Less Scroll, More Soul & What We Can Learn from Big Tobacco and Big Oil
Joel Pennington draws parallels between Big Tobacco, Big Oil, and Big Social, arguing it's time to take public health impact seriously—and to rediscover real connection in local community spaces.
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
In the 1950s, Big Tobacco knew its product was bad for health. Instead of doing the right thing, they launched a campaign to deny the data and discredit scientists.
In subsequent decades, Big Oil knew its product was causing climate change. It also chose to deny the data and discredit scientists.
Now, a growing body of researchers is raising very serious concerns about social media’s negative impact on public health. Australia’s social media ban for kids under 16 has made international headlines. Rightly so; this is a watershed moment.
It’s the first time a national government has taken serious measures to regulate social media use based on public health. Whether you agree with the ban or not, we are now entering new territory.
I hope we’ve learned our lessons from the past as we navigate this — the companies directly profiting from products or services under scrutiny are clearly conflicted and will often play dirty to protect their interests.
Personally, I deleted my social media accounts about a year ago. I’ve not regretted it for a second.
That’s not to say I think everyone should delete their social media accounts. I do think, however, that if you are using social media, you must do so with real intention and awareness that those platforms have invested billions of dollars in keeping you on their platforms as long as possible. You must have almost Herculean self-control, or you're disastrously delusional, if you think you can use these platforms without mindlessly scrolling.
The cynical part of me thinks they’re worse than tobacco companies — Big Tobacco was selling a product that was inherently addictive, while Big Social is intentionally building addictive products.
Getting away from my conspiratorial and cynical side, there’s an opportunity here for us to rethink relationships, connection, and community. And I’m not speaking esoterically… I mean at a very real local level.
In a time when so much connection is mediated by algorithms, local, in-person spaces give us something social media can’t: accountability, nuance, and a sense of shared humanity.
There are so many opportunities to connect in person, and I’d challenge us all to seek those spaces out. Particularly at this time of year, feelings of loneliness and isolation can be exacerbated by the holiday cheer (which often escalates into toxic positivity on social media. Sorry, I’ll stop now).
So if you’re wondering where to start, here are some suggestions:
Solidarity Sundays is back every Sunday morning through to the end of April. 10:30-12pm in the basement of the Harmony Centre. Music, art, games, and a delicious lunch from Food not Bombs is on offer.
Speaking of the Harmony Centre, their calendar is chock full of community events. Check it out here.
There’s also plenty going on at M’Wikwedong Friendship Centre, Heartwood Hall, The Rumpus Room and GB Arts.
So let’s get off our phones — not out of guilt or obligation, but curiosity. Let’s step out of our houses and cars and into shared spaces where connection isn’t optimized, monetized, or measured.
If social media is shaping how we relate to one another, then choosing community (real, local, imperfect community) is something we still get to do for ourselves.
Thank you to sponsors of The Owen Sound Current Writers’ Fund, who make these community contributions possible. Contributions from the community do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of The Owen Sound Current and its editor or publisher.
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I wholeheartedly agree with Joel Pennington's take on social media. A crowd of people is a lonely place when everyone's eyes and ears are blocked by gadgets.