Englisch Abitur Niedersachsen

Sachtext: I used to think social media was a force for good. Now the evidence says I was wrong by Matt Haig

insecurities and risk our health. They’re as bad as the tobacco industry.

I used to think social media was essentially a force for good, whether

it was to initiate the Arab spring of 2011, or simply as a useful tool for

bringing together like-minded people to share videos of ninja cats. Having

spent a lot of time thinking about mental health, I even saw social media’s

much-maligned potential for anonymity as a good thing, helping people

to open up about problems when they might not feel able to do so in that

physical space we still quaintly call real life. […]

Yes, I would occasionally feel that maybe staring at my Twitter feed

near-continuously for seven hours wasn’t that healthy […]. Yes, I’d see

articles warning of the dangers of excessive internet use, but I dismissed

these as traditional, reactionary takes. I saw social media naysayers as the

first reviewers of Technicolor movies, who felt the colour distracted from

the story, or were like the people who walked out on Bob Dylan at Newport folk festival for playing an electric guitar, or like those who warned

that radio or TV or video games or miniskirts, or hip-hop or selfies or

fidget spinners or whatever, would lead to the end of civilisation. […]

Then I started the research for a book I am writing on how the external

world affects our mental health. I wanted to acknowledge the downsides

of social media, but to argue that far from being a force for ill, it offers a

safe place where the insanities of life elsewhere can be processed and

articulated.

But the deeper into the research I went, the harder it was to sustain this

argument. […]

Even the internet activist and former Google employee Wael Ghonim –

one of the initiators of the Arab spring and one-time poster boy for internet-inspired revolution – who once saw social media as a social cure –

now saw it as a negative force. […]: “The same tool that united us to topple

dictators eventually tore us apart.” Ghonim saw social media polarising

people into angry opposing camps – army supporters and Islamists –

leaving centrists such as himself stuck in the middle, powerless.

And this isn’t just politics. It’s health too. A survey conducted by the Royal

Society of Public Health asked 1,500 young people to keep track of their

moods while on the five most popular social media sites. Instagram and

Snapchat came out worst, often inspiring feelings of inadequacy, anxiety

and self-loathing.

Kurt Vonnegut said: “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be

careful who we pretend to be.” This seems especially true now we have

reached a new stage of marketing where we are not just consumers, but

also the thing consumed. If you have friends you only ever talk to on Facebook, your entire relationship with them is framed by commerce. When

we willingly choose to become unpaid content providers, we commercialise ourselves. And we are encouraged to be obsessed with numbers (of

followers, messages, comments, retweets, favourites), as if operating in a

kind of friend economy, an emotional stock market where the stock is ourselves and where we are encouraged to weigh our worth against others.

Of course, humans comparing themselves to others isn’t new. But when

the others are every human on the internet, people end up comparing

themselves – their looks, their relationships, their wealth, their lives – to

the carefully filtered lives of people they would never meet in the real

world – and feeling inadequate.

Reading first-hand accounts by people with bulimia and anorexia who are

convinced that social media exacerbated or even triggered their illnesses,

I began to realise something: this situation is not the equivalent of Bob

Dylan’s electric guitar. It is closer to the tobacco or fast-food industries,

where vested interests deny the existence of blatant problems that were

not there before. […]

We are traditionally far better at realising risks to physical health than to

mental health, even when they are interrelated. If we can accept that our

physical health can be shaped by society – by secondhand smoke or a bad

diet – then we must accept that our mental health can be too. And as our

social spaces increasingly become digital spaces, we need to look seriously and urgently at how these new, business-owned societies are affecting

our minds. We must try to see how the rising mental health crisis may be

related to the way people are living and interacting.

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg says that “by giving people the power to

share, we’re making the world more transparent”. But what we really

need to do is make social media transparent.

Of course, we won’t stop using it – I certainly won’t – but precisely for that

reason we need to know more about what it is doing to us. To our politics,

to our health, to the future generation, and to the world around us. We

need to ensure we are still the ones using the technology – and that the

technology isn’t using us.

Exercise 1: Outline the author’s view on social media.

Matt Haig's Evolving Perspective on Social Media

Matt Haig once viewed social media with optimism, recognizing it as a potential force for good. He saw its ability to ignite global movements like the Arab Spring in 2011 and also as a platform for like-minded individuals to connect over shared interests. Beyond its societal impact, Haig valued the anonymity social media offered, believing it provided a safe space for individuals to discuss personal problems, a luxury they might not find in the tangible world.

However, as he delved deeper into the realm of social media, his perspective began to shift. Despite his initial dismissal of concerns about the platform's addictive nature, equating them to the skepticism that often accompanies cultural and technological advancements, his research for a book on mental health painted a more worrisome picture. One revelation that struck him was from internet activist Wael Ghonim, who once championed social media as a tool for societal change. Ghonim later confessed to its divisive nature, emphasizing that the platforms that once united people in a common cause eventually polarized them into contentious groups. Furthermore, Haig referenced a survey which revealed the adverse effects of platforms like Instagram and Snapchat on mental health, inducing feelings of anxiety, self-loathing, and inadequacy among users.

The Dangers of Comparison and the Need for Transparency

Haig also discussed the profound insight provided by Kurt Vonnegut on the dangers of presenting curated personas. In the age of social media, users have unwittingly become both the consumers and the consumed, constantly measuring their worth against superficial metrics. This incessant need for comparison is magnified on social media, where individuals often feel inadequate when juxtaposing their lives against the selectively presented lives of others. Drawing a parallel with the tobacco and fast-food industries, Haig highlighted the denial of evident problems that the pervasive use of social media introduces into society.

