The Toxicity of Social Media and Why I Left YouTube (but came back)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2022
- Social media is a part of our lives whether we like it or not and in this video I give my thoughts on the toxic elements that make it unbearable for many. I also talk about the positives so it's not all doom and gloom.
My social channels
Instagram - / benjamin_lee_wright
Strava - / strava
Great to see you back, refreshing just to listen to reasonable views, social media is a better place with you. I stumbled across you a few years ago looking for advice with alcohol and glad I made the discovery. Even better to see you walking, I felt knackered after the last 2 running ones :) Keep up the good work.
Thanks a lot Peter. Plan to do videos for the foreseeable future.
Thanks for coming back! I was sad when I couldn’t find you a couple of months ago, you’re one of my favorite people to watch. I understand your choice. Glad you’re doing well.
Thanks a lot. Hope to be doing videos for the foreseeable future.
So many albums you need to do a review on, maybe one day you'll come back. Always good content
Thank you for sharing your view Mr. Wright! Personally, I am only on TH-cam and I've never posted a video for the 12 or so years I've used it. I really got into it during the tRump 4 years. Unfortunately watching how Social media facilitated his rise has had a negative on my life. Please continue doing what you do so well! Stay safe sir!!
Thanks a lot. I will try to keep regular videos from now on
Welcome back to you...and your beard! I appreciate you continuing to put your thoughts, views and person out there into the social media universe. If social media is a fair representation of humanity...ugh. For what it is worth...when I see a new post by you I am automatically picked up and find myself looking forward to finding some quiet time to settle in and listen/watch your clip. Thank you. Whether you keep posting or decide to pack it all in...you have made a difference.
Thanks very much for the kind words Ron. It means a lot.
In case you had missed it there has been and illness across the planet the last few years along with a "cure" and voicing my views about it got me kicked off every single platform which at the time I was livid about. free speech and all that, but it was the absolute best thing ever. I stopped watching tv and listening to radio and just got on with things and did exactly what I wanted without the fear of the you know what. I have since started watching a few people back on youtube as I have wanted to learn some new skills but I am now not on any other platform and don't get invloved with anyone else's views. Is so good.
I'm glad the algorithm re introduced me to your channel.
You have 100% helped me with things over the last few years, drinking being one of them, so thankyou.
I completely gave up on social media and 24 hour news channels for the exact same reasons you articulated so well. You are an inspiring and positive voice and it’s great to see you back and hear your wisdom. Love the Behemoth shirt BTW 🤘🏻
Thanks for the kind words and you are right... it is a fantastic Behemoth shirt \m/
Top man. Regardless as to how often you post your video’s,I’m always pleased when a new one pop’s up.👍🤘
Cheers mate
I love your walking, talking videos. You are blessed with common sense and humour, those two ingredients are missing in society at present.
Thanks a lot John. Means a lot
I 100% agree with every single word you said man!!
I'm struggling more than ever before these days with my depression, social anxiety etc.... and social-media (which i call anti-social media, because it's not actually social able in the slightest*) is a big part of it for sure.
The constant overload bombardment of negativity flooding you when you go on their just to browse or simply answer a DM etc... and when you already have major depression it just makes it 10 times worse.
The 'sheeple' and really toxic 'me too'/'woke' mentality is the worse thing about social media too.
I see (anti) social-media are a necessary evil. I have it because im going to need it to promote my new music im working on BUT i f**king wish i didnt!!
It's over flowing wth self-obsessed, careless, clueless, toxic people. The rare few good people like yourself etc... are a breath of fresh air really and it shouldnt be a rarity.
It should be the other way round, ya know. But, what can you do?! we're out numbered.
So we just need to focus on ourselves and be good/helpful/caring to the friends/family who deserve and need it.
I'm 32 now and very aware that the world is f**ked tbh SO all i can do is take care of myself and those i love. My voice will not and does not matter. Long gone are those days sadly, But it is what it is.
I just feel like im existing, not living, going day to day getting by with the help of coffee, music (listening & creating it*) and family/friends.
Sorry to be bleak, just the way i feel personally.
