Social media might be ruining us | E16 

It feels so so random to watch Rowan talk sensibly.

Three straight dudes doing a decent, professional, podcast is actually more rare than they seem aware of. Don't dismiss that fellas.

I watch Epic NPC man supercuts everynight to stop myself doomscrolling before bed

Rowan is spot on with how it's affecting the younger generations. Children are already super susceptible to anxiety and depression and I've seen it skyrocket

Every time I hear stuff like this, about social media, all I can do is is think: "How blessed am I to have had a childhood without all that." Not that my insecurities are any less, but they are not being broadcasted, or heightened, either. The second part why I am happy about it, is that I genuinly feel like I had the opportunity to be able to entertain myself without a mobile when I am outdoors. Like waiting in line at a register, waiting for a bus/train/metro/etc. I do not whip out my mobile to keep myself buys, entertain myself, I just stand there and wait, just me and my thoughts, just me and my eyes looking around at people, trees, birds, stuff, anything. Also, I learned as I got older (I am 53 now) that social media is a wonderfull tool to connect with people all around the world and make friends that way. That is what I use it for, and I do not feel that anxiety anymore that Alan was talking about when I hear a -ding- that there is a message in. It can wait. Is that beacuse I grew up without it? Is that because I am older? Or is that because I WANT to be relaxed and stressfree. I have to say the latter, because there was a time that that anxiety was there for sure, that I responded within 0.2 seconds on everything that came in. Activly changing the way I look at social media made me a lot happier. Jealousy, I felt it, and I hated it. I do not want jealousy, or hate, in my life. So now, after a lot of hard work on myself, I can say: "I love that, I am happy for you/them." Seeiing the sun shine in another persons eyes, what a wonderfull feeling is that! I am sticking to it as much as I can, because I want to. Having friends and family around that want the same also helps a lot. Me, a saint? Fuck no, just very aware of my brain trapping me into stupid stuff and madly trying to steer clear of it. Keep taking about stuff like this VLDL, it helps! Thanks!

The smartphones are the problem. As humans we are prone to dopomine addiction and social media givesus that hit. It was better when we didn't have our phones on us at all times. We were free when you had to sign onto a computer to partake in social media.

I remember when logging into Facebook felt like I was picking up a Newspaper, checking how all my family was doing, then set it back down. Then Facebook FORCED an update on me and everyone else, one that I had already been resisting cause I'd tried it and it was awful, that instead of me seeing things chronologically, I would see them based off of "popularity" which is their way of saying "What we choose" and now we know it to be the Algorithm. Facebook went from a nice thing to open, check up on people, and log back off of, but because greed is like an unchecked cancer, Facebook Facebooked and now it is loathsome.

ICQ? That's a blast from the past. That's how I met the wife in 2000. Met online, chatted on the phone then took a 9 hour bus drive to Cardiff from North Wales (how can a 200 mile trip take 9 hours??). Not on the same day, I should add. AFAIK it's still a thing. Last time I looked it up it seemed to be used more in Eastern Europe these days.

I certainly feel like VLDL's focus has always been on entertaining people on social media vs getting famous on social media. But then I see all the shorts from old content and the compilation videos and I think "Oh no, even they have to play the algorithm game to be sustainable" and it makes me sad. Not in a "why you do this" kind of way, but in a "the social media giants really are eventually going to destroy everything we love" kind of way. Anyway, glad you continued the convo on the downsides of social media. Wish you had touched a little bit on Twitter and the dangers of the political side of social media (even though that's a very slippery slope) and I hope we do get an update on Rowan's progress toward controlling his scroll addiction.

I used to struggle with social media-induced jealousy for years. It seemed like everyone in the world was having a blast and I was the only one having a shit time. It took years of self reflection and studying people around me to understand that everyone struggles too, they just don't all post about it all the time. When I stopped comparing myself to everyone and started just enjoying what I had, I was able to break out of the negative cycle. Now I just use social media to look at funny memes and videos once in a while and then move on. I love that you guys are talking about this stuff and making videos that explore human emotion and people's struggles, even when it's just tied into the comedy. You guys show the world that you're just like everyone else and connecting with your fanbase on a personal level rarely seen. That's why I keep coming back and clicking on all the new content you put out there. Keep up the amazing work! 🤘

CAM 1 and CAM 2 are grey from 20 minute mark.

