More specifically, Cal Newport sanctimoniously and accurately has this to say about social media:
I also agree that social media has both "corroded civic life" and contributed to its "cultural shallowness" by giving Cal one of the most read articles on the NY Times webpage. As of this moment, Cal's career advice has been re-tweeted, shared on Facebook, and re-blogged approximately 300,000 times!
But unlike the rest of us addicts and suckers, Cal is super serial about "making an impact in the world" you guys.
How?
By spending all his time on a computer with only one browser window open. Which is different than spending that same amount of time on a smart phone with multiple browser windows open. Cal is "rolling up his sleeves" as though he were a potato farmer in the field, if the farm were the Georgetown University Computer Science Department where he teaches, and the field was his keyboard.
God, I am so glad I read this, because I'm "rolling up my sleeves" right now. Just as soon as I re-tweet one more kitten-can-haz-cheeseburger meme.
Thanks, Cal!
Most social media is best described as a collection of somewhat trivial entertainment services that are currently having a good run. These networks are fun, but you’re deluding yourself if you think that Twitter messages, posts and likes are a productive use of your time. If you’re serious about making an impact in the world, power down your smartphone, close your browser tabs, roll up your sleeves and get to work.Truer words, my friend, truer words. I totally agree with Cal that social media is engineered to be addictive and designed to fragment your attention away from "creating things that matter."
I also agree that social media has both "corroded civic life" and contributed to its "cultural shallowness" by giving Cal one of the most read articles on the NY Times webpage. As of this moment, Cal's career advice has been re-tweeted, shared on Facebook, and re-blogged approximately 300,000 times!
But unlike the rest of us addicts and suckers, Cal is super serial about "making an impact in the world" you guys.
How?
By spending all his time on a computer with only one browser window open. Which is different than spending that same amount of time on a smart phone with multiple browser windows open. Cal is "rolling up his sleeves" as though he were a potato farmer in the field, if the farm were the Georgetown University Computer Science Department where he teaches, and the field was his keyboard.
God, I am so glad I read this, because I'm "rolling up my sleeves" right now. Just as soon as I re-tweet one more kitten-can-haz-cheeseburger meme.
Thanks, Cal!
David Saracino, NY Times'