Influencers, Algorithms, and The Importance of Touching Grass with Jason Pargin

from Islands of Coherence · host Brett Kane

Joining us on the 21st Century Vitalism podcast is former executive editor of Cracked.com and New York Times Bestselling author, Jason Pargin. In this conversation we explore the themes of his newest book, 'I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom'. Namely how the internet is changing the way we connect with other people, perceive reality, and process incoming information. You can order 'I'm Starting To Worry About This Black Box of Doom' wherever you get your books. You can also follow Jason on Tik Tok and Instagram to see his entertaining daily reels about culture, entertainment, and society over at @jasonkpargin. Show Topics - What Happens When A Culture Promotes The Need to Be Special? - Needing To Be An Influencer To Maintain a Career - The Psychological Implications of Algorithms - Parasocial Relationships and the Need for Real Community - Importance of Discomfort and Awkwardness - The Illusory Nature of Division - Choosing Our Media Diet - Tech Companies Taking Advantage of Negativity Bias - Technology and Developing Brains - How The Internet Exaggerates Reality - The Necessity of Pushing Boundaries

What this episode covers

Joining us on the 21st Century Vitalism podcast is former executive editor of Cracked.com and New York Times Bestselling author, Jason Pargin. In this conversation we explore the themes of his newest book, 'I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom'. Namely how the internet is changing the way we connect with other people, perceive reality, and process incoming information. You can order 'I'm Starting To Worry About This Black Box of Doom' wherever you get your books. You can also follow Jason on Tik Tok and Instagram to see his entertaining daily reels about culture, entertainment, and society over at @jasonkpargin.Show Topics- What Happens When A Culture Promotes The Need to Be Special? - Needing To Be An Influencer To Maintain a Career - The Psychological Implications of Algorithms - Parasocial Relationships and the Need for Real Community - Importance of Discomfort and Awkwardness - The Illusory Nature of Division - Choosing Our Media Diet - Tech Companies Taking Advantage of Negativity Bias - Technology and Developing Brains - How The Internet Exaggerates Reality - The Necessity of Pushing Boundaries

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Influencers, Algorithms, and The Importance of Touching Grass with Jason Pargin

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This episode is 1 hour and 27 minutes long.

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This episode was published on May 7, 2025.

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