What broad, indefensible generalisations! “They refuse to use anything that isn’t ‘free’”?? What on earth are you talking about? App stores are full of applications for sale and subscription, it’s a multi-billion euro business. Do people prefer things that are free all other things being equal? Yes, they probably do. But do they not buy or subscribe to anything? Probably not. I’ve got 20 active subscriptions through Apple’s App Store and (apparently) 441 apps installed on this iPhone (most of them I paid for, because usually the better ones are paid for and I hate ads).

I’m trying to think of a single manner in which social media has been beneficial to society. Back in the day, circa 2007/2008, I was a massive Facebook enthusiast. It allowed me to reconnect with friends I hadn’t heard about since high school. Now? Those few times I actually open it up it’s nothing pages and posts about things I don’t care about. I don’t use Instagram. I don’t use Twitter. I actually have a subscription to the Financial Times and I read that on paper. That’s how I get most of my news: Bloomberg or the Financial Times, and I’m not even in finance, it’s just that there’s a lot less bullshit and rage-bait in press aimed at the business and financial communities. It also discusses potential consequences in terms that most media outlets don’t.

What benefits do you think social media has brought?