In this insightful and candid episode of Positive Pedestrian, the hosts welcome Corey Meyer, who shares his experiences on platforms such as Bluesky, Reddit, and X. He discusses his journey through an internet suspension and explores topics ranging from social media stories and the psychology of trolling to the "dead internet" theory. This episode is filled with humor, valuable insights, and philosophical significance, making it a must-listen for anyone questioning the purpose of our online activities.
Quotable
“"If there's an artisanal thing, or if there's a way that a human can be involved in the refinement or development or creation thereof. Let's do that, because I do not want to lose that spark, that human element."
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Discussion on preserving human creativity and craftsmanship in an increasingly automated world, emphasizing the value of human involvement in creative processes.
Quotable
“"When you grow up around technology, you use, like, you have a certain way of thinking, a certain analytical way of thinking. And I think you're just good at seeing through the bullshit."
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Observation about how early exposure to technology develops critical thinking skills and skepticism toward digital manipulation.
What's Bluesky and How Does It Work?
ABC News article explaining Bluesky as a Twitter alternative, relevant to the discussion of the guest's experiment getting banned from Bluesky using factual arguments.
flow chart showcasing how people think when some they idolize does something bad.
Quotable
“"All of these major platforms, they bring you to the extreme to increase engagement. If we can drag you kicking and screaming to the extreme version of your view, you become radicalized or more engaged."
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Theory on how social media algorithms deliberately push users toward extreme content to maximize engagement and addiction.
How Much of the Internet is Bots?
Analysis of bot prevalence online, relevant to the discussion of fake accounts and automated interactions on social media platforms.
Image of a classic internet meme from 2003, depicting a person taking an online argument too seriously, used to illustrate the evolution of internet culture.
Quotable
“"If we would have been told in 2003 that, like the speaker of the House and like your grandma and mom were going to be on the internet, like engaging with us, we would have been horrified."
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Reflection on how internet culture changed when mainstream adoption brought politicians and older generations online, losing the early nerd-centric community.
The Dead Internet Theory Explained
Forbes article explaining the dead internet theory: the idea that much of online content is now generated by bots rather than humans.
Quotable
“"We're in this feedback loop that just erodes us. Same thing might be happening with AI might be getting in this feedback loop where it's eroding itself."
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Discussion of how AI training on AI-generated content creates a degradation feedback loop, similar to how consuming low-quality digital content affects human cognition.
Historical documents referenced in discussion of constitutional government structure and the overemphasis on executive branch in modern media coverage.
Statistics on daily screen time usage, relevant to the discussion of increasing phone addiction and the trend toward all discretionary time being consumed by screens.
Quotable
“"If the trend continues, basically all discretionary time will be consumed by this. The kids that are 18 now, if the trend line continues, 93% of their lifetime free time will be in front of the screen."
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Alarming projection about screen time trends and the erosion of childhood and free time.
Follow Up Notes
Detailed morning routine: Wake 5:30-6 AM, hour of Sudarshan Kriya breathwork/meditation, gym workout, work, evening walks with wife, music practice, reading, proper wind-down without screens before bed.
Sleep Foundation article on how blue light affects sleep quality, referenced in discussion of avoiding screens before bedtime for better sleep.
Quotable
“"Blue light gives your brain a signal that it's still daytime, that it's not bedtime. It messes with your circadian rhythm. It's like perpetual jet lag."
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Explanation of how blue light from screens disrupts natural sleep patterns by mimicking daylight signals to the brain.
Quotable
“"It's like tag games that kids play. You're the zombies. You tagged someone, they're now two zombies and they chase all the rest of the non zombies."
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Metaphor comparing digital device addiction to a zombie tag game, where people become zombified by their screens and spread the addiction to others.
Follow Up Notes
Step-by-step plan discussed: 1) Ask what value social media adds to your life, 2) Quantify screen time usage, 3) Identify better activities, 4) Determine if it's addiction vs compulsion, 5) Replace defaults with intentional choices.
Quotable
“"Don't take your phone with you to the coffee shop or restaurant. Force yourself to experience reality. Raw dog reality without your device."
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Practical advice for digital detox by intentionally leaving phones behind during activities that don't require them.
Quotable
“"If you think you're special, you're ordinary. And if you think you're ordinary, you're special. You're not special for doing this."
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Philosophy on digital detox: managing screen time should be normalized, not something deserving special recognition.
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