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147

Losing friends to the endless fantasy of AI/social media slop. Under 30s, are you dealing with the same and if so what worked for you to help socialize again? (lemmy.world)

submitted 23 hours ago by Fit_Series_573@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

36 comments fedilink hide all child comments

This post is for seeking some advice on what's the best route to try to help some friends get some of their offline lives back.

This year, a large percent of my friend group from my hometown have stopped interacting much with anyone outside of immediate family such as parents and work. Very noticeable for those that are under 30 (I'm 30) compared to those a few years older than me. For 3 of them that were pretty close, they still send memes and Instagram reels all day almost daily but never respond to any messages nor send any anymore. The only way to get them to do anything is to show up semi unannounced with tickets to go somewhere or with food to get them out of the endless scroll, and even then 2 of them will still scroll no matter what's going on around them, even while driving.

Seeing the reels that get shared since the summer, nearly all of them are AI or extreme (not political, moreso like extreme overeating, extreme overpriced buying/unboxing videos or people fighting past what mma/ufc would allow type content). This seems to have led a few to being scared of the outside while a few others consider outside to be too boring now. When we do hang out I notice my algorithm is completely different than theirs with every reel scroll. We were all very tech focused coming our of school but I'm 1 of 2 that didn't make it into a long term career, a couple of them have been on the AI hype train for a few years now.

Does this seem to be an ongoing trend for you? I know some people here have made mention over the time I've been on Lemmy but it's gotten so apparent in my life these last 2 holidays trying to make plans and soon New Years of the change and the the first time in more than a decade we're all within an hour of each other but majority of them are just socially MIA to do anything outside of scrolling on the couch laughing at nonexistent people and animals in reels. What's worked for you to help combat this within your friends without giving up on them? The best thing I've been able to find has been the bar style arcades and laser tag that's helped make that similar enjoyment while out of the house.

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[–] Fit_Series_573@lemmy.world 22 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

Thanks for the advice. I'm working on the new friends for sure, I just hate seeing what this is doing to friends of close to 20 years. They enjoy the hangouts everytime but as another person was saying in their comment, they're pretty much in an addiction, which I do have to view it as. Two of those friends have kids now, oldest being 5 and it rubs off on them with the iPads so part of why it's still worth attempting to help in my eyes, they arent bad, just I guess dopamine gullible. I know I can only do so much on my end

[–] N0t_5ure@lemmy.world 19 points 21 hours ago

I get where you're coming from. I have family members lost to immersion in far-right propaganda that I now have almost no relationship with, and there is nothing I can do. It sucks.

[–] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 21 hours ago

If they matter so much, make the effort. But that mentality is a two way street. Be the change you want to see. Invite them out or go their homes if they have kids... But you need to initiate it in the beginning if you want to see it happen later from them.

People are comfortable in their ruts. You have to take the wheel and alter the course yourself if you want change.