The Case for Quitting Social Media | Cal Newport

Cal Newport makes the case for quitting social media in Episode 371 of the Deep Questions podcast.

Buy Cal Newport’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow

We seem to be stuck in a purgatory when it comes to the worst of the social media platforms. We know they’re not great, but it’s hard to muster enough motivation to bother to leave. In today’s episode, motivated by the assination of Charlie Kirk, Cal puts on his technology critic hat and offers a step-by-step technical explanation for why these platforms are strictly and incessantly making your life worse and why the only reasonable response is to quit them. He then answers listener questions on the topic and reacts to some recent news about the US Congress getting involved.

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https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-panel-asks-online-forum-ceos-testify-after-charlie-kirk-assassination-2025-09-17/

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0:00 Is it Finally Time to Leave Social Media?
38:59 How do I find everything I should be blocking on my kid’s phone?
43:39 Is it okay that I make YouTube Videos?
49:13 Shouldn’t we focus on using social media better?
58:00 A musician and social media
1:10:42 US House panel asks internet CEOs to testify after Charlie Kirk assassination

Connect with Cal Newport:

🔴Visit Cal’s BLOG and website: https://calnewport.com/blog/
🔴Check out Cal’s books: https://calnewport.com/writing/
🔴Check out The Deep Life: https://thedeeplife.com

About Cal Newport:
Cal Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University. In addition to his academic research, he writes about the intersection of digital technology and culture. Cal’s particularly interested in our struggle to deploy these tools in ways that support instead of subvert the things we care about in both our personal and professional lives.

Cal is a New York Times bestselling author of seven books, including, most recently, A World Without Email, Digital Minimalism, and Deep Work. He’s also the creator of The Time-Block Planner.

The videos are considered to be used under the “Fair Use Doctrine” of United States Copyright Law, Title 17 U.S. Code Sections 107-118. Videos are used for editorial and educational purposes only and I do not claim ownership of any original video content. I don’t use said video clips in advertisements, marketing or for direct financial gain. All video content in each clip is considered owned by the individual broadcast companies.

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#WorldWithoutEmail #DeepQuestionsPodcast

Dr. Jonathan Haidt: How Smartphones & Social Media Impact Mental Health & the Realistic Solutions

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Jonathan Haidt, Ph.D., professor of social psychology at New York University and bestselling author on how technology and culture impact the psychology and health of kids, teens, and adults. We discuss the dramatic rise of suicide, depression, and anxiety as a result of replacing a play-based childhood with smartphones, social media, and video games.
 
He explains how a screen-filled childhood leads to challenges in psychological development that negatively impact learning, resilience, identity, cooperation, and conflict resolution — all of which are crucial skills for future adult relationships and career success. We also discuss how phones and social media impact boys and girls differently and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of how smartphones alter basic brain plasticity and function. 
 
Dr. Haidt explains his four recommendations for healthier smartphone use in kids, and we discuss how to restore childhood independence and play in the current generation. 

This is an important topic for everyone, young or old, parents and teachers, students and families, to be aware of in order to understand the potential mental health toll of smartphone use and to apply tools to foster skill-building and reestablish healthy norms for our kids.

Access the full show notes, including referenced articles, books, people mentioned, and additional resources: https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/dr-jonathan-haidt-how-smartphones-social-media-impact-mental-health-the-realistic-solutions

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Timestamps
00:00:00 Dr. Jonathan Haidt
00:02:01 Sponsors: Helix Sleep, AeroPress & Joovv
00:06:23 Great Rewiring of Childhood: Technology, Smartphones & Social Media
00:12:48 Mental Health Trends: Boys, Girls & Smartphones
00:16:26 Smartphone Usage, Play-Based to Phone-Based Childhood
00:20:40 The Tragedy of Losing Play-Based Childhood
00:28:13 Sponsor: AG1
00:30:02 Girls vs. Boys, Interests & Trapping Kids
00:37:31 “Effectance,” Systems & Relationships, Animals
00:41:47 Boys Sexual Development, Dopamine Reinforcement & Pornography
00:49:19 Boys, Courtship, Chivalry & Technology; Gen Z Development
00:55:24 Play & Low-Stakes Mistakes, Video Games & Social Media, Conflict Resolution
00:59:48 Sponsor: LMNT
01:01:23 Social Media, Trolls, Performance
01:06:47 Dynamic Subordination, Hierarchy, Boys
01:10:15 Girls & Perfectionism, Social Media & Performance
01:14:00 Phone-Based Childhood & Brain Development, Critical Periods
01:21:15 Puberty & Sensitive Periods, Culture & Identity
01:23:55 Brain Development & Puberty; Identity; Social Media, Learning & Reward
01:33:37 Tool: 4 Recommendations for Smartphone Use in Kids
01:41:48 Changing Childhood Norms, Policies & Legislature
01:49:13 Summer Camp, Team Sports, Religion, Music
01:54:36 Boredom, Addiction & Smartphones; Tool: “Awe Walks”
02:03:14 Casino Analogy & Ceding Childhood; Social Media Content
02:09:33 Adult Behavior; Tool: Meals & Phones
02:11:45 Regaining Childhood Independence; Tool: Family Groups & Phones
02:16:09 Screens & Future Optimism, Collective Action, KOSA Bill
02:24:52 Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

#HubermanLab #MentalHealth

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How to Successfully Delete Social Media | Dr. Cal Newport & Dr. Andrew Huberman

Dr. Cal Newport and Dr. Andrew Huberman discuss the effects of social media on human potential, focusing on how social media can sometimes mask unmet potential and interests, and how taking a break from it can lead to productive self-reflection, untapped creativity, and enriched lives.

Cal Newport, Ph.D. (@CalNewportMedia), is a professor of computer science at Georgetown University and bestselling author of numerous books on focus and productivity and how to access the deepest possible layers of your cognitive abilities in order to do quality work and lead a more balanced life. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab podcast.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/p4ZfkezDTXQ
Show notes: https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/dr-cal-newport-how-to-enhance-focus-and-improve-productivity

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Timestamps
00:00 The Social Media Detox Experiment
00:17 The Challenge of Returning to Social Media
00:41 Understanding the Impact of Social Media on Focus and Productivity
01:22 Exploring the Void Social Media Fills
02:01 The 30-Day Social Media Detox Challenge
02:53 Success Stories and Strategies for a Social Media-Free Life
04:45 Filling the Void: Building a Meaningful Life Beyond Social Media

#HubermanLab #CalNewport #SocialMedia

The Huberman Lab podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Neuroscientist: “DELETE Your Social Media NOW!” – Here’s Why!

Dr. Andrew Huberman describes the dangers of social media on your brain. As a neuroscientist, social media is a dangerous tool to give you dopamine hits. But at the same time, how you can train your brain and mind to be more flexible and avoid the dangers. If you find you are spending too much of your day on social media scrolling endlessly, think about possibly doing a small dopamine detox.

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Neuroscientist – What Overusing Social Media Does To Your Brain

Watch the full episode now – https://youtu.be/31DMZLK_PPs

Dr Andrew Huberman explains what happens if you overuse social media. Does Dr Andrew Huberman think social media addiction is real? Does HubermanLab believe it is possible to develop OCD around your phone use?

#smartphone #addiction #socialmedia

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