Summary Of Amusing Ourselves To Death

In Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death, Postman writes about the rise of television in the mainstream media and how it would affect society in different ways, and his main argument was that television would affect societal communication. His argument still stands valid today, even though the book was written over thirty years ago. With the rise of social media and apps such as Instagram and X, Postman’s argument still stands the test of time as social media has had the same effects that television once did when it was society’s dominant medium. So, even though Postman’s book was written in 1985, the ideas are still relevant in today’s age because of social media’s effects, such as a change in political campaigns, a rise in anxiety, and

So, mass posting about certain events can cause anxiety due to overwhelm. Loutje Hoekstra, a 29-year-old artist, reported to The Washington Post that their feed is “‘pretty much a war zone’” due to the tragic posts about the Israel and Palestine conflict (Rosenzweig-Ziff). Additionally, Hoekstra has felt the need to not post her art during the conflict because it feels wrong to her when people are posting horrifying images of the war. With posts about the war downing everyday posts, social media can seem like a war zone, causing a rise in anxiety. So, the fast paced communication of social media has had an effect on mental health, especially during conflict and when people are posting about their own issues. Social media has also been a valuable form of communication regarding the entertainment industry. With the ability to go viral, many production teams promote their films and television shows to garner attention and be able to make a profit. Barbie is a great example of this, as the movie was promoted primarily on social media, causing it to become a cultural phenomenon and the highest grossing film of 2023. Universal also had success with their horror movie and viral sensation