VLDL: breaking new ground on podcasting world firsts every single day

Also to Adam's point about social media leading to other things/heightening it... The refrain used to be "MySpace ruins lives" because so many people had access to so many people and infidelity or scams happened. I know a bunch of us were fairly reckless in meeting people online and certain things wouldn't have happened if it wasn't that easy to pluck the apple from the tree.

Is social media ruining us? "Yes" - Rowan *shade away*

Hearing Rowan talk without yelling or getting naked feels unreal.

Rowen talking about throwing his phone away while doom scrolling, I felt that in my soul.

Social media is designed to heighten anxiety and anger, it's specifically designed for these effects as both those things (outrage and distress) can be manipulated for profit

This has become the most relevant podcast to me. I really appreciate you guys doing this. You are talking about things that actually matter to me and you all seem very genuine.

Great job getting Ellie a mic! I'm glad you took that feedback.

I'm glad these have been coming out in video format. I'm just going to wait for the videos now.

0:40 “we are on episode 15” (sees its 16) lolol

I need more podcasts 😢😢

Great chat, guys. Here's me feeling extremely old...my first social media was at 13 when after serious begging, I got a CB radio for my birthday. It completely opened up my life! And I met my hubby on there too.

ICQ was the start for me too. It always bothers me that people just a few years younger than me are like 'whats that'. Looking at you Alan.

This was awesome. Hahaha, can't believe Bodger's addictive personality is loosely based on Rowan. 😄 Also, really glad that Ellie can be there to chime in every now and then!

Ive been with you guys since the star wars debate era in bored series...im really happy for you guys for this channel to grow for what it is today. Cheers mate from Malaysia🇲🇾

I've just binged your podcasts and I am only left with one question: Has a podcast on youtube ever reached Episode 17?

Im really enjoying these podcasts im glad they branched out more with their channel and joined the podcast world, on top of everything else (obvi) much love from soflo guys ❤

I love all the swearing...feels like a genuine New Zealand convo 😂 up the wahs 🤙🏻

I couldn't sleep last night so thank you for the podcast to listen to. 🙏

Great video and interesting topic, for what it's worth, I found out about you guys many years ago due to Facebook. Think it was the video of Rowan playing as an NPC guard "Someone's prowling round 'ere" and finding it hilarious, then I starting seeing a few more videos again via facebook and headed over to youtube to sub, been watching you ever since.

Are the other episodes of the podcast going to be available on youtube at some point? Seeing your guys faces while you talk really helps me understand things better.

great content, thank you guys

I will never have known VLDL without scrolling on social media :)

I can still do a perfect impression of the "Uh-oh" alert from ICQ.

Love having the phone in the pocket while moving the lawn. Keep up the work love the podcast ❤😊❤

Closest thing I have to social media is a youtube addiction to podcasts while I work / walk the dog etc. Fortunately none of them have ever gotten above 16 episodes so that helps keep it in check. But in reality I just see it as a more specialised version on listening to the radio.

Social media is this generations tower of babel.. we have never been so connected yet so far apart

There is a major difference in the content your channel makes and the brainlets on tik tok that make get ready with me videos. I love listening to podcasts while working or working out. I wish you spent more time talking about the young generations being so addicted to social media who think that is how you need to make money for themselves. My sons do not have social media. I will limit that until I possibly can. But they still get stuck in, I need to make social media videos to be famous and make money. They do not see the struggle and mental anguish social media influencers go through. The constant need for likes and engagement. Great episode.

LOL we would go out and do tricks on our bike, half hoping to break a bone and get a "cool" cast, but also terrified that if we did and told our parents how it happened, we'd be grounded forever LOL

I'm really amused by the way the light changes halfway through this video so it looks like Adam has a spotlight shining on him while Rowan and Alan have atmospheric mood lighting.

