Algorithms, Tribalism, and the Cost of Staying

We seem to be stuck in a purgatory when it comes to the worst of the social media platforms. We know they’re not great, but it’s hard to muster enough motivation to bother to leave. In today’s episode, motivated by the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Cal puts on his technology critic hat and offers a step-by-step technical explanation for why these platforms are strictly and incessantly making your life worse and why the only reasonable response is to quit them. He then answers listener questions on the topic and reacts to some recent news about the US Congress getting involved.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Is it Finally Time to Leave Social Media? [0:40]

• How do I find everything I should be blocking on my kid’s phone? [38:59]
• Is it okay that I make YouTube Videos? [43:39]
• Shouldn’t we focus on using social media better? [49:13]

CASE STUDY: A musician and social media [58:00]

CAL REACTS: US House panel asks internet CEOs to testify after Charlie Kirk assassination [1:10:42]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
reuters.com/world/us/us-house-panel-asks-online-forum-ceos-testify-after-charlie-kirk-assassination-2025-09-17/
youtube.com/watch?v=gjVm0K_ETX8

Thanks to our Sponsors:

calderalab.com/deep
miro.com
grammarly.com/podcast
1password.com/deep

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

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