UCL Uncovering Politics The Machine Stops: Should We All Quit Social Media?
21 snips
Feb 19, 2026 Rob Simpson, Associate Professor of Philosophy at UCL who studies ethics of technology, explains why he largely avoids social media. He examines whether quitting is a personal lifestyle or a political act. He discusses platform design, polarization, attention costs and the privilege objection. He frames quitting as a vote for healthier communication and considers policy, norms and future tech.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Social Media Erodes Civic Attention And Patience
- Simpson links online communication's brevity and algorithmic design to weakened civic capacities like patient listening and deep attention.
- He suggests these altered attention patterns make us worse citizens and neighbours, not just less happy.
Platform Business Models Reformat Human Behaviour
- The central problem is platform business models that optimize engagement, creating feedback loops that reformat behaviour to fit technology.
- Simpson draws on Heidegger/Ellul-style worries: some tools reshape worlds and human habits in intrinsic, problematic ways.
Privilege Objection Frames Quitting As Unaffordable For Many
- The privilege objection says quitting social media is easy for the privileged but impractical or harmful for those reliant on platforms for work or social connection.
- Simpson summarizes cases: isolated people, job-dependent users, and marginalized youth who need platforms as lifelines.
