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  • The contemporary Internet is based on a fundamental lie. We all are told that it’s social. Were

  • all told that it allows connectivity, allows us to create community. But the reverse is

  • actually true. It’s atomizing us. It’s not creating real community. It’s actually

  • separating us from people of different opinions of different cultures. It’s increasingly

  • an echo chamber effect where were only ever connected with people who agree with

  • us in the first place. But even more troubling, these social networks aren’t really social.

  • Theyre platforms for the self. Theyre platforms for us to build brands. The clearest

  • manifestation of this is our obsession with the selfie. The selfie becomes the cultural

  • form of the Internet. Wherever we go, we picture ourself in front of mausoleums, in front of

  • as I say in the book in front of people committing suicide at Auschwitz. At every

  • imaginable place, in spite of all the bad taste associated with it, we are, in our minds

  • at least, our deluded minds, the center of our universe. I argue again in terms of progress

  • that weve gone back to a pre-Copernican understanding of the universe where everything

  • revolves around us. There’s nothing social about that. And the end consequence is twofold.

  • Firstly, were making complete fools of ourselves. That narcissism, that indulgence

  • is embarrassing. And in the long run were going to regret it both as a species and individually.

  • When we look back at those absurd photos of ourself, where were shamelessly exposing

  • our own self-importance, were going to be severely embarrassed by it. But secondly

  • it also reflects the reality of the Internet. It’s about the individual, it’s not about

  • the social. And the Internet is alienating, isolating, fragmenting ourselves. It’s weakening

  • community. That’s, of course, the reason why it hasn’t generated real political movements.

  • It creates explosions, the Arab Spring, Occupy, but no legacy, no political parties, no movements,

  • no real foundations of political change.

The contemporary Internet is based on a fundamental lie. We all are told that it’s social. Were

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B1 social ourself selfie obsession political front

What the Internet (and Selfies) Reveal About Our Self-Obsession

  • 131 8
    VoiceTube posted on 2016/07/13
Video vocabulary

Keywords

community

US /kəˈmjunɪti/

UK /kə'mju:nətɪ/

  • noun
  • Group of people who share a common idea or area
  • An interacting group of various species in a common location.
  • A group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other.
  • A group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other.
  • The European Economic Community.
  • A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
  • A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
  • An interacting group of various species in a common location.
  • A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
  • A group of people who share a craft or profession and learn from each other.
  • A group of people who interact with each other primarily through online platforms.
  • A group of people who interact with each other primarily online.
  • An organized group of people with a common interest or purpose.
  • A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
  • A group of people sharing common characteristics or interests.
  • A group of people living in a particular area or locality.
  • Joint ownership or use.
  • adjective
  • Relating to or shared by the people in a particular area.
  • Relating to or characteristic of a community.
  • Relating to or done by a community.
  • Relating to or shared by the people in a community.
  • Shared or participated in by all members of a group
  • other
  • A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
  • A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
  • A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
  • Joint ownership or use.
  • A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
commit

US /kəˈmɪt/

UK /kə'mɪt/

  • verb
  • To do something bad, usually a crime
  • To promise your permanent love or loyalty (to)
  • To promise or decide to do something for a purpose
  • other
  • To entrust or give into someone's charge or keeping.
  • To send (someone) to a hospital or prison.
  • To do or perpetrate (a crime or other reprehensible act).
  • To pledge or bind (oneself) to a certain course or policy; to make an engagement.
social

US /ˈsoʃəl/

UK /ˈsəuʃəl/

  • adjective
  • Involving activity with people, e.g. in free time
  • Living together and depending on each other
universe

US /ˈjunəˌvɚs/

UK /ˈju:nɪvɜ:s/

  • noun
  • A particular sphere of activity, interest, or experience.
  • A virtual or simulated environment, especially in computing.
  • All of space that contains planets and stars
  • Things surrounding a person, affecting their life
  • other
  • A particular sphere of activity, interest, or experience.
  • All existing matter and space considered as a whole; the cosmos.
  • other
  • All existing matter and space considered as a whole; the cosmos.
political

US /pəˈlɪtɪkəl/

UK /pəˈlɪtɪkl/

  • adjective
  • Involved in or relating to activities aimed at achieving or maintaining power.
  • Relating to government or public affairs of a country.
  • Relating to or concerned with the state or government.
  • Relating to or concerned with ideas about power and government.
  • Motivated by or having to do with politics rather than other concerns.
  • Motivated by political considerations rather than genuine concern.
  • Relating to different organizations or groups involved in politics
  • Relating to government, politics, and public affairs.
  • Relating to the study of politics.
  • Likely to cause public debate or disagreement.
  • Shrewd or diplomatic in dealing with people.
  • Being active or interested in government matters
  • Diplomatic
  • Of the system of elections and government
  • Concerning government or public affairs
  • Involved in getting of power/influence in a group
long

US /lɔŋ, lɑŋ/

UK /lɒŋ/

  • noun
  • Person's name
  • other
  • To have a strong desire or yearning.
  • adjective
  • Large distance from one end to the other
  • Having many parts, e.g. a book with many chapters
  • verb
  • To have a strong desire for something or someone
  • adverb
  • For a large amount of time
real

US /ˈriəl, ril/

UK /rɪəl/

  • adjective
  • Actually existing or happening, not imagined
  • Authentic; not imitation or artificial.
  • Actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imagined or supposed.
  • Actually being what is claimed or seems to be; not artificial, false, or imitation.
  • Important; serious.
  • noun
  • The basic monetary unit of Brazil since 1994.
  • A number that can be represented on a number line.
  • Real estate; property consisting of land or buildings.
  • other
  • Relating to immovable property such as land or buildings.
  • adverb
  • Very; really.
front

US /frʌnt/

UK /frʌnt/

  • noun
  • Behavior not showing a person's true feelings
  • Area where fighting in a war is happening
  • Place where air of different temperatures meets
  • adjective
  • Opposite of back; the forward part of an object
  • verb
  • To have the forward part facing something
  • To lead a group of people, usually a band
clear

US /klɪr/

UK /klɪə(r)/

  • adjective
  • Empty; without anything in it or on it
  • Being certain and without doubt
  • Being without any streaks, spots, or cracks
  • Easy to understand; well-explained; obvious
  • adverb
  • Completely; entirely; through the whole of
  • Away from; free from
  • verb
  • To recover from or remove a problem
  • To get rid of the entire contents of
  • To give permission for something to happen
  • To make a place or surface empty by removing
  • To prove that someone is not guilty or to blame
Internet

US /ˋɪntɚ͵nɛt/

UK /ˈɪn.tə.net/

  • noun
  • Worldwide computer network system
  • other
  • The ability to connect to the Internet.
  • The use of the Internet for business and commerce.
  • A global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized communication protocols.
  • The content and resources available online.
  • The underlying technology and infrastructure of the Internet.