Plenty of people make this choice, how could it be an illusion?
Social media isn't the only way to stay in touch. In fact all it really is, is a way to automate the means and pleasantries by which we relate with others at the more human/animal level. We "poke" and "react" and "share" on these platforms just like we do via other communicative tools like phones, letters, and telegrams.
With the gamification and addictive nature of these social media platforms, we sort of merge sports and games with socializing, allowing everyone to be a socialite like the ones we all have read about from yesteryear. This devalues social relationships and puts a greater emphasis on MORE of them; an opiate addict always ends up eventually using heroin.
Choice one: get spied on by Google through your phone, analytics, gmail, You tube… Get spied on by Facebook. Carry a tracker everywhere you go.
Choice two: No longer answer the phone in a timely manner. Don't follow up on friends. Shut yourself from many social circles. In other words, stop being a first class citizen.
There was a time where slaves were considered sub-human because they chose life over freedom. They had a choice, and they chose to be beasts.
There's a difference of degree, but but it operate under the same principle: when you have two option, one of which is unacceptable, you don't really have a choice.
Social media isn't the only way to stay in touch. In fact all it really is, is a way to automate the means and pleasantries by which we relate with others at the more human/animal level. We "poke" and "react" and "share" on these platforms just like we do via other communicative tools like phones, letters, and telegrams.
With the gamification and addictive nature of these social media platforms, we sort of merge sports and games with socializing, allowing everyone to be a socialite like the ones we all have read about from yesteryear. This devalues social relationships and puts a greater emphasis on MORE of them; an opiate addict always ends up eventually using heroin.