Watch all videos ad-free, early, and uncensored, see scripts, access the chat, and support Then & Now over at: www.patreon.com/thenandnow Thanks for watching, everyone. The next video might take a bit longer but it should be worth the wait. It's an ambitiously in-depth follow-up to 'How the Internet Was Stolen' on, guess what?

The flagging of this informative video demonstrates why KZfaq actively creates the problem they pretend to address 🤦‍♂️

They had massive resources and massive incentives to make social media as addictive as possible; and they did so. We don't let kids near chemical drugs.

I deleted all social media almost a year ago (save for KZfaq) all cold turkey. I never felt like I missed anything and my outlook on life and self worth greatly improved

Why KZfaq tells me that this content is harmful or violent???? You are the best, keep on

Getting rid of Twitter and FB was one of the best decisions i made. I could feel the difference in my mental hedlth within a week already

I'm afraid to embarrass myself. I'm afraid to be rejected. I'm afraid of being noticed, but that's all I want.

This man doesn’t give a fuck about the KZfaq taboos. That’s why I’m subscribed.

Its simply outrageous youtube qualifies this as harmful content. Very well sustained and referenced too. It seems any useful content that its beyond what the algorythm considers profitable will get instantly 'censored'. Other channels experience the same. Anyway, keep up the good work, your videos make me think a lot and reinforce my quitting on social media, mainly instagram.

My biggest fear with social media has always been that my mistakes and embarrassing moments could always be immortalized with the click of a button and shared for everyone to see.

Thank you for the careful edits so we can watch this without it being blocked!

imagine if social media platforms were seized and collectively owned, like a public service

So annoying that i got a viewer discretion is advised notice before watching this. Hope that doesn't affect you on the algorithm

Hope this reaches a lot of people as it's important.

It’s funny how when multi-billion dollar social media companies are confronted about their issues their excuse is “it’s too hard” to do anything about it. But if poorer individuals do something “wrong”, the full force of the law is brought down on them.

There's one concept I feel so many overlook: is social media inherently the problem, or is it the way it is designed that's the problem? I tend to lean more to the latter. Remember these are businesses, the goal of business is maximum profit and infinite growth. For social media what is most profitable is engagement, and negativity drives engagement the most, so algorithms push for content that elicit the most negative reactions possible. It is rewarded the most, and put into feeds the most. Would social media still be as harmful if this was not the guiding principle of their design? What if social media actually encouraged the social aspect, be designed for forging connections, and rewarded more positive content? I'm no expert, but I'm no technocynic either, I feel technology could enhance our lives rather than make it worse if it were made for such, and as long as it is made to be sold and generate wealth and profit that's not going to be the case because what is profitable and what is good for us are rarely the same.

There's been a general degradation of " civility" and "politesse" in social interaction, and no it's not limited to the internet. We're exposed to a 24/7 cable news cycle, that features warring politicians in the Congress and the Senate; especially during the election cycle. There's a lack of "collegiality" and mutual respect that existed a few decades ago, ni matter how heated things got. It can become more pronounced online, as anonymity is a factor. I'm American, and our parameters regarding appropriate social interaction have broken down considerably. Hostile behavior has become " normalized".

It’s been a while now, but right before the 2016 American presidential election I put in some 12-or-so-hour days off commenting on social media, and I always felt terrible afterward. Not just mentally, but physically too

I need to let you know that this video, this topic, this channel, are so very Important to me. Very informative, Very useful, Very respectful. Thank you! Thank you very much!

I don’t doubt more folks are offing themselves. When I was a teenager other kids in my town “passed away in their sleep” who I knew were severely anxious and traumatized.

I always think social media is the root of my depression, but when I delete my apps I get significantly more depressed because my friends will only communicate with me if I'm on Instagram..

youtube and tiktok censorship is so frustrating, but your statement was so thoughtful. thank you!

I'm 32 years and I refuse to use social media. Peoples minds are being manipulated by the algorithm ✌🏽

Some of the first mobile phones were exactly that, just a phone with a text ability, but with no toxic media, and they lasted a week with just one charge!

Kind of came across your channel on accident. It's been a happy one though. Much food for thought in every video so far. I'm a senior tech at an apartment complex. Lots of hours alone in units that need a lot of work. It's good to be able to listen to something mindful while doing so instead of the drivel so many other channels deliver. Thanks much, will probably become a patreon soon as well.

Ultimately, the real issue is our culture. Social media platforms just give us a very publicly visible forum to express these behaviors and sentiments that already exist. We have to re-evaluate our motivations and our goals, otherwise these behaviors will persist, even in the absence of this technology.

Well presented! I could not imagine being a teenage girl on social media now a days. I have not Facebook since 2014.

