.

I deleted my fb account about a month ago, mainly because of all the covid propaganda. I feel so much better.. Think of the time you're being "news fed" as time you could be having your own thoughts and your own time

This guy's brain & spirit are fit I tell you.

I had a Facebook since I was 12. I am 24. I have been off for almost 3 years. My friends think I'm weird for it. RU-vid satisfies my media fix, and I try to keep it to educational material but more often than not I do enjoy small entertainment. I attest to this having a positive affect on my life. Not big, but bigger than I first guessed. Hi five, this lecture was great!

What a coincidence, came off all social media a few days ago so have videos like this in my recommended. What I wasn't expecting was the speaker to be one of the people whose extensive virtual reality knowledge formed a backbone of research that was able to get me a first on my dissertation. His book, Dawn of The New Everything was an incredible read that I would highly reccomend to anyone who is remotely interested in how virtual reality has developed from its inception decades ago. This man is an absolute genius, no question.

I liked the point he made about being addicted to negativity more than positivity. Makes sense why social media really makes you feel like shit.

Jaron is a blessing to mankind.

My Facebook account once got hacked and I was forced to stop use it . Although a stressful incident in the beginning mainly because i was worried about my data, it proved to be the best thing that happened to me. I had more time to spend with family., read books, walk, sleep. .... Got my post graduate degree on time ..... It's really rewarding

"I think I'm feeling evasive!" this is hilarious! I adore Jaron's mind!

Deleted mine 2 days ago. Felt good doing it, and I certainly didn't have any regrets. I highly recommend to anyone. Your life never needed it, and u won't miss it after all 👋🍵🦋

I feel like he is the kind and caring uncle I never had hahha. Very interesting person! I also deleted social media, only keep youtube and sometimes check tumblr. Healthiest decision!

I could listen to you for hours. Thanks brother for having moral courage to expose these issues.

Smart people do not engage excessively in social media. He's right. I never have, but all the dumb masses have nothing better to do.

He can have an amazing impact on the future.

I like him , he seems like a good human being who wants to see the world positive , loving, harmonious. Blessed the peace makers. I m in I love these kind of people. Another thing : people who criticize his weight I m sure they will criticize me too so these kind of people I don’t like them I don’t want them as friends or associates. Social media can be used positively or negatively, we have the choice. Negative energy some call it negative spiritual world wants the world to be destroyed, positive energy wants to see the world united, loving and helping each other. There is a world besides us and these entities is using people. Peace and Love , be the light .

Omg - I love this talk & love the music so much! The overtone flutes totally took me by surprise - I’ve heard the Norwegian version, so beautiful. I look forward to reading Jaron’s work. Enlightening!

When Facebook and Twitter first appeared they made me deeply uneasy. At the time I noticed the quality of the interaction and how it was all superficial emotional fluff and meaningless expressions of empathy/encouragement without any depth - in other words, the electronic incarnation of the "self-esteem movement" complete with virtual trophies just for being alive. I never touched Facebook but I did develop a small Twitter habit the last couple of years, thinking that the online discourse badly needed people with functioning brains to talk sense. A few months ago I s###canned Twitter and the improvement to my mental health was immediate. I'd never look back. I'm sad to say that I've given up on fixing the world, but at least now I'm approaching the lightness and focus I need to address my own life.

I like this guy. I like how kind of weird yet confident he comes across, loved the music. I deleted Facebook a few months ago and I don't miss it. Never fell into Twitter. I'm planning to wean myself off the rest over the next year.

WOW! This gentleman is AMAZING! I truly LOVE to see him MANY MORE years to come.HOPE he'll pay attention to his well- being/health so we can enjoy his music and INTELLIGENCE moreeeeee.

Dude I love you, think I met you in Seattle many years ago. Take care of yourself, this world seriously needs you!!!

Thank you Jaron for everything you're doing. You're a good soul.

I realized how addicting and toxic social media was very early on and disconnected from it right away.

I'm surprised that even Jaron was taken in by Russiagate. I think that shows just how powerful what he's saying is. It impacts all of us including Jaron included. Really great talk. Thanks for posting.

Thank you. I was at the pioneering stage of computers in education in Israel...( I'm 72, a baby boomer...) made the first menu for children who don't read yet! ... helped develop a children's authoring system, lots of games for learning. Ah, it was great. I was thrilled to go to work every day--making magic. Yes, we were mostly all idealistic. Now I'm worried about my grandchildren, so much screen time. And now I'm even more worried, after hearing you. Very important, your concerns and well explained. (And really thinking (again) of quitting social media. Facebook first, which I've pretty much weaned myself from.)

