Michael Calore: Yeah.
Lauren Goode: Yeah.
Michael Calore: And you, Zoe?
Zoe Schiffer: My total screen time. I actually looked it up before and I think it’s like three hours and 40 minutes on my phone, which I honestly think is impressive. You’re raising your eyebrows, Mike, why are you doing that? In reality, only a couple of minutes of that are on social media apps. I feel like I deserve a Medal of Honor.
Michael Calore: You really deserve the 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 that stopwatch every day.
Lauren Goode: This is not a joke. He follows this. I’ve sent Mike memes before and then gotten no response, and because we work across from each other in the newsroom, sometimes I literally go to his desk and ask him, “Did I just see what I sent you?”
Zoe Schiffer: They are the thirsty.
Lauren Goode: Don’t know. He’s like, “No, I’m out of time,” and I’m like, “Are you living up to that? Look at the meme.”
Michael Calore: Have you ever thought about quitting apps?
Lauren Goode: All the time.
Michael Calore: All the time?
Lauren Goode: I fantasize about it right now. What would it be like to not constantly feel like you have to convey something?
Michael Calore: Yes. And you, Zoë?
Zoe Schiffer: Honestly, I don’t use them much, but I’ve been on paternity leave for a few months now, so the answer is that I think about getting off the phone all the time and, honestly, I’m surprised how much time I can dedicate. on my phone even without using social media apps. What about you?
Michael Calore: I often feel the urge to throw the phone across the room and never look at it again, but I always end up picking it up and turning it back on.
Lauren Goode: Usually that’s after I send him some terrible meme.
Michael Calore: Yes, or I think of a joke.
Lauren Goode: Good.
Michael Calore: I have to do skeet now. Yes. Well, today we are talking about precisely that: is it time to leave social networks? And because there are so many types of social apps and platforms, we’ll focus on the platforms we use the most, text-based social sites, because we’re people of words. This is WIRED mysterious valleya show about the people, power and influence of Silicon Valley. I’m Michael Calore, director of consumer culture and technology here at WIRED.