Such necessary, quality content! Thanks for another amazingly researched and tactful video on such a sensitive but pressing topic.

It's weird how some channels don't get censored at all and have truly dangerous content. Keep doing the good work. Your material is top shelf and always has been.

I think one issue becomes who watches the watchmen when it comes to application of rules. Also, In a transparent system bad actors can circumvent through transparency of process, in a nontransparent system we can be left victim to unclear rules.

I live in the US and in my city we had a huge uptick in teen violence about a year ago. The city freaked out, fired the police chief, marched to city hall, argued for stricter punishments and all this stuff. Yet not a single person realized that the reason the crime was spiking was because some Australian guy had started a KZfaq channel where he and a whole bunch of people all over the world would cheer on acts of violence coming from my city specifically. Like this dude decided he liked our “grimey hood culture” and started making teens famous worldwide for being the biggest most dangerous “thugs” they could be. He was boosting videos, pumping real money to these kids who had nothing but a cell phone and no more fks to give. It culminated in a 19 year old live-streaming a city wide shooting spree. As soon as that dude moved on to another city, the crime rates here dropped again. I’m keep telling folks about it and they look at me like I’m crazy. Y’all, the internet is bleeding into the real world and no one is prepared to stop it. Full grown adults were willing to throw these boys in prison for the rest of their lives but refused to even acknowledge what was causing the issue.

I liked, shared, and am commenting to try to fight the algorithm's tendency to de-monetize videos that discuss subjects like this. I also recognize the irony of doing this on a social media site (we consider KZfaq social media, no? It has parasocial relationship behavior on it so I reckon it is, though perhaps to a lesser extent than Insta or FB as it's more entertainment related and less networking oriented)

People who suffer social anxiety, antisocial, suicidal and depression need the most interaction and guidance as possible for they feel left out and might take their own life..

Truly amazing, and something that we as a society ought to be speaking more about.

"Freedom of speech is words that they will bend Freedom with their exception"

Great content as always. Highlighting an important issue on a platform that is uneasy about allowing even mature and thiughtful discussion, is a bold move. Discussion is needed, though, and good on you for following through!

These videos are extremely insightful! Keep up the good work!

Excellent video! Thank you!🫶

I have notifications on and receive like a third of your uploads

I'm so glad you did a video on this topic specifically. Very good work! Wishing you the best out of these insidious algorithms - and out of life in general. Take care. 💚

KZfaq comments are safe tough, right? Right?! 🤔🤔🤔 Freedom of reach for the profit of a select handful of CEOs. Who could possibly find objective reasons against it 🤷‍♂

Much needed take on this topic. Keep on the good fight!

Thank you for doing the amazing job!

Amazing video as always!

I love your channel. Thank you for the efforts

Your stuff is always top notch. Very important topic that needs a lot of work to make less horrible

Thank you for your work!

Your content is brilliant to watch. Thank you. 😊

You do amazing work!

Excellent job

awesome video as always

Too bad the algorithm burried this video. This is important stuff! 👏🏻

love this types of videos from you

i am experiencing this right now and am suffering in esteem and as a person from the dumpster fire of the political and religious side of social media

Thanks sir for sharing your great videos and thoughts 🙏

In fast-to-consume content platforms like Instagram and tic toc beauty, looks and status are the main commodities. These aren't platforms for philosophy, science, or any of the major fields of human thought. So for people who value looks and beauty the gains which are just simple likes or in the best case some ad revenue do not reward its means to an end because the supply of these commodities is so vast on these platforms, depression is the major mechanism that the unhappy subconscious self shows that.

Love the video ❤

So informative

It’d be interesting to look at social media as amplifying the fundamental hazard that is social life in itself - we have been harming each other via socialising for ever, but it’s perhaps the rate of it and its reach that makes it significantly worse

Great video. I definitely agree that more democracy and transparency are needed at all stages of the content moderation process

I deleted snapchat in February, Instagram and Facebook last month cold turkey. No regrets and I'll never go back. My mind feels calm now and no anxiety from comparison or world news.

Well done

Free speech shouldn’t always be allowed in companies like copyright or online platforms. But free speech is more about people being able to publish things or write or say things out loud without persecution.

being anti-social is a good thing, actually.

This should go viral.

Good work!❤

excellent video essay

What annoys me is that I tried downloading this video knowing it would be a sensitive topic, but when I tried to finally go back and listen to it, youtube wouldn't let me. It's like they don't want people talking about the negative side of social media

I had a "viewer discretion advised" on this when literally I've seen censored videos of Aaron Bushnell without such a warning; notwithstanding the litany of news reporting on him. It's absolutely ludicrous that yt would flag this content over that. If a teen already had access to KZfaq and watched this video, it could save their life _because_ of the topics herein.