I identify with all 3 guys it seems. I feel I am mostly moderate like Alan and have kids, but have that background and good memory that Adam does, but then sometimes am the smartarse like Rowan. Plus I'm a model :D Nah, but seriously, I am so glad I found VLDL.

im glad i quit facebook years ago only use the messenger app to speak to a few friends only thing i use now is youtube which has also unfortunatly become a time sink

Oh this is cool. Keep the podcasts going !!!

MSN also had chatrooms, there was a list of user created rooms that you could join. My now husband met my Mum (then me) in one such room.

I remember spending so much time reading comments on videos. Nowadays I don't do much at all. Especially since I watch on xbox more than anything else

defos agree with this, the way people usually use social media is not healthy at all. i only use it to communicate with specific people personally, but i feel like all these problems are accentuated because of how saturated the market is, even makes you doubt real genuine interactions which is crazy. finding your happy median in all of it i guess is key, atleast it was for me, choose some people you want to follow or keep up with and stick to them.

I kept thinking of Forest Gump when you guys kept saying Gen-A.

I love you guys and your content

Orkut! For us Brazilians everything started with Orkut, a few years before facebook. And Orkut was acctually awesome!

Not me 😂 I’ve been booted from all social media multiple times except this one and Rumble 😂😂😂

The digital and physical art streams are the only way I interact with Twitch. Many of my friends are art streamers and its mostly a way for them to try to make art full time versus being famous. At least with my friends its out of a desire to be a fulltime content creator regardless of medium. Great discussion! Also an important topic.

It’s so hard to not see this entire thing as a skit, I didn’t realise how close you all seem to your characters when talking

I am straight and white, but my Trans female friend loves you guys as well. Comedy knows no bounds!

"Wanna cyber?" 😂😂😂😂

Hey rowen, you should do a podcast

Facebook got really big for soldiers during the afghan Iraq war. I was like ally and said I would never use it but when I got deployed it was a great to write messages and see pics of what family and friends were doing.

I'd love a podcast about Baldurs Gate 3, the first two games are THE games of my childhood and doing the first playthrough of BG3 right now after MONTHS of resisting and avoiding spoilers I feel myself invested in the story and character relations like I haven't been in years. It's truly amazing.

Good stuff as always

@Alan I don't use social media and quit Overwatch 2 at the beginning of this year, because it became unbearably toxic. I mained Support and after I quit, the main tank of our team gifted me Baldur's Gate 3 for all the support and whenever I have to relax now, I play BG 3 as well! Did you know that, if you play a druid (one of the best classes, objectively!!), you can wildshape into a cat and your teammates can throw you to distant places, that you can loot and explore then. I mean, you can use "fly" later in game, but in the beginning, it gives you a bit of loot. How I love to discover new stuff in every run! Like how you get proficiency in music if you play Alfira's Song on her lute with her! Love it! I wish there was a decent lfg in BG3, but I guess that would make it toxic as well. I'd LOVE to meet friendly, funny people to play with (you know ... Gale-friendly-funny ... maybe a tad bit dark humour as well, I don't judge as long as the root is nice). My former main tank doesn't play BG 3 :Y

To Greg's point of dragging your kids into your desire for social media fame... it is a bit reminiscent of Munchausen's by proxy -- typically it would be a parent or caregiver claiming (or creating a situation in which) the other person has a physical or mental illness, solely for the caregiver to get attention. I'd be interested to see how the DSM is revised for this exploitation on social media in coming decades.

Best Podcast ever, ❤..Just an observation, is it normal for the Camera angle facing Rowan and Alan to be kinda dark and low focus sensation? I thought my screen had the brightness lowered😂

Ever since smartphones came out Millennials and Gen Z started seeing a massive uptick in depression and suicide because they're watching other people live lives rather than they experience their own.

This is so original. 😂

Lol i caught myself flicking through the comments when they talked about swiping for dopamine

Aol messenger and Yahoo chat was my first ASL. 😂

Hypothetical idea...🤔 The reason food commercials work is because it tricks your subconscious into thinking it's right in front of you. Perhaps social media does the same thing...🤨

Yes, yes, it is. Social media is yucky!

“…are we the baddies?” “Nope.” “Good to know.”

I would say the original internet forums were the birth of social media.

It's been 2 weeks. Where is episode 17???

