The Unsocial Media Matrix

Written by mattward | Published 2018/09/13
Tech Story Tags: social-media | advertising | unsocial-media-matrix | unsocial-media | media-matrix

TLDRvia the TL;DR App

Tech Poetry

I find it kind of funnyI find it kind of sadWe live our lives onlineOften getting mad

We listen to the newsDesigned to make you blueBut we can forgetAbout the Facebook flu

Seeing all your friendsLiving such a lifeSuch beautiful picturesSuch a pretty wife

But that’s not my storyEverything’s not wellUnlike all my friendsMy life’s gone to hell

My pics just aren’t pictureMy vaca was blandWhat does that say about meAm I a lesser man?

Take a second nowDoes this sound like youIs social mediaSomething of a screw

Piercing your poor mindCreating pain and sorrowForcing you to watchTo forget about tomorrow

To pretend to liveTo passively observeYour life could be so much moreIf you’d only learn to swerve

Get outside those tracksSocial isn’t rightIt’s designed to haunt youLong into the night

Constant notificationsIt’s not good for youA life of comparisonsWill always make you blue

Wanting to impressYou always dress your bestThe problem with that lifeThere’s never any rest

There’s always someone smarterA better body tooAnd that guy who’s richerWhat does that say about you?

It actually says nothingOnly if you careWhen you worship othersYou place yourself down there

There are some games in lifeMany actuallyDesigned without a winnerFor painful harmony

Those games make real moneyContinuous useBecause what they don’t tell youPeople crave abuse

It’s part of our natureTo see our major “flaws”That’s what often happensWhen you’re in Zuckerberg’s claws

They hire real smart folksTo make you feel like shitThey make a ton of moneyAnd get away with it

And it is addictiveA never ending scrollFeeling alienatedThat will take a toll

Talk about a beatingTalk about a viceNext time you think socialI hope that you think twice

I know this sounds extremistYou make think it’s a jokeBut as the facts come itThere’s a lot of smoke

This type of isolationIt’s cancer for a nationCreating filter bubblesAnd greater separation

Misinformation’s rampantThe truth is up for grabsWe’re living in the MatrixWith platforms keeping tabs

They know everything about youControl your every whimAre ruining electionsAnd run just like a sim

And sure social media’s badBut the problem’s bigger stillWhen advertising’s dominantOn every windowsill

Watching what you doTracking who you areJust to tell your phoneWhere to fill your car

Content is kingThat’s what they sayMaybe that was trueIn a different day

Today attentionThat trumps allAnd to be successfulHumanity might fall

In a world of opinionOnly one way to stand outTo stand upon a sidewalkAnd scream and fucking shout

That’s the state of mediaClickbait everywhereWhat happened to integrityThese companies don’t care

As long as people readAs long as people watchEven conspiracy theoristsCan sell a sparkly Swatch

So remember when you’re readingWhen you’re living lifeThe advertising powersAre trying to sell strife

Manipulate your mindAddict you to your phonesAnything at allJust to fill their homes

So should you quit social?That’s not the point at allJust remember when you’re usingThey want you to fall

Into the abyss of addictionTo become more extremeTo spend your time and moneyTo forget about your dream

When you see the MatrixThen you understandWhat they’re doing to youAnd how to beat the man

You can live your lifeOn the terms you setIf you don’t let othersTell you when to fret

If you can controlYou information flowYou’ll find the world is betterRegardless where you go

So mute your notificationsAnd take a little timeTo think about these wordsAnd why things always rhyme

Now go and have some funDance in the sunLive your life to the fullestYou are your number one.

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Written by mattward | Investor, Startup Advisor, Entrepreneur, Author, Futurist disruptors.fm thesyndicate.vc
Published by HackerNoon on 2018/09/13