Indeed, whole generations growing up on what are effectively soundbites rather than anything in depth is not great.
Discussion
But there is a general unease and acknowledgment of it.
I can imagine a resurgence in library usage, books generally, especially on paper.
I wonder if you could have a library with an optional social aspect. You go to a library, take out a book, want to discuss it. You can a qr code to see discussion from other local library users (or region-wide, or countrywide). I personally probably wouldn't use this but I think if social media continues to exist it will revolve around things like books, longreads and the local.
Yeah I probably wouldn’t use it either but I do like the idea. Those who read a variety of books and conduct deep research around a topic will always have an edge and even more so if they take the time to debate with others equally well read. Very hard to convey this knowledge in short form online.
My local library used to have people meeting up to play chess too, doesn't seem to happen much anymore. Also tied in with libraries turning into less library-ish spaces, lack of funding, poor stock of books (sometimes they'll have the latest book-slop but don't have some basic classics, literature, philosophy etc).
But yeah imagine a social media that you have to physically clock into the library once in a while to use. Perhaps with chess online lol, but even better in-person, meetings, book clubs and what not. Something like this would be amazing.
I know this happens already, but I mean if this was on a bigger scale.
Yep would be awesome. And with a coffee too. It’s seems to be looked down upon on here but when I studied for my degree and masters the highlight was always spending time in the uni libraries. Aberystwyth’s national one was utterly amazing.
Unfortunately most libraries are very unlibrary-ish now. There is no real understanding that study spaces need to be quiet, that they're not just a place to charge your phone, play music off your phone, have a shouty speakerphone conversation on your phone etc lol.
Maybe that's another idea. A place like libraries but for loud people who just want to sit and use their phone and shout about nothing.
That's why we're adding communities to #Alexandria. Then you can have book clubs.