The Social Media Age

20 years on from the founding of Facebook, what role do these platforms play in our lives? 

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February 4 marked 20 years since Mark Zuckerburg launched the site that was initially known as The Facebook from his Harvard dorm room, so this seems like a good time to take stock of what social media now looks like, and what our lives look like as a result. 

Whether you’re an avid user of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok, and more, or a social media sceptic, join Simon Smart, Justine Toh, and Natasha Moore for a frank chat about the better and worse of these platforms in 2024. With cameos from Andy Crouch, CPX brand manager (and socials pro) Clare Potts, and recent social media quitter Jess Forsyth, the discussion ranges from whether group chats count as social media to whether the internet is “made of demons” - as well as the advantages (and disciplines) of being an iceberg vs an ocean liner.  

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EXPLORE: 

New York Times article How Group Chats Rule the World  

Philippa Moore’s article about quitting social media  

Paul Kingsnorth’s Substack essays The Universal and The Neon God 

Alan Jacobs’ New Atlantis piece 

Andy Crouch’s Spiritual Practices for Public Leadership