Is this the year everyone ditches social media?

Michael Calor: yes

Lauren Good: yes

Michael Calor: What about you, Zoe?

Zoe Schiffer: My total screen time. I actually looked it up before and I think it’s about three hours and 40 minutes on my phone, which honestly seems impressive to me. You’re raising your eyebrows, mike, why are you doing that? Only a few minutes of this are actually on social media apps. I feel I deserve a medal of honor.

Michael Calor: You truly deserve a Medal of Honor. I have a timer on my phone that goes off after I’ve been on Instagram for more than 20 minutes. I hit this timer every day.

Lauren Good: This is not a joke. He follows that. I’ve sent memes to Mike before and then I won’t hear back, and since we work in the newsroom across from each other, sometimes I literally walk up to his desk and say, “Did you just see that thing I sent you?”

Zoe Schiffer: This is the thirsty one.

Lauren Good: No, I know. He’ll be like, “No, I’m out of time,” and I’m like, “Are you sticking with it? Check out the meme.”

Michael Calor: Have you ever thought about giving up apps?

Lauren Good: All the time.

Michael Calor: All the time?

Lauren Good: I’m fantasizing about it right now. What would it be like to not constantly feel like you have to broadcast something?

Michael Calor: yes, what about you, Zoe?

Zoe Schiffer: To be honest, I’m not on them that much, but I’ve been on parental leave for a few months, so the answer is that I think about taking my phone off all the time, and I’m honestly amazed at how much time I can spend on my phone even without using apps for social media. how about you

Michael Calor: I often feel like just throwing the phone across the room and never looking at it again, but then I always pick it up and come back.

Lauren Good: This is usually after I send him some terrible meme.

Michael Calor: Yeah, or I’m thinking of a joke.

Lauren Good: true

Michael Calor: I have to wander now. yes Well, that’s exactly what we’re talking about today: Is it time to ditch social media? And since there are so many types of social apps and platforms, we’re going to focus on the platforms we use the most, the text-based social sites, because we’re word people. It’s on WIRED Uncanny Valleya show about the people, power and influence of Silicon Valley. I’m Michael Calor, director of consumer technology and culture here at WIRED.