I do hope you bring back those album ranking videos, they were a riot.
And YES, Life Of Brian is classic. I love that film! Im gonna go watch it now ha.
I could go on and on but i'll shut up, this is already too long. apologies!
Stay safe man.
Jonslife... I hope you are getting all the help you need for your depression and anxiety... I suffered for years, and finally been well for 6 years!! Counselling and medication has given me my life back....I hope you can find something that works for you.... I know how you feel, you can and will get better, it's hard work, but worth it 💕
@@kate4885 Thank you very much for caring. rarity for these days!
I''ve tried counselling, therapy etc... and nothings worked for me personally and im kinda just floating day to day waiting to have abreakdown tbh ha, BUT i wont stop trying to be happy etc... ya know.
Im extremely glad to hear that you found something that works for you, rare to hear tbh so that's nice knowing their could be light at the end of the tunnel if you will.
🫂
@@hexedriffsstudio I have been well, happy, adventurous for 6 years... I used to have a response to "you only live once" I used to say "thank god for that, I couldn't do it all again"......I love life now and cannot imagine going back... Of course I get bad days, but I don't catastrophise like I used to, I accept that even people who don't suffer mental health issues, have bad days... CBT was so useful.... Hard work sometimes, but got me on the road to recovery.... I resisted meds for so long, but they work for me and I'm never coming off them.... I really hope you find that light and live a happy, carefree life🙏💕
@@kate4885 Thats really good to hear. glad for you that you've found what works and life is great now. Proud of you too for getting through the other side if you will.
That's definitely my kinda response or 'ah well, it is what it is' type thing.
I really hope so too and SOON! 🫂
It can be tough for sure but it sounds like you're concentrating on the right things. Family, friends and looking at the things you DO have is the way forward. Stay strong bro.
I may well do some album reviews again but no plans right now. Getting back into this channel for now and see where it goes
Thanks for this. Welcome back.
Cheers mate
Social media has had a very negative affect on my life tbh ...struggled with it over the years. It had a way for me of making me not like people, those I worked with etc, it almost highlighted everyone's bad aspects in my view,I found it hard not to call people out... hard to explain but tbh I regret ever getting involved in it.
Great video thanks. 🙌
I hear ya. I stay away from as many social platforms as I can and only use TH-cam for the things that interest me and posting my own videos. Everything else can get out of my life. People are usually a lot better in person and it is easy to forget that when we have to deal with them through a phone.
YES...
Social media gives everyone a voice and the people who talk shit about everyone and everything would never have voiced their opinions in the past because they knew there would be consequences.
But now they can do this anonymously online and I honestly believe that doing so gave some of them the courage to start doing this in their day to day interactions with other people and voila...the world is getting overrun with Karens.
Also there is the issue with people being so lazy that they can't be bothered with educating themselves so what ever is posted on Facebook and fits with the narrative in their echochamber must be the absolute truth no matter how stupid it is.
I use Facebook to keep in touch with my family so deleting it is not the best option for me but I have blocked countless sites and muted a handful of people to protect my sanity.
And yes, you have a glorious viking-esque beard.
Mine is curly on the neck, wirey on sides and straight in the front.
So I can grow a glorious neck afro with with a clusterfuck of something else but it looks Ok if I keep it short plus as I learn to trim it it looks better.
I 100% agree about people not having to face consequences. It has bred a lot of keyboard warriors for sure.
I have faith though my friend.
OUR BEARDS SHALL PREVAIL!
Thanks Ben.really great post.im totally with you on everything you spoke about.im glad to be as sensitive as you on these issues.alot of people aren't unfortunately.same shit here in Ireland with the government ect.constant bull shit negativity on news media. positivity and kindness is the only way forward for me.its not always easy but it's better than the negative.thanks again kind regards Shane 👍
Seems to be insane everywhere right now. Even more important to stay as rational as possible
High Ben. I have recently discovered your channel. Keep up the good work bud. I like you was a bonger and I have been trying for years to give up the drink. I am 56 now and really feel like shit everyday. Realised after seing some of your vids it's time for me to sort my head out. Thanks for the inspiration mate.
