Thread by @danctheduck

The poison of a social network is this:
- Humans invest social energy in reciprocal relationships, building future support.
- Time spent reading and liking tricks our brains into thinking we have support.
- But in most cases, when a crises arises, there is nothing there.

There's a cruel math.
- A human struggles to have ~150 meaningful relationships.
- When following someone with >150 connections, you've entered into a relationship blackhole.
- No matter how little you give, you are spending yourself on acts that will never give back. A drain.

In real life, to listen to someone involves signaling to them that you are listening. You can build relationship off such small loops of gaze and attention.

With social media, this channel withers. You may read avidly, but unlike gaze, the act is one way. Energy out, never in.

And in the process, the harsh accounting occurs.
- You like someone's tweet and imagine who they are as a person.
- You make space in your brain for their image.
- In spending this energy, the limited social space in your brain gives up someone. Bond weaken, ever so slightly.