Criticizing Social Media Is Often a Masterclass on Bad Analyzing

Children are tethered to their phones, but how bad is it? There must be a story out there that proves unequivocally just how bad ….

I was talking to a group of zombies.

Not actual zombies, but a group of young people on their phones, staring at small glowing screens instead of making eye contact. They were half-listening and half-scrolling. Most were using social media apps like TikTok and Instagram — a frenzy of clicking, scrolling and swiping.

I mentioned an interesting statistic I’d heard recently to them. … No one even glanced up.

This “story” is from Is Social Media Changing How We Think? by John Brandon, Forbes’ Senior Contributor. My suggestion to Brandon is:

Ask them to put down their phones.

As far as I can tell, Brandon stood before a group of young people — 100% of them (doubtful) “staring at small glowing screens instead of making eye contact” — and began speaking without asking for their attention. He seems to imply that “Can I have your attention please?” is too much effort (or counterproductive to a good “story”).

Also, I have this question for Brandon:

Is this your first time speaking to young people?

I ask because my wife — a teacher of 30 years — has spoken before thousands and thousands of young people. And always — even without a phone in their hand — they are easily distracted … by trinkets, fidget spinners, doodles, tearing paper, whispering to each other, nodding off, the world outside, compulsions, squirming, daydreaming, etc. Despite Brandon’s “unique” experience — i.e.,” No one even glanced up.” — young people have a history of short attention spans.

Distraction Trumps Brain Damage

I’ll always admit that social media can be bad; it’s the same as any technology: cars, T.V. shows, video games, cellphones, movies, digital news, television (e.g., political…