I didn’t get big into my smartphone until I was well into the age of 23. (I’m 29 now, and addicted. Yes.) But back then, my peers thought I was odd for not wanting one/having one on me. I miss who I was then- productive and aware: I noticed everyone looking down at their phone. Just the minute or two I witnessed was startling. Now, I picture myself.. 2-5 hours easily. Gone. Absolute mortified.

Like a lot of us on here watching this, I first learned about Jaron a week ago, after Watching The Social Dilema. What an absolutely fantastic bloke! He fascinates me. Wonderfully Dr. Who-like, but clearly brilliant.

1:03:55 what a breath of fresh air when he began to play. After such a daunting reality, this beautiful melody is played. Love it.

I am totally captivated by his knowledge insightful wisdom. He has such a wonderful way of simplifying a somewhat complex topic and presenting the information in a way that is simple to understand yet provocative. Love this guy... I’m buying the book for sure

Can't say we have not been informed and warned by the intelligent and conscious Jaron Lanier. Quite the musician as well. The music was enlightening as well!

Jaron Lanier is so cool, intelligent and humane. I've already heard most of what he said here cause I've listened to so many of his talks already, but I love listening to him. Also, this one was especially great because he played a lot of music!

This is eye opening and great information overall. I appreciate that though he worked/works in Silicon Valley, he hasn't drank the Kool Aid. He keeps it real about what social media is and does.

Jaron is absolutely brilliant and bold and I'd love to meet him one day.

Thank you for this video! Peace to you!

The genius monk of Silicon Valley, who speaks a powerful message. Excuse me, but now I have to check Facebook and see what disruptive and disturbing posts have appeared in the last 10 minutes.

I just love Jaron! He is so lovable. With his consent, i would just love to hug him. He is so Good at what he does. So nurturing and holistic in his way of being.

Jaron,like the way you explain what a lot of us feel

I've already decided to stop logging into twitter, wechat, instagram, facebook (except for messenger to respond to questions and meetups). RU-vid will be hard to quit. I think I'll hang onto this one :')

This is amazing, it's the perfect combination of real data, very intelligent conversation about our humanity and culture interspersed with ethereal music to keep things really where they are located...in the ethos

I have a history of finding brilliant people and then watching every talk they gave. Welcome Jaron to my menagerie of brilliant minds!

I am enthralled by the speech and eloquently expressed ideas. One thing I must disagree with is the separation of the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993. I myself am Czech and know well that this was a peaceful, mutually agreed and accepted decision.

Duncan Trussell is right, this dude needs to be on JRA ASAP

During the questions segment, Jaron brought up the analogy of DoS attacks in reference to information availability in the modern internet. "Cultural DoS." Very smart.

Great talk, thank you!

Love this guy & the energy he puts out there

Got my whole life back leaving Facebook and Instagram and twitter. I am writing some amazing work every day and now have writing success. Social media is EVIL I don't need dopamine but from my life purpose.

Props to the accompanist in white shirt, who paid attention and smiled and laughed at the right times. He didn't drift off while Lanier spoke.

Jaron is so smart and sensible, he seems like a humble person too

What a wonderful man. Great music. Great chat.

Rarely does someone change someone’s opinion on a matter via social media posts. I’ve been known to troll when feeling my beliefs or ideas to be marginalized, “ganged up on” etc. it’s so easy to be negative on social media and that’s how social media thrives. It doesn’t want harmony. It wants to divide us because division is addictive.

Such a wonderful person. Much needed information.

"Reliable tiny shades of difference carefully applied consistently have a compounding effect." - Jaron Lanier

Jaron is inspiring, a man with integrity!

This man is one of my favorites

I do not use facebook or instagram at all. I did not like how much i was dependent on it. I have been off for 8 or 9 months now and I feel great

What an excellent public speaker. AND he's a genius.

Everything he says is true. You can feel it.made me so much more aware of the manipulation.

Just come across this man and he is Brilliant... Wowza !!

Social media has helped me stay in contact on a more personal level with past managers and coworkers that have helped me get new jobs through their references. That’s what’s stopping me from deleting everything.

