Are Social Media "likes" dopamine triggering group think anxiety gadgets?

[lpm]

Anyone here want to admit to seeking dopamine from chasing likes? Anyone suffered anxiety from their social media activity? Do internet forums trigger excessive emotions in you?

[plodder]

yes, yes and yes.

I deliberately post things I think people will enjoy and get a kick out of seeing the likes.I won't post on twitter because it scares the life out of me. I enjoy reading it though. I have been the 386 dude.

[Gentleman Jim]

Need to "Cockend" option
Read this forum almost exclusively at work so "likes etc" do't bother me
Don't do twitter; Rarely log on to my Facebook account; Haven't read my linkedin account for more than 5 years; Don't do any other social media

I am a dinosaur

[Martin_B]

If I knew what "dopamine triggering group think anxiety gadgets" meant, I'd be able to tell you.

[dyqik]

The forum could turn on the Thanks For Posts extension if you'd like. You'd be responsible for measuring your own brain chemistry though.

[JQH]

I admit to hoping for some reaction when I post something online (otherwise I wouldn't bother) but it doesn't ruin my whole day if ignored.

[lpm]

yes, yes and yes.

I deliberately post things I think people will enjoy and get a kick out of seeing the likes.I won't post on twitter because it scares the life out of me. I enjoy reading it though. I have been the 386 dude.

Seriously? I've always thought of you as not getting too emotional, unless being followed from thread to thread by a nutter shouting abuse.

I only got angry once on BS (after I called Michael Jackson a paedophile and there was a pile on against me on the dubious grounds that it was only an hour after his death). I've never been anxious and get surprised when people say they have been in tears. I enjoy provoking a good debate and winning arguments, but for me that's so frequent there's no dopamine hit, if there ever was.

I've never been properly on Facebook and on Twitter I'm ultimately doing it for work-related self promotion, so it's cynical rather than emotional. Am I missing out? Is the dopamine worth chasing?

[dyqik]

Anyone here want to admit to seeking dopamine from chasing likes?

How does one tell if they are seeking dopamine vs just appreciating when someone notices them?

Anyone suffered anxiety from their social media activity?

Yes. But probably not more than a similar in-person conversation would. However, it's easier to get into heavy conversations online than in person.

Do internet forums trigger excessive emotions in you?

I don't think they are more than similar conversations in person, or on the radio or TV. Obviously if I'm in a discussion online, that's not comparable to radio or TV, as there's not the same engagement, and switching off is easier.

I do have to avoid one lab at work, as it's apparently impossible to stop our Trump activist lab technician/adminstrative person from listening to her right wing talk radio in the lab.

[Gentleman Jim]

I do have to avoid one lab at work, as it's apparently impossible to stop our Trump activist lab technician/adminstrative person from listening to her right wing talk radio in the lab.

Firearms are legal, yes?

[dyqik]

I do have to avoid one lab at work, as it's apparently impossible to stop our Trump activist lab technician/adminstrative person from listening to her right wing talk radio in the lab.

Firearms are legal, yes?

Yes. And she has one, although not, I believe, in the lab.

Political campaigning is illegal in the lab, though.

[Boustrophedon]

If I knew what "dopamine triggering group think anxiety gadgets" meant, I'd be able to tell you.

Like.

[Gentleman Jim]

I do have to avoid one lab at work, as it's apparently impossible to stop our Trump activist lab technician/adminstrative person from listening to her right wing talk radio in the lab.

Firearms are legal, yes?

Yes. And she has one, although not, I believe, in the lab.

Political campaigning is illegal in the lab, though.

Shoot it?

[Boustrophedon]

I've never been anxious and get surprised when people say they have been in tears.

This does not make anyone (well me) like you any the more.

[lpm]

... which leads to the question: do people go on social media to be liked? Are they getting so much like from social media that they reduce their like-seeking in the physical world?

[dyqik]

I go on social media and forums and the like to interact with people and see what they are talking about. Often because I'm bored.

I almost never post an original tweet, and rarely start new threads.

Oh, and I get somewhat annoyed of one of my reply tweets gets too much attention.

