New Rule: Social Media is the New Nicotine

| Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)

May 12, 2017 - (Transcript and Vocabulary )

And finally, the tycoons of social media have to stop pretending that that they are friendly nerd gods building a better
world and admit they are just tobacco farmers in T shirts selling an addictive product to children. Because let’s face it, a
recent 60 minutes segment exposed what is called brain hacking, how everything Silicon valley develops is purposefully
designed to make us feel compelled to check-in constantly.

“They want you to use it in particular ways and for long periods of time because that’s how they make their money.
Every time I check my phone I am playing the slot machine to see “What did I get? This is one way to highjack people’s
minds and create a habit, to form a habit.

That’s right. Apple, Facebook, Google, they are essentially drug dealers. And I thought, “Where have I heard that
before? Oh, yeah, on 60 Minutes.”

“We are in the nicotine delivery business and that’s what cigarettes are for, most certainly. It’s a delivery system.” Yup!
It was never about smooth tobacco flavor it was about the nicotine and the other drugs that cigarette makers put in to
make it addictive.

The moral rot in this country began when corporate America decided it wasn’t enough to just successfully sell your
product, people needed to be addicted to it.

Kiebler’s cookies are not really made by elves in trees. They’re engineered in labs like all processed food with precise
combinations of salt, sugar, and fat that are specifically designed to not satisfy. The reason you cannot just eat one
pretzel is the salt. It’s like the nicotine in the cigarette. It’s the drug and the pretzel is the delivery system. That’s how
twisted pretzels are!

Food companies are not in the satisfying hunger business. They’re in the “finish the whole bag business” They’re in the
“we own you business.” You are a junkie slave. You can’t resist this shit, just put it in the cart and shut up.

You heard the guy in the 60 Minutes piece, every time you check your phone you are pulling that slot machine handle
because you might get a reward: a text, a like, a pic from Anthony Weiner. We all know the feeling, you post a picture on
social media and when the likes pop up it floods your brain with gratifying dopamine. Facebook purposely holds back
the likes sometimes so you will keep checking. “How come my friends didn’t love the picture of my soup? What’s wrong
with me? Oh wait, wait ‘till they see the picture of my water bottle.”

It’s come to this? You don’t exist until you get a smiley face? And then that’s not enough. You need a thumbs up. Or
better yet a giant thumbs up. A giant black thumbs up. This is why the average person interacts with their phone over
2600 times a day. It wants all your attention all the time. It’s not a service. It’s Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. “I’m not
going to be ignored.” (Video clip of Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction).

A third of Americans check the phone during meals. Nineteen percent have checked it in church, mostly Grinder.
Pedestrian deaths are way up because people in the crosswalk looking down are getting run down by drivers looking
down. The whole goddamn country is constantly looking down. There is something getting crushed down there and it
ain’t candy. Phillip Morris just wanted your lungs. The app store wants your soul.
Reading Comprehension

After reading the article, circle the correct answer. T = T, F = False, NM = Not Mentioned.

1. Social networking leaders are not different than tobacco growers. T F NM

2. Brain hacking makes us think more about our telephones. T F NM
3. Social media is in the nicotine delivery business. T F NM
4. US companies prefer it if consumers are dependent on their products. T F NM
5. Food is manufactured to leave consumers wanting more. T F NM
6. Facebook controls when you get your friend’s reactions to posts. T F NM
7. Self-worth isn’t dependent on what others think of our posts. T F NM
8. Checking your phone is like risking money in Las Vegas. T F NM
9. Social media is destroying the family nucleus. T F NM
10. It’s dangerous to look down while you’re walking the streets. T F NM

Bill Maher’s, Social Media is the New Nicotine, Vocabulary

Term or word DEFINITION Term or word DEFINITION

Tycoon Pulling the handle
Nerd gods Anthony Weiner
Addictive When the likes pop up
Checking likes is the Gratifying dopamine
new smoking
Purposely Purposefully holds pack
Compelled It’s come to this?
Playing the slot Smiley face
machine
Hijack Thumbs up
Delivery device Fatal Attraction
Smooth Pretzel
Deliberately Twisted
Elves Delivery system
Kiebler cookies “finish the whole bag
business”
Engineered Brain hacking
Below write other vocabulary you didn’t know and write the definition
Social Media is the New Nicotine, Real Time with Bill Maher – Listening Comprehension

1. What is brain hacking?

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2. How do food companies get you to eat more of their products?
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3. Why does Facebook hold back likes?
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4. Why are pedestrian deaths up?
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5. Give your opinion about the video.
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6. Which statements made by Bill Maher do you agree and disagree with?
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Essay. Question # 1: Are social media companies responsible for creating addiction to their products and services?
Question # 2: Does use of electronic media and gadgets cause isolation or loneliness? Write 200 words.

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