Social media addiction - how it changes your brain | Luke Burgis | Big Think

Mimetic Desire in the Age of Social Media

This video explores the concept of mimetic desire and its amplified impact in the era of social media. Mimetic desire, defined as adopting another person's desires as our own, often unconsciously, is now being driven by an unprecedented number of "mimetic models" accessible through digital platforms.

The Social Media Landscape and Mimetic Models

Social media has fundamentally altered our social and existential reality by placing us all on a "head of a pin," enabling interaction and competition for engagement with individuals across the globe, regardless of their social or economic standing. This creates a "mimetic machine in our pocket" where countless individuals exist as potential models for our desires. The sheer volume of these models, often increasing from a handful to millions, presents a significant challenge to our mental and emotional well-being, a consequence society has yet to fully grasp.

Types of Mimetic Models

The video distinguishes between two primary types of mimetic models:

• External Mediators of Desire: These models exist outside of our immediate social sphere, making direct contact or rivalry impossible. They are in a sense "outside of our world of desire and competition." These can be real individuals or fictional characters.
• Internal Mediators of Desire: These are individuals within our direct social circles, such as family, colleagues, or even friends. We interact with them, and the possibility of conflict or rivalry exists. It is easier to compare ourselves to these individuals, and we are more likely to experience envy towards someone from our past who has achieved success (e.g., a great job, a beautiful spouse) than towards the world's wealthiest person.

The Dangers of External Mediators and Unchecked Desire

The primary danger associated with external mediators, particularly those who model highly successful lifestyles, is the endless nature of the pursuit. Desire is characterized as a form of transcendence, a drive to go "beyond the boundaries" and become someone we currently are not. While positive role models who embody virtues are beneficial, it is crucial to understand the limitations of any model. The dynamic between ourselves and our models, especially when they are external, needs careful consideration.

The Importance of Boundaries and Wise Model Selection

When dealing with internal mediators of desire, establishing boundaries is essential. The underlying driver of all desire is a perceived lack, which can lead to a dangerous, vicious cycle as there will always be another model to discover. Therefore, choosing our models wisely is paramount. We must discern whether a model inflames a desire for genuine fulfillment or merely provides a fleeting "dopamine hit" or allows for fantasies of unattainable lives that might even lead to misery if realized.

Social Media as a Mimetic Landscape

Platforms like Instagram serve as potent examples of this mimetic landscape, constantly modeling lifestyles, vacation destinations, fashion, speech patterns, engagement styles, and even political preferences. With billions of such models presented 24 hours a day, understanding this "mimetic landscape of social media" is crucial to avoid becoming "totally controlled by it."

Key Concepts

• Mimetic Desire: Adopting another person's desires as one's own, often unconsciously.
• Mimetic Models: Individuals or entities that serve as examples for our desires.
• External Mediators of Desire: Models outside of our immediate social sphere, with whom rivalry is impossible.
• Internal Mediators of Desire: Models within our immediate social sphere, with whom rivalry is possible.
• Transcendence: The drive to go beyond current limitations and become something more.
• Dopamine Hit: A temporary feeling of pleasure or reward.
• Mimetic Landscape: The environment created by the abundance of mimetic models, particularly on social media.