In conclusion, while Haig acknowledges that completely avoiding social media is neither practical nor desirable, he emphasizes the urgent need to understand its influence on our lives. He advocates for more transparency in the functioning of these platforms and underscores the importance of ensuring that humans remain the masters of technology, rather than its subjects.

Exercise 2: Analyse the means he uses to convey his attitude and the effect they have on the reader.

The Evolution of Perception: Decoding Matt Haig's Stance on Social Media

In his article, "I used to think social media was a force for good. Now the evidence says I was wrong," Matt Haig delves deep into his transformation regarding his understanding of social media platforms. At the outset, Haig’s title and his repetition of the sentiment that he once viewed social media as a force for good serves as an intriguing juxtaposition, immediately captivating the reader and setting the tone for the narrative of his evolving perspective.

One of Haig’s poignant techniques is drawing from his own experiences. He shares an anecdote of his obsessive behavior, specifically mentioning how he'd find himself "staring at my Twitter feed near-continuously for seven hours." Such revelations are not just confessions but are strategically placed to resonate with the readers. Many might see their reflections in his words, remembering their own excessive indulgences in the digital realm. Furthermore, Haig smartly references cultural milestones. He paints a picture of the initial skeptics of social media as being similar to those who had dismissed color movies or criticized Bob Dylan for choosing an electric guitar. These historical references initially position the critics as resistant to change. Yet, as Haig’s understanding shifts, he draws a more somber comparison, equating the harm from social media to the perils of the tobacco or fast-food industries. The implications here are grave, suggesting not just superficial harm but deep-rooted, systemic issues.

In strengthening his stance, Haig doesn’t rely solely on his journey. He cites the transformation of Wael Ghonim, a significant figure associated with the Arab Spring and a former Google employee, whose trajectory from seeing social media as a blessing to a curse mirrors that of Haig’s. This not only lends credibility but adds weight to the argument of how even the most informed can be disillusioned. Bolstering his argument with hard facts, Haig references a revealing survey by the Royal Society of Public Health that showcased the detrimental mental health effects of popular social media platforms. By including such statistical data, he provides an evidence-backed foundation for his claims, appealing to the logical and rational side of the readers.

A notable inclusion in Haig’s article is the quote from Kurt Vonnegut: “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful who we pretend to be.” This profound statement encapsulates the essence of the piece – the muddled identity and self-perception in this digital age. Alongside, Haig's metaphorical reference to an "emotional stock market" paints a vivid image of today's online interactions, highlighting the commodified and transactional nature of digital relationships.

As Haig rounds off his arguments, he employs a subtle yet compelling call to action, prompting introspection among readers with the rhetoric: “We need to ensure we are still the ones using the technology – and that the technology isn’t using us.” Rather than taking an extremist view, Haig strikes a balanced note. He doesn't rally for a complete renouncement of social media. Instead, he underscores the need for transparency, awareness, and balance. In doing so, he crafts a narrative that is not only insightful but one that encourages readers to question, reflect, and act.

Exercise 3: Write a letter to the editor/blog entry/speech expressing your own opinion on the chances and dangers of social media.

Letter to the Editor: The Double-Edged Sword of Social Media

Dear Editor,

In light of Matt Haig's poignant commentary on the impact of social media on our lives, I feel compelled to share my thoughts on the subject. As a student, I am part of a generation that has grown up immersed in the digital realm, experiencing firsthand the paradoxical nature of social media: its power to both connect and alienate.

Social media platforms, initially hailed as harbingers of global unity and platforms for free expression, have indeed catalyzed significant movements. The Arab Spring of 2011 stands as a testament to the strength and reach of these digital tools. And, on a lighter note, the sharing of videos, art, or music has allowed for a new wave of cultural exchange and creativity. The capacity for individuals to find communities, be they based on hobbies, shared experiences, or mental health challenges, is an undeniable advantage.

Yet, as Mr. Haig rightly points out, there’s a shadowy underside to this coin. Prolonged exposure to these platforms, as with any tool, can be detrimental. The 'echo chambers' that social media often perpetuates can drive societal divisions, amplifying extremist voices and muting the moderates. Wael Ghonim's account is a grim reminder of how tools that were once forces for unity can pivot into agents of division.

Moreover, the mental health implications, particularly for young individuals, are alarming. The Royal Society of Public Health’s study revealing the negative emotions engendered by platforms like Instagram and Snapchat is a dire warning. The comparison syndrome, fueled by meticulously curated online personas, is a modern epidemic leading many towards feelings of inadequacy and self-loathing. The rise in mental health challenges among the youth, often linked to online interactions, cannot and should not be dismissed as mere coincidence.

Haig's analogy comparing the situation to the tobacco or fast-food industries is striking and not far from the truth. These platforms, driven by commercial interests, often prioritize engagement over user well-being. We are at a juncture where, as users, we must demand transparency and responsibility from these tech giants.

However, it's essential to understand that the onus is not solely on the platforms. As users, we need to foster digital literacy, recognizing the line between reality and the digital façade. Engaging with these platforms consciously, understanding their algorithms, and not allowing them to dictate our self-worth is crucial.

In conclusion, as someone who both appreciates and is wary of the power of social media, I believe it's imperative to strike a balance. While we cannot and should not escape the digital wave, we must navigate its waters with caution, ensuring our mental well-being and societal fabric remain intact. Knowledge, transparency, and conscious engagement are our best allies in this digital age.

Yours sincerely,

Max Mustermann

Student, Musterschule