Truth To Power ! Thank you.. Jaron Lanier

I would love to see a complete list of what is considered social media, beyond all the obvious ones. Of course Facebook and Instagram are there, but what about amazon? And other shopping websites? What about news websites, blogs etc, what about Netflix? Of course we don’t post anything on Netflix, we get suggestions based on what we have watched. What about youtube? What about job search websites, if you look for one job type, before you know it you are getting similar suggestions without even asking. I really wanted to email Jaron Lanier to ask this question, but I can’t find an email for him. If anyone knows, it sure would be helpful. Somehow I think the entire device - the phone or iPad, is addictive. I don’t think it’s enough to only get rid of the obvious social media sites.

glorious Q&A session

That was a very pleasant surprise at the very end where he mentions cats! 😻

I’m just now getting into the tech industry and this guy is becoming my guru.

This gets good at 9:00. Thanks Jason for sharing this.

I can’t believe I’m not having to pay to hear this amazing man speak and play music. 👍 I’m canceling my Facebook tonight.

been (intuitively) on this very thread for about 20 years, un-coincidentally only as long as i've been using the internet (but for the most part, avoiding social media). am not involved with silicon valley, so naturally i can't articulate the specifics with the inside perspective and obvious genius which jaron has magnanimously bequeathed his audience here, and in his book ...... one thing is very clear however, no matter how you receive (digest) this information, jaron is a digital visionary/ renaissance man...with the ability to peer into and navigate the hectic labyrinthine inner-machinations/anatomy, of this preposterously behemoth experiment in social behavorism. and some of it is, as he says, very positive in terms of connectivity, but along with that comes the nefarious skinner- box /dopamine -excitation manipulation, with attendant dark algorithmic wizardry, the shadow or dystopian aspect. the question remains as to whether the benevolent virtues outweigh the faustian compact, which is unfolding each and every time you (we) sign into one or more of these platforms, including yt.......the segment regarding cyber-pioneer norbert weiner is sufficiently terrifying so as to grab our attention, it is the epitome of prophetic (from the 1940's...) de-construction of the pestilence of cell-phone addiction, which we are experiencing as a societal malignancy, both literally and metaphorically. jaron hits the nail on our heads, pretty consistently...thank you sir, rock on!!

That piano playing is like nothing I've ever heard, brilliant guy, helped me put perspective on today's world.

I love your work, but I think most of the sheep in the crowd will internally defend their social media addiction like an alcoholic defends their alcoholism.

Every social interaction costs a lot of "money" that's why, social media is cheaper and easier to control.

What a frightening idea and have it explained to me so clearly. But I like social media to see things that interests me not necessarily social between old friends or whatever(the original reason for facebook) just subjects like astronomy, programming, art, architectural etc...

This man is brilliant.

Music was unexpectedly good btw!

What a fascinating life form Jaron Lanier is. And I say life form because I'm convinced he has transcended the human experience and is on a another dimension of consciousness!

Brilliant some answers for humanity

He has a child like innocence. Absolutely Love him

Oddly, my decision to leave Facebook earlier this month is what likely resulted in the offering here. While my parking ticket has been stamped nicely as result of this offering and I love the musical offerings, the contrasting realities at present with respect to the free market and the inherent ‘premise staples’ from which seem very relevant at the time - perhaps the point he raised about the combinations of socialism and capitalism being the worst of both worlds at that time, I have to presume he hadn’t considered the new feudalism that seems rather likely to be further along than mere abstraction. The feedback loops , the parasites that feed the mice which feed the cats .. just as real and more so now.

OH Jaron Thanks God for your mind and heart.

God bless you. الله يبارك بك

There are some apps that are hard not to use because they are included in the business. In Dubai, you must have WhatsApp to communicate. In China, you must use WeChat. In Taiwan, you must use Facebook. Social media can even help you find a job. The problem is vanity. We all want to be famous from social media. The likes and the followers and the views. The illusion is the social media companies can quickly make you famous or it can shadowban you.

Mixed in here are some really intelligent, thoughtful questions

Jaron has a very interesting perspective. It's difficult to imagine a less clichéd POV.

Norbert Weiner! My Uncle bought me his book 30+ years ago. Classic.

I wonder why I be on Amazon like 20 times a day and have an ever increasing to buy list that I check daily and the thoughts come to me often. Huuummmm 🤔

Great speech, but might not be understood properly by many.

I already deleted my facebook but I'm gonna have a bit of a difficult time getting rid of instagram and youtube

Gosh! What a wonderful human being! Thank goodness, I came across this here! 🥳👏👀🙏