By Darren Johnson
Campus News and Nu2u
People are wasting too much time. The latest thing is — after Netflix dropped the halfway decent “Bird Box” shortly after the holidays — a time when people are bored silly and looking to something, anything, to watch — people did watch and then started imitating what was done in the movie, and then began sharing their travails on YouTube.
In case you haven’t seen the movie, starring Sandra Bullock, the premise is some weird apocalypse happens where people go insane, and if you look at another crazy person you will turn crazy. So her life hack is to don a blindfold for most of the movie. Spoiler alert — she eventually finds a school for the blind to take her in; though I predicted this outcome — with a “Stevie Wonder would be fine” joke about 20 minutes into this movie.
Now people all over the Net are trying to replicate scenes from the movie. Netflix even issued a warning to not do that, as, in general, it’s not safe to drive a car or man a boat with vision impaired. One famous influencer, Logan Paul, even ran into street traffic with a blindfold on. Though that video apparently was pulled from the Internet. Hopefully he learned his lesson.
But I have a better “Bird Box” challenge for you. How about this? How about you not pander to the homebodies who will give you a dopamine rush by “liking” your silliness online and instead blindfold yourself to social media in general?
Like that forgettable Netflix movie (it’s basically a 24-minute “Twilight Zone” episode stretched out over two hours), what you produce for the Net is not important. It’s quickly forgotten, washed over by waves of new people posting stupid stuff. And by you yourself seeking out such nonsense, you’re not only wasting time but you’re validating the people who create such fare.
Yes, we all need diversions, but that diversion shouldn’t always be social media. By detoxing from social media — say for just 24 hours — maybe you can do something that does matter. Something more permanent and lasting. If you paint a picture and hang it on the wall, that impression can last for years, garnering hundreds of real “likes” by the people who visit and see it. Live.
Maybe write a poem that your grandkids might read some day. Install new speakers in your car, adding to its value. Create a scrapbook.
Or just diversify your media choices a bit. Read a paper book, magazine or newspaper.
Don’t let social media own you. Because Facebook, Youtube, Instagram and others see you as a commodity. They give you the dopamine rush of likes, record those likes and then steer ads and other messaging to you.
How do I decide if something is worth my time? I picture a World War I soldier, in a trench, in between gunfire but wet and hungry and frazzled. Would HE care about some Internet fad? Some “Bird Box” challenge, some Logan Paul, some Kardashian? Would he find this useful to his survival? His sanity? Or would the thought of such nonesense make him even more miserable?
The crazies in “Bird Box” may be these Internet personalities we allow into our lives. Influencers want us to see them. Our blindfold may be the “off switch.”
Take a break from your social media usage, and then, after the break, make it a point to use social media less.
Look up from your smart phone. It blinds you to reality. There’s a whole world out there — for us to SEE.
Darren Johnson owns Campus News and writes a monthly column that’s mostly about finding hidden gems on Netlix, Amazon and Hulu.
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