That was very interesting, I found myself wanting to join in at several points in the conversation. Oh, and in the interest of identifying your audience, I'm 54, female, and I very much enjoy your content. Edit: I agree with Ellie, you guys are entertainers in the best sense of the word.

Chat City. Holy shoot. That took me back.

I saw a clip recently where Dr. Phil says, “Kids stopped living their lives and started Watching people live their lives.”

I'm quite screen addicted but not social media. I don't really feel jealousy either I just want my life to be better than it is right now. Not that I'm unhappy with my life but I see room for improvement. My biggest screen use is RU-vid though, funny videos, your podcast, lore from my favorite video games and discovering new metal music

Social Media is destroying society as a whole because it is creating billions of individuals who are now over-focused on themselves and are ambivalent toward society as a whole. I joined MySpace in around 2007. I then switched to Facebook when my daughter invited me, and that was so much better because I was able to re-connect with many old friends. These days, I rarely look at Facebook but I always have Messenger open as that is my text format for daily conversations with about a half-dozen friends. - I have a Instagram account but haven't looked at it in weeks. - Discord and Twitch accounts (the last one is brand new) to watch specific content providers who work there primarily.

You all are not social media entertainers. You are entertainers who happen to be on social media. Important distinction. I got rid of all my social media (aside from RU-vid) and I don't regret it at all.

I feel so smug listening to this. No smart phone. No social media... ...no friends. Your world is so different. Skit idea - that insufferable friend without a smartphone

Bebo also had the 'other half' thing where you get one of your top friends to be featured as your other half. and then get removed and be devastated.

@Viva La Dirt League ICQ was my jam back in the day. For anyone wondering, ICQ stands for "I Seek You".

I always say '5 more clips and I'm done' 2 hours ago

“Might be”. Bro it is definitely ruining us

Adam mentioned that he works out. Do an episode on your workout routines and other actions taken for physical health.

the bottom line in all of this is, simply...money. The damage done to humans is just a side product.

imho the main problem with social media apps is not the "social" part nor the "media" part. the problem is the corporate designed algorythms that prefer engagement with hate more then personal interests. if any algorythm would show the user exactly what he wants to see, eg as tiktop or short, the overall screen time with this type of content would drop for these corporations. I believe most sane people would prefer to choose to watch what they realy like and not some random shit. the random factor of the swipe is the real thing what is addicting. and what is bad for us.

The biggest issue for me on social media is the toxic stuff. All those really stupid people selling their opinion on things they know absolutely jackshit about for the truth. The hate I feel for those people is poisoning me.

took me a while to understand i was not watching a skit

You all should do a skit in the Epic Npc universe where you all switch places like brit becomes greg Etc

I bet it would be fun to watch yall do a 4 player co op in baldurs gate 3! If chat, and numbers and all that was turned off. So it was literally just yall with Ben having fun doing a co op game without external input.

Legit a playthrough of you guys on BG3 doing honor mode would be free content. Productive gaming might give you more time to play it even :)

Will we ever see guest appearances from your co-stars?

At first, you couldnt join. You had to have a college ID. then you had to be invited.

What might be actually ruining us is having fun short videos and podcasts in the same channel. The thing here is that I am here for the entertainment, not some blokes talking about stuff for 55 minutes.

If RU-vid is social media, I have one social media account. If RU-vid isn't social media, then I have no social media accounts. To include Reddit (Shout Out to Bored Ep II).

Might be ruining us? You mean “already has and we are too far gone to be saved?”

I watched this twice and i just now realized that the editor forgot to colorgrade the clips of Rowan and Allan

I was the defacto friend who designed and coded those custom myspace profiles for my buddies. Those were the days! Definitely glad Facebook doesn't have it though. I miss when Facebook was just millennials and younger. It's so junky now.

The closest I get to social media is RU-vid. I don't have Instagram, Facebook, X, truth social, TikTok or any other ones you can think of.

Missed myspace and bebo bur started on icq which transirioned to msn over time. Mostly started as gaming friends on counter strike etc. Also was always on mIRC .

The ppl are the problem, not the tools. The desire to be seen as better than someone else is a bad human trait.