“Lets unbox my new Dior bag”
*Scroll
“Here are the ten best places to eat in State College”
*Scroll
“Taylor Swifts new album is a flop”
*Scroll and never stop
No matter what social media platform you use, you see opinions and biases from every influencer, celebrity or podcaster. We can’t seem to escape the opinions of others, and now we have lost the ability to think of our own. Everyone has an opinion, but few people know why they have it.
The New Age
In a social media age, where news comes out seconds after it happens and reviews are posted a minute after an album release, whoever has the first opinion will get the most attention. The fight for users’ attention is a business. True critical thinking comes from long-term thought and letting feelings marinate into ideas. That process takes more than just a minute; it requires your brain to make connections between prior ideas, facts and feelings. We have replaced thoughtful criticism, opinions and ideas with quick reactions, and using those reactions as fact.
Music, film and cultural criticism shaped how people thought. Think Rolling Stone, The Atlantic, and other mainstream reviewers that were respected for their nuanced reviews on culture and entertainment. Now, reviewers don’t need credentials; they just need a phone and a TikTok account. Short-term content that only allows for emotions rather than depth doesn’t allow for complexity.
Psychological Toll
Short-term thinking trains our brains to skim rather than analyze. People will defend their favorite artist’s album without even thinking about if they like the album themselves. Instead of challenging ourselves, online discourse reinforces our opinions and biases. This is human nature in action; we only see what we want to see. Social media algorithms play into this pitfall of the human mind, compared to reviews that could lay out the evidence and form an opinion based on that evidence.
Short-term thinking goes beyond opinions on albums, it affects how we critically think and how strong our thought processes are.
Rebuilding muscle
However, the brain can always improve itself if we are conscious enough of our harmful behaviors. For instance, when scrolling, pause every now and then on a video that brings out an emotional reaction. Then, take a minute to think about what the creators motivations are, how their mindset might be different, what the evidence is for this take and how credible that evidence is. Through this deeper thinking, you can train your brain to develop longer-term thought.
Practice Makes Perfect
Another form of practicing critical thought is when you watch a movie. Before you listen to a friend’s opinion or look at the movie online. Sit with the feelings and see what opinions you form, even jot down a list of what you liked or disliked. This type of exercise is a simple, no-stakes way of practicing critical thinking before you enter the online realm.
Deep thought is a form of self-care and bettering ourselves; you just have to give it time.
What are your favorite ways to stay more grounded? Let us know what you think on Instagram @VALLEYmag!
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