[purplehaze]

I go on social media to interact with like minded people. I occasionally follow someone who is outside my social circle - a bit like dipping into the Daily Mail and ultimately they disappoint.

[plodder]

... which leads to the question: do people go on social media to be liked? Are they getting so much like from social media that they reduce their like-seeking in the physical world?

Yes, to a point that’s exactly the appeal. All I’d query is whether people reduce their like seeking elsewhere. Being liked is addictive and people will exploit whatever opportunities they can. If you’re unimaginative or lazy you could just stare at your phone, chances are that’s where your mates will be found anyway.

[sheldrake]

Everything Facebook and Twitter take away, Grindr and Tinder give back a thousand fold. Stop moaning, you love it

[Chris Preston]

Everything Facebook and Twitter take away, Grindr and Tinder give back a thousand fold. Stop moaning, you love it

This is an unhelpful post.

There is useful discussion to be had in understanding the responses people have to various activities on social media, particularly as social media companies use this behaviour to attract and keep customers and there are other groups exploiting it for their own ends. If people understood how they were being exploited, it may change the way they behave.

Trivialising in order to get a reaction is what trolls do.

[sheldrake]

Everything Facebook and Twitter take away, Grindr and Tinder give back a thousand fold. Stop moaning, you love it

This is an unhelpful post.

There is useful discussion to be had in understanding the responses people have to various activities on social media, particularly as social media companies use this behaviour to attract and keep customers and there are other groups exploiting it for their own ends. If people understood how they were being exploited, it may change the way they behave.

Trivialising in order to get a reaction is what trolls do.

The thread itself is troll. You're on social media right now Chris, being all serious.

[Chris Preston]

I am well aware that lpm likes to start threads with provocative trolling comments. However, almost always, within the post there is a serious point that is worthy of discussion and analysis.

Your posts; not so much.

[Pucksoppet]

Firearms are legal, yes?

Yes. And she has one, although not, I believe, in the lab.

Political campaigning is illegal in the lab, though.

Shoot it?

Precisely targeted RFI. <evil grin>

[sheldrake]

Group think anxiety always existed. Religious hysteria, McCarthyism, the poat 1990 Green movement etx.. social media lets things spread faster just like the first printing press. People will adapt. I fins the current angst simillar to the panic about satanic lyrics in rock albums in the 80s and 90s

[Bird on a Fire]

My situation is a bit unusual, but as we're doing anecdotes rather than data, here goes.

I moved abroad to a non English-speaking country, work from home, and live and work with foreigners. Social media is my main way of keeping up with my friends' and family's lives, and using my native language.

But what I've noticed is this:
1. The manicured impressions people publish online often omit important, interesting things, and tend towards sameiness.
2. Scrolling through a bunch of posts is basically worthless, for me, compared with a nice chat with a real human over a meal, beverage or even over Skype.
3. Reading one book is more rewarding than one thousand tweets.

I think the algorithms have got too good at manipulating my (already limited) attention. These days I am reading more proper books and less social media, and feeling all the better for it: less frantic, more satisfied.

As for my output: if I share a bit of news or a silly gag online it's nice to see that people care or enjoyed it, or just that they still acknowledge my existence despite not seeing me for years.

If I engage in a discussion here (as it's really only here, and occasionally Reddit), I avoid anxiety about asking stupid questions by caveating them. If I put effort into something it's nice to see it engaged with (even through robust disagreement), but I'm not F5ing every few minutes. The only times I've felt anxious is after responding arseily to somebody and worrying they'll be arsey back - or worse, upset - so I've tried to learn not to do that.

My experiment for the year is to try to avoid, so far as possible, having algorithms manipulating my brain. Threaded forums are ok, but engagement-based media like Facebook and Reddit, no. Google is iffy. I'm Adblocked etc out of my arse. I'm also on a news diet - me knowing about stuff doesn't affect anything other than my own mood, and I'm trying to do a PhD and support my wife through long-term unemployment.

I'm not taking it to extremes, but trying to massively reduce non-individual social media time (eg Facebook Messenger with friends, ok; Facebook newsfeed no). I'll try to remember to post updates in early 2021.

[plodder]

Sounds like a sensible hygiene regime to me.