Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now - Jaron Lanier

Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now

By Jaron Lanier

  • Release Date: 2018-05-29
  • Genre: Social Science
4.5 Score: 4.5 (From 116 Ratings)

Description

AS SEEN IN THE NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY THE SOCIAL DILEMMA
A WIRED "ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK"
A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK
"THE CONSCIENCE OF SILICON VALLEY"- GQ


“Profound . . . Lanier shows the tactical value of appealing to the conscience of the individual. In the face of his earnest argument, I felt a piercing shame about my own presence on Facebook. I heeded his plea and deleted my account.”
- Franklin Foer, The New York Times Book Review

“Mixes prophetic wisdom with a simple practicality . . . Essential reading.”
- The New York Times (Summer Reading Preview)

You might have trouble imagining life without your social media accounts, but virtual reality pioneer Jaron Lanier insists that we’re better off without them. In Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now, Lanier, who participates in no social media, offers powerful and personal reasons for all of us to leave these dangerous online platforms.

Lanier’s reasons for freeing ourselves from social media’s poisonous grip include its tendency to bring out the worst in us, to make politics terrifying, to trick us with illusions of popularity and success, to twist our relationship with the truth, to disconnect us from other people even as we are more “connected” than ever, to rob us of our free will with relentless targeted ads. How can we remain autonomous in a world where we are under continual surveillance and are constantly being prodded by algorithms run by some of the richest corporations in history that have no way of making money other than being paid to manipulate our behavior? How could the benefits of social media possibly outweigh the catastrophic losses to our personal dignity, happiness, and freedom? Lanier remains a tech optimist, so while demonstrating the evil that rules social media business models today, he also envisions a humanistic setting for social networking that can direct us toward a richer and fuller way of living and connecting with our world.

Reviews

  • Thought-provoking!

    5
    By matt von d
    Compelling and well-written. I feel like I learned a lot from Lanier, especially on the topic of Artificial Intelligence
  • Good

    4
    By Klynnstks
    I think the book is good so far. Little political, clearly he doesn’t like trump or Fox News. This book isn’t about trump or Fox News. That annoyed me. But I’m going to finish the book. All in all, many great points. He really knows what he is talking about. I’m down to delete my social media
  • Ten Wonderfully Argued Points

    5
    By Jazzbeauty
    This only book touches the surface as to why social media has been harmful and dangerous to our society. Critical thinking skills and the ability to effectively debate certain issues has been diminished because of social media among other things. Social media has turned us into categories, into subjects that are being studied and are stored for advertisers personal gain. We are no longer human beings with ability to think for ourselves.
  • Great ideas clouded with political talk

    2
    By joeyteale
    What a “BUMMER.” Jaron Lanier’s intentions seem to teeter between wanting to offer philosophical glimpses into the relationship between people and social media, and wanting to push his own political views; I’m not even convinced that he knows where (or if) he’s drawing the distinction. Ten Arguments seems to be just another intelligent person ranting about interesting things but unfortunately from a politically-charged perspective. The book contains great ideas, but they are unfortunately overshadowed by the obvious political leanings (which, by the way, are ones with which I agree; I just think any good argument doesn’t need to rely on pushing political buttons to make its points).
  • Excellent reading

    5
    By Bay Area Jack Ash
    Everyone that uses social media should read this book. Hands down a great read.
  • You got me at ‘trawling’

    5
    By DimaCalifornia
    Thank you for your efforts to improve.

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