Is it finally time to burn social media to the ground?
”To save civil society, we need to end our decade-long experiment with global social platforms. We tried them. They became dark and awful. It’s time to move on.”
This line from Cal Newport’s recent reflections on Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the dangers of social platforms got me thinking. His call to abandon these platforms entirely stems from a real concern: that online discourse, when amplified and distorted, can spill into real-world consequences. I agree with Cal’s intent to highlight the corrosive role of these tools. But I also think his conclusion—that the only option is to quit them outright—feels too absolute.
In his message, Cal frames quitting as one “option to consider,” yet in the next breath he describes social platforms as a “decade-long experiment” that “became dark and awful.”
I see it differently.
The platforms themselves are not inherently awful—they are amplifiers. They extend our capacity for connection, for better and for worse. Yes, they can embolden harmful behavior. But they’ve also allowed people to raise funds for loved ones through GoFundMe shares, to find belonging in niche communities, and to pursue hobbies and friendships across distance. I live on an island, but my interests in coffee and fountain pens have flourished because of the connections made possible by these same networks.
The issue isn’t the existence of the platforms—it’s the absence of curation. Without boundaries, they overwhelm. Yet with discernment, they can enrich.
That’s where the Spheres of Attention come in. In The Productivity Diet, I introduce four levels of engagement—Noticing, Awareness, Focus, and Concentration—that help you decide not just what to engage with, but how deeply. Instead of being consumed by endless updates, we can:
- Notice selectively: Not every headline or post deserves our time.
- Recognize patterns: Many stories are designed for engagement, not understanding.
- Choose where to focus: Prioritize depth over breadth.
- Protect concentration: Save your best energy for what truly matters.
Civil society won’t be saved by abandoning these tools altogether. It will be saved by people who engage responsibly—curating their inputs instead of cremating them. Even Cal’s own Digital Minimalism made the case for using technology with intention. That spirit remains vital today. But rather than declaring the experiment failed, I believe we need to reclaim it—by choosing carefully, engaging deliberately, and remembering that connection can still be a force for good.
Enough is enough, yes. But enough doesn’t mean ending the experiment. It means learning to run it wisely.
