Article Analysis of Quit Social Media. Your Career May Depend on It

📌Category: Articles
📌Words: 750
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 06 February 2022

How often do people use their smartphones? The use of technology has become so intertwined in our society today to the point where commodities such as social media have become necessities to our work and personal lives. The use of this vast social network has connected the world more closely than ever in all modern history. Social media is a call upon a dawning era in which technology becomes the dominant force with connecting everyone together, but at what cost exactly? Some have argued over the years that social media as well as the internet as whole is ruining an entire generation of future workers, rather than enriching them. Computer scientist and writer Cal Newport, touches on these concerns in his 2016 article “Quit Social Media. Your Career May Depend on It.” In his writing, Cal looks at the issues of social media in a very critical perspective, arguing against its use in careers. In the following essay, his points will be summarized and responded to.

In response to the rise in popularity of social media, Computer scientist and writer Cal Newport argues that the negative biproducts accompanied by apps like Instagram and Facebook can impact our careers in more negative ways than positive. He argues that social media can create an unhealthy desire to constantly stay updated with your social network, taking time away from work that really matters. He further addresses claims about social networking being essential to making more opportunities being false, providing evidence with his own experience as a writer who maintains a website designed to filter out certain offers.

Cal observes the effect social media has on the broad population with a very critical mindset. In this case however, the contrast between critical and radical becomes more apparent. While the point of Cal’s argument may be sound, the evidence and points he brings up to support his claims come accompanied with a variety of problems. 

For example, Cal states, “Professional success is hard, but it’s not complicated” (Para 6). The first problem with this argument is that it overgeneralizes and forgets to account the many differences each profession may have. Some markets require more skill and are generally harder to compete in. He further bases his arguments off philosophies, which cannot be taken at face value let alone be used as concrete evidence. Cal states, “This is a philosophy perhaps best summarized by the advice Steve Martin used to give aspiring entertainers: “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” If you do that, the rest will work itself out, regardless of the size of your Instagram following” (Para 6). Cal goes on to state, “Interesting opportunities and useful connections are not as scarce as social media proponents claim” (Para 8). He once again begins to overgeneralize, and not provide any concrete evidence other than his own experience with being a successful writer, “I currently have filters on my website aimed at reducing, not increasing, the number of offers and introductions I receive” (Para 8). Take for instance, professions like entertainers or artists which tie back to platforms like Facebook or YouTube for example are entirely tied on social media presence and networking. Cal completely undermines these perspectives, making his arguments more biased than they are informative. Furtherly, he also claims that “The more you use social media in the way it’s designed to be used — persistently throughout your waking hours — the more your brain learns to crave a quick hit of stimulus at the slightest hint of boredom” (Para 10). While this statement may seem true from the outside, once again Cal undermines the fact that every individual is different, and not subject to the same mindset as he suggests. Some people may have more a need to stay in touch online, while others may be more reliant on real world interactions. Cal fails to cite any proof other than baseless statements, which further questions his own bias.

Cal’s points after being carefully critiqued begin to bring up many questions. It becomes quite apparent that Cal’s view on the modern professional world might be very retrospective. Is this paper just the result of a common misconception some older professionals in the marketing scene might have when faced with the revolutions of technology today? While Cal does understand the general arguments against the evolution of the market and social medias effects on the world, he fails to grasp the full picture and understand different perspectives. Most of his points are simply based in experience rather than evidence that supports a broader sample. What could this mean about the validity of past claims on the market today?

Cal fails to connect his evidence in valid ways to his arguments on the cons of social media and why you should quit. With insufficient support, a clear bias, and overgeneralizations accompanied by various misconceptions, it is difficult to understand and agree with Cal’s thesis.

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