Mike
Your spot on about social media aswell.
After 12/13yrs of Facebook (my only social media) I literally got absolutely sick of the, same “friends” names & profile pictures. Day in day out. Even my own name and profile pic. Sick of the, same old same old posts and sick of my own.
Also being a sensitive person. I believe that a lot/most FB connections are actually detrimental to real friendships. Ie, once the online connection is made, a lot of people think they need to do absolutely nothing else to cultivate the friendship on a deeper meaningful level. In fact, it’s the complete opposite. You just sit there as an online connection and barely communicate ever again, outside of an occasional like ‘yippee’
Also, when posting, people make a split second choice to usually not engage in your post (the equivalent of internet evil eye) because even they are quite frankly sick of you. You’ve been in there face for almost 15yrs online and are irritating without even knowing it.
I no longer give other so called friends the opportunity to ‘evil eye me online and do the the same to them, Or allow them to engages in a shite poor online friendship with me.
I left 6 months ago. And guess what, bar 2 people ‘no one’ gave a shit. Because of course. These are just mainly ‘forced acquaintances’ that have been picked over the years and early excitement of being ‘connected’
The handful of people that do really care for me have still found a way to make contact since I left.
There weren’t that many. But they are real and authentic. All the access baggage, false friendships & noise are gone now. No fear of missing out.
I know what you mean about friend connections on Facebook. They always seemed to be the last people I could count on whereas complete strangers would be supportive a lot of the time.
Better off without it all. Apart from my channel of course 😂
@@BenjaminLeeWright i don’t see TH-cam like an fb social media at all. I guess content creators and younger generation might feel different, but TH-cam has never affected my head. It’s quite sad leaving fb just to have it confirmed no one gives a f***. But even the sadness is delusional & not worth it. Instead you understand it all for what it really is. And all the tactics used by the creators of such platforms. And to be fair, I myself have quickly forgotten about a ton of people on there that I myself played a part in picking up Willy nilly & somewhat forcing a connection with, I also don’t miss the fallouts that are inevitable when over communicating & gabbing online about irrelevant topics, the unfriending shite & re friending, like Facebook confirms a real friendship anyway?? It’s madness. I dig social space these days, what a concept ah ‘social space’ I should patent it quickly !
Great video! I used to really enjoy twitter and regularly spoke to people around the world about shared interests, but it gradually became more and more toxic. I ended up deleting my account and felt much better for it.
Don't blame you mate. Life's much better without it
Some excellent points mate. You have a gift for expressing your opinions well on video. I stumbled across a podcast called, 'I can't believe it's not Buddha' with comedian Lee Mack and his friend, talking about meditation, being in the present, buddhism etc. It's interesting and often hilarious if you're interested in the topics.
Thanks a lot mate. I am definitely into Buddhism, meditation etc. I haven't heard that podcast but I will check it out.
Yep the Toxic element turn things sour …Trolls and the tipped over the scales Woke …throw in the smug & the you can’t have another opinion merchants …there’s a song by Ian Dury &The Blockheads “Plastic Patricia “ the opening words sum up and covers the wide spectrum of things that p-off most of us of decent mind & thought …keep on keeping on Benjamin your a power of good and a great voice for these times ….a lot of folk will take a lot from what you put out …in fact the Beeb series “Winter Walks “ they kind of use your style of editing …anyway mate glad your back on the block or rather that beautiful backdrop landscape you walk about in …take care fella
Absolutely agree Benjamin!! All we can do is live our best life... Not doing so isn't gonna make all what's going on better.. So just do what makes you, friends and family happy...Stay away from negative and toxic people.... Great video Ben 👍 how did you do in the marathon?
Wise words Kate. Sounds like you've got your mind on the right things in life.
I didn't do a marathon this weekend, I'm in the process of training up for one
@@BenjaminLeeWright oh I see, well good luck for your upcoming marathon....it's great to see how far you have come.. Watched one of your comedy videos the other day😂🤣Hilarious still!!!
