Hannah Grace Tech 03.06.2022 23:Mar PM EST

Silicon Valley's Ro Khanna: Hire Philosophers and Liberal Arts Thinkers to Fix Social Media

With the widespread misinterpretation of the posted content on social media, Silicon Valley's Ro Khanna recommended that social media platforms must hire 100 philosophy majors and people considered liberal arts thinkers.

Hire Philosophers and Liberal Arts Thinkers For Social Media, Congressman Ro Khanna Suggests

In an interview with the Morning Brew, Silicon Valley Congressman Ro Khanna said he would recommend hiring 100 philosophers, humanities majors, and "liberal arts thinkers" to social media firms to have a positive difference in the world.

For background information, the remarks of Khanna came at a time when social media giants like Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, are being held accountable for their broader social impact.

Emphasizing the benefits that philosophers and critical thinkers may provide, Khanna said: "They will help you realize the fundamental naivete of the view that if you just create a platform for people to come talk on and amplify everything that's said, it will somehow lead to mutual understanding, dialogue, and peace. Developing a thoughtful public sphere is so much harder."

Here How Social Media Affects Your Mental Health

Social media affects people in various ways such as through emotions, decisions, and more.

Mclean Hospital noted that social media activates the brain's reward region which works by releasing dopamine, a "feel-good chemical" associated with enjoyable activities like eating, and social interaction.

The platforms are also intended to be addictive, and they have been linked to anxiety, despair, and even physical illnesses.

To emphasize this, in a study conducted by Pew Research Center acquired by Mclean Hospital, social media is used by 69% of adults and 81% of teens in the United States. The given percentages clearly show that a huge portion of the teens is in danger of being anxious, depressed, or unwell as a result of their social media use.

To counteract what they feel, people are publishing content with the hopes of receiving good feedback to increase their self-esteem and experience a feeling of belonging in their social circles.

Since the majority of the social media account owners are teenagers, social media use has negative effects on their mental health specifically women. While young males are more likely to act out through physical aggression, females are more likely to express themselves by excluding other people and making unpleasant comments online.

Positive Effects Of Social Media

Despite having negative effects on mental health, it is worth noting that social media still provides numerous positive benefits to people.

For instance, Kubbco shared several positive effects of it on our society today such as keeping in touch with everyone, motivating other people, allowing people to be creative, and being a platform for information.

Social media platforms help people keep in touch with family and friends who have moved away by sending messages, sharing photographs, making phone calls, or hosting video chats.

The available platforms can also spread positivity when people show support to others who needed it. Similarly, users can also get support for work, whether it's starting a new business, sharing photos, or composing poems.

This platform is also a useful tool for those who are creative or those planning to enhance their creativity.