The Machine Stops: Should We All Quit Social Media?

Social media is woven into everyday life, yet growing concerns about its effects on mental health, public debate and personal wellbeing have led many to question whether it is worth staying online at all. With governments exploring age restrictions for younger users, and public discussion becoming increasingly polarised, is quitting social media the ethical choice?

In this episode, Rob Simpson, Associate Professor of Philosophy at University College London, joins Emily McTernan to discusses the moral dimensions of stepping away from social media platforms, drawing on his recent work on the ethics of quitting.

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Ethics of Quitting Social Media. In The Oxford Handbook of Digital Ethics (2022) Oxford University Press