@@kate4885 Cheers Kate. I hope to do some comedy stuff again at some point
Hey, thanks for the video! I wish politicians and governments weren't a-holes in their majority, and I really hope that all this shit that is going on today is gonna end soon. It's so hard for me to keep sane and not to worry these days. The hardest problem is that there's not many people I could talk to. I don't want to burden my relatives with all the things in my head. More and more I keep catching myself with the idea that not thinking about things that worry me and having distractions is helpful, but is it just running from problems? .. There is no answer, I know.
I think that if there is nothing you can do to rectify the situation then there is no harm in switching off from it to a certain extent. I think we should focus on the things that we do have control over instead.
Politicians are clearaly never going to change so we have to do the best we can to stay human and not stopp down to their level.
Correct my friend!
Cheers mate
Paused your video at 6.45 as you just touched on something thats been on my mind a lot. The whole left/right thing. It seems to me by my observations the last couple of years that many people seem to have lost the ability to think critically for themselves. It's just "follow" what your team says. I try and urge people to think for themselves, look at all sides and only then form an opinion. However no one listens.. well maybe some :) I used to be left but can't say I approve of what my government here in NZ has done lately.. So I'm settling on no-wing. Or Alt-center.. I dunno. Anyway back to your video.. you're a bloody good bloke.
Hey, man, try living in Russia and approving of what you're government is doing :D I'm not competing here, just saying that there is always a worse place in the world. And I'm 100% agree with you about the importance of critical thinking. This year just showed my how delusional people could become without it, and how hard it is to battle those delusions with common sense. No-wing here too.
@@stee1rat Hey yes I think that is a good perspective to remember things are worse elsewhere too, I guess not too bad here apart from general propaganda and brainwashing.. Not comparable to Russia I'm sure. Governments all lie, left/right.. it matters not.
Seems like it's the same everywhere right now. Scary times.
Yo Ben, I just might stick my head on your body and put this on my channel! Haha....couldn't agree with you more on this topic. Near the end when you mention how the corporations are making money hand over fist you nail it with something about "that's the way it's always been". To me social media gives everyone a voice and "everyone" sucks, myself included! Definitely make the choice to be happy and enjoy this ride called life!
Glad you enjoyed the video mate.
Avoid black screens & his-story.
YT: Ride the wave and make use of it. Hold fast to what is good.
My ignorance of social media is such that I didn't know that TH-cam was social media. I don't, and never have, indulged in what I previously thought was social media; and I never watch the news. To me, social media is like the pylons sticking out from the glorious landscape in which you are you walking. Ugly, intrusive, un-natural and derogatory to all that is beautiful. Introspective reflection is , in my opinion, healthy; but public self flagellation or adulation is vulgar in the extreme. You say that we can't agree on everything, however, that beard is Vikingesk and rather magnificent. You're a funny man and it saddens me to see you you down. Stop and look around you, you're surroundings are magnificent, you are interesting, and I enjoy your ramblings.
Thanks very much for the kind words bro. Next video should be a little more optimistic. Cheers for the support as always 🤘
I've just got Facebook to keep in contact with a few people who I wouldn't otherwise and Twitter. I gave up adding the new ones after that for a lot of the reasons you mentioned and the fact I am getting old and can't be bothered to keep up!
The thing that I find the most odd on Twitter is people seem to follow people they don't like just to reply to their every post to say that they hate them. Why would you not just unfollow that person? Gary Lineker is a classic example where people will just post negative crap about him completely unrelated to his post and I wonder what the incentive is for those people? It's like whenever you read a new Metallica article, you are guaranteed to read a load of comments by people that need to tell everyone Metallica haven't released a good album since 1986. That's 35 years they've had to find music they like rather than hold onto that negative thought. The few negative comments I’ve read on your page seem odd too, why would they not just click on another video that they prefer instead? Why the need to criticise someone they don't know, especially when it doesn't adversely affect them at all? The only thing it can do is hurt the person they’re attacking, so maybe that’s the point but does that make them feel better? I know personally I find it much more rewarding and enjoyable to just skip to a creator I do enjoy and let them know I enjoy them.
