They/Them/He/She/You/Me | Eric Quallen | TEDxJuniataCollege

Social Media Impact on Cognition - Social media reduces attention span, comprehension, productivity, and memory [9] - Excessive screen time can decrease gray matter density in areas of the brain related to impulse control and decision-making [9] - Heavy Facebook users have lower GPAs, and even the presence of a smartphone reduces cognitive capacity [10] - Social media platforms are designed for brevity and quick emotional reactions, impacting critical thinking [11] Snap Judgments and Dehumanization - Snap judgments occur within milliseconds and can influence perceptions of competence and attractiveness [6] - Information overload on social media leads to judgments of people, potentially leading to dehumanization [13][14] - Dehumanization can lead to violence and death, particularly affecting transgender people [14] Proposed Solution: Stop, Think, Reflect, React - When encountering new information, the proposed strategy is to stop, think, reflect, and then react [17][18][19][20] - Stopping involves acknowledging initial snap judgments [17] - Thinking involves considering existing knowledge and potential conflicts [18] - Reflecting involves examining personal beliefs, values, morals, and ethics [19] - Reacting includes the option of having no response [20] Social Media Business Model - In 2024, Facebook generated over $131 billion in advertising revenue, with prices increasing based on clicks [15] - Social media platforms are incentivized to overload users with information and compromise impulse control [15]