The fact that you have to censor yourself on important topics on a western platform Displays what's wrong with our social platforms. Didn't think that the dollar would be the arm that limit our ability to discuss.

Thanks!

Thank you

Even though I don't agree with all of your thoughts, I really appreciate you making this video bring attention to this issue

This video getting flagged is everything that's wrong with KZfaq.

This guy never misses

Social media could have been a great tool of communication. Instead it became fertile manure to grow fear, violence, bullying and bigotry. I do not know where to start improvement, but healthy dialogue instead of hateful eristics seems to be a vital part of it …

I very much agree that it has become difficult to talk about subjects that require public discourse in order to advocate proactive solutions. I understand that this is sometimes done partly in an effort to protect people, but in spaces where people are directly effected by a problem it can add to the problem as well as stop solutions. Often the reasons to stop such discourse when it is in public or even financial interest is due to legal issues. Best I can say is that even if people make it difficult to talk about subjects we can still talk about as much surrounding a problem as possible even if we can’t say certain things. We can also promote attention to areas where discussion, solutions and efforts to confront problems are being made. Generally, it’s not about the words you can’t say or where you can’t say it, but what you can say and where you can say it to make impact. Not everyone who wants to advocate for an issue is going to be able to do that kind of maneuvering though, so it still reduces advocacy as well as spaces for advocacy and adds more red tape to being proactive.

Big shoutout to you for adressing this topic and briging it to the surface. As I notice in everyday life, social media has made us less sociable - as ironical as it is. Conversations and needed human interactions don't emerge as they used to as the eyes are glued to screens and the focus of the brain is solely engaged with the content depicted on it. I've had numerous encounters where people don't even notice their surroundings as they percieve reality differently - that's the scale in which it's affecting us. Make a test: Go outside and walk for a few minutes in a crowded area - then notice how many people are staring at their phones - this isn't a local phenonemon. It's quite frankly a frightening sight to behold in which direction this is heading. These altered behaviors will have far reaching consequences to humanity as a whole - but they will only get noticed by the larger public when the situation has become Hells manifestation on earth. That is: A silent metaphysical death of the self. Every waking our is consumed by virtual information which builds an abstracted world in its own. [...] So thanks again for making this! It's an important step to notice the "trivial" fungus spreading beneath the surface.

Thanks

When you mentioned youtube censorship I quickly opened Nebula to see if you had a channel there, was actually surprised that you don't

12:00 ... Actually, we *do* allow false advertising. See also "Puffing."

As a parent to a 13 year old with mental health stuff (and being in recovery 5 years personally) this is freaking SCARY

The KZfaq Controlling content we can't talk it's a good theme for a whole episode.

Thanks a lot ,

Awesome!

important, insightful, wish it was longer mental health and the internet are so key!

I think social media is making us more aware of mental health issues. Without social media I'd be insanely more lonely than already

Very good, thank you... it's a shame YT has become so chaotic.

Life chances are actually bad, no chance of getting married/job/home.

A very good proportion of irl fights happen because of social media, atleast where I live

I love your content - your on my asap patreon list if i'll have a job. Please go on with doing this.

Social media: makes teens suicidal Content creator: hey, we don't like that Social media: HOW DARE YOU SPEAK of suicide! DEMONETIZED!!

It’s interesting…..there is a clear correlation and even if the causal aspect is contested it will become apparent in the end…..I always think of the smoking culture….when it suits corporate interest the harmful effects will be denied and legally obfuscated and contested and the can kicked down the road….because powerful and vested interests have their own gain at heart …..they know what it’s doing…..

Democratic processes are slow and inefficient when combating things related to the Internet, and they are done by old people who are always 5 steps behind the trends.

This is great content. I'm sorry KZfaq is suppressing it. I hope your patreon call helps pay for this excellent work while youtube wont.

It is social media, especially when teens are blamed

1:30 Oh no 😱! Someone helped themselves to Facebooks personal data? The horror! Who would ever help themselves to personal data; this is a crime against humanity!!

Social media has literally destroyed the “Organic Human Experience”. We live in such a false reality anymore, the things that used to be frowned upon are celebrated and encouraged now? Blows my mind….. the family unit is being attacked, the natural way of living is being attacked and any morality that humanity had left is quickly declining. It’s really a sad state 😢 I reallly hope this young generation can pull themselves out of what is quickly becoming the downfall of us all.

as a teenager it’s a “boomer-ish” view to blame social media for mental health issues and broader social problems, but i just do. when i downloaded tiktok, my anxiety rose, i experienced my first bout of depression, and i started having panic attacks every night. when i deleted it all of this got exponentially better. there’s no way around it, tiktok was the problem.

good video ,mostly accurate