I once wrote a lyric (that has been written I’m sure in a similar way numerous of times before) that ‘I’m intelligent enough to know I’m not intelligent enough’ and that’s always been my outlook on life. The more you learn, the more it opens you up to learning more and social media as you have said in its worst form seems to have stunted that. You have to have a final and exact opinion. If you are left or right these are the views you must hold and you cannot therefore agree with one iota of someone else if they are not in your camp. Again like you say this seems counter-productive. There are lots of people I follow on Twitter, musicians I like and friends and family where I disagree on things they believe and agree on others, that’s normal right? If I stopped talking to people who held any disagreement with myself I’d end up talking to no-one aside from myself and then probably including myself as I change my mind on things often too, isn’t that a part of growing?
Anyway before this post becomes any longer, great video and I’ll look forward to the next one. As always what I like about them is you are just being yourself and have created a cool niche by adding the walking/running part to it. It's part of the things that are great about social media, discovering new ideas and appreciating other people's outlooks on life.
I think some people just like to lash out as they have a lot of stuff going on in their own lives as well as people getting away with being anonymous and not having to deal with any consequences.
I know what you mean about ‘I’m intelligent enough to know I’m not intelligent enough’ as well. Seems to be a thing that comes with age.
God I sound old.
Cheers for checking the video out as always bro.
Yeah…the intro music is back 🎉
It is indeed
I fucking hate social media - never had twitter, instagram, I had a facebook account but felt great the day I deleted my account entirely.Don't get me wrong, I can see the positives of it and I'm not a hermit but I don't give a fck about what some person ate for breakfast or some idiotic selfie that someone took, totally blocking what could've been a good photo. And yes, my phone was constantly going off and I just had enough. Now I feel a lot better and focus on REAL friends and MY life - getting healthy again!
2:45-2:57: Yes, it becomes obvious with some vloggers. Their content shifts to random, unproductive content
Exactly. TH-cam makes it difficult to create what you want, when you want to. Very difficult
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Have to hook up soon bro 🤘
@@BenjaminLeeWright
Yes man definitely.
I’ll drop you a txt
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I wonder if anyone in hare has Listened To Gabor Mate? He'd sort you out. Yes, in the 50's a rowing pair of famous actors in HOLLYWOOD had a big fight, and there happened to be a few journalists around and someone decided to mention it in a column. Almost overnight, the trend of reporting changed for ever in the US and onto the World. People just wanted to hear the juicy gossip, so we have ourselves to blame. There are those in media like the deceased nephew of Freud Édward Bernays' who taught Public Relations (Social Propaganda). And it's the likes of him that feed us the 'fuel 'we need and bay for. Thru Media, Sports, Religion, etc...As the JAM once said. 'the Public Gets what the Public Wants'. Or, more cynically, the Public get's the government they deserve...
Heard his recent interview with Rich Roll. Very interesting stuff.
My use of social media as I grow older is starting to reduce once I was looking for answers now it's just cats everything is cat's next thing I know I will be old and sitting in my own urine wondering where it went so wrong still none the wiser 🥴
Best to stay away from as much as possible. It distracts from the important things in life
Oh fuck...forgot to mention...awesome beard
🤣
Hating each other is now a Hobby. Got an hour to spare? lets go on twitter and get into some arguments.
Much easier way to get some dopamine hits than getting out the house and doing something
There are definitely better ways of feeling good for sure. I have never understood the desire to get into a fight with someone online. It just seems like such a waste of energy to me.
This biggest problem is striking a balance between this wonderful technology that has fallen in our laps in the past few decades and staying in touch with real people. People who stimulate you in a positive way instead of paranoid, negative, worthless ways. I know so many who are glued to Tiktok, Facebook who get into it with other people. I am guilty of that myself; I sometimes vent in comment sections like this, not always in a good way. Otherwise, I am not on social media because I don't have time to engage with simple-minded bullshit by people who are less educated and informed than I am. If we can use these platforms as learning and connection tools, then it's fine. If we're looking to show off our floppy titties and talk shit about boring people, then fuck off.