Keep Scrolling, You're Unwell

Navigating the dark age of social media addiction

The Social, Social Media

It all started innocently enough, those flirtatious Facebook pokes, the giddy feeling as friends shared inside jokes with each other online. Buzzing from the bait left out by the algorithms, the simple premise of reconnecting with long-lost friends to share our lives with those who mattered, flaunting our deepest and most personal secrets for the world to see.

The seemingly innocent application dressed in a trustworthy blue that not so surprisingly transcended into a game of conquest. Victory condition? FAME. Where self-worth is measured by the number of likes, comments, and shares received. What was once a means to stay connected with real people they knew, has morphed into a hollow pursuit of stardom, anon accounts with little insight into their lives.

The worshippers of the curated facade unironically became slaves to the grandeur of popularity, craving validation from faceless strangers. Be weary, as they have become the lonely digital ghouls. Bound only by the lust and worship of their followers.

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Dopamine

Injected directly into the hypothalamus, channeled by the cornea, the satisfying ping of notifications has become the drug of choice. Each beep fuels the addiction, zest for the brain. It’s electric. Hooked on the perpetual affirmation, the incessant positive reinforcement that keeps them coming back for more.

Food for the ghouls, the legion of anonymous followers praising their digital image so vulgar in its inception. Adoring the serpent that feeds off their attention, and sells it to the sponsor. Palpitating from the notification as, another braindead follower stumbles across the account. 1k, 10k, 100k, each exponentially more valuable as the bodies pile up on the farm.

Like barn animals drooling over their screens, constantly scrolling as if a vein of gold is on the other side of the screen, drunk on cheap content, with the occasional sprinkle of engagement bait to test the waters are still alive. The legion must always be at attention if it will be a useful commodity.

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The Anti-Social, Social Media

Behold the depths of depravity the eager willing are ready to plunge into, for their quest of attention! They abandoned all semblance of authenticity, sacrificing their dignity and self-respect for a chance at viral stardom in the online carnival.

They engage in absurd challenges, spread outrageous rumours, and indulge in shocking content, all in the name of garnering likes, shares, and, most importantly, more followers… The pursuit of drawing the crowd has become their center of existence, their lives an open ledger, recording the depravity with cameras constantly rolling for the world's voyeuristic pleasure.

Little unbeknownst to them, the addicted ghouls are the true slaves to the algorithm, tailoring their content to please the unseen puppeteers for a mere chance of converting one extra wanderer from the infinite crowd.

Remove your clothes and shed your dignity - they will love you for it.

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Do You Want Fries with That?

And to my fellow lurker, you thought you were safe just scrolling curiously and cautiously avoiding the engagement bait. Do be sure not to become another long-time resident of the Hotel California. A guest to the dystopia, where manipulation lurks around every corner. The platforms we once saw as means of self-expression have transformed into insidious marketing machines.

Nothing is genuine anymore. The very fabric of our online experiences is interwoven with advertisements and sponsored posts, subtly infiltrating our consciousness. Mere pawns in their game, unwittingly fueling the machinery that profits from attention and vulnerability. Desires, fears, and vulnerabilities are carefully extracted and exploited for the financial gain of the few who control this realm.

The ghouls didn’t disgrace themselves for free. They are the jesters of the parade. You are their product! You thought you were safe, scrolling past these charlatans, quietly following them, thinking the entertainment was worth the curiosity. It was never their quest for attention that brought them here. It was yours. Whisked away in their incredulous stupidity, they will farm you for everything you have. Your presence is optional, but your attention is required.

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Rated R

Attention. The ultimate commodity to be bought, sold, and manipulated. Observe. Look at what they are willing to do to themselves for a taste of a little more. Addicts, and you are the provider. The ghouls and the crowd locked in an algorithmic dance, shaping one another with each refresh. Edging the depraved addicts to reveal slightly more for a bit more engagement, another cheer from the crowd - perhaps even an additional tip in for the onlyfans.

But amidst this chaotic digital realm, a different path beckons. You can step away from the crowd, forsake the manufactured allure, and embark on the journey of a modern-day vagabond. Leave behind the shackles of the screen and venture into the untamed wilderness of genuine experiences. Wander freely, untethered by the superficial validation sought by others.

Find solace in the touch of grass beneath your feet, the world's beauty untarnished by digital filters. Seek connections that transcend the boundaries of likes and shares, embracing the richness of face-to-face encounters and heartfelt conversations. In the village of genuine human connection, herein lies true liberation, unburdened by the algorithms demands and the hollow pursuit of fame.

So choose to opt-out, quit. Embrace the nomadic spirit, embracing the freedom to chart your path and define your ideals. Refuse to seek refuge in these godless establishments, and let your journey be one filled with raw experiences, authentic connections, and a newfound appreciation for the vibrant tapestry of existence.

Leave it all behind - redacted, rated R. Leave the barn animals to be domesticated themselves. You have greater aspirations. Becoming the owner of your story, free from manipulation, you can let the world unfold before you with all its unpredictable beauty.

And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.”

- Quran (57:20)

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