How the Internet RUINED Hobbies

About this video

• Video Title: How the Internet RUINED Hobbies
• Channel: Levi Hildebrand
• Speakers: Levi Hildebrand
• Duration: 00:21:34

Overview

This video explores how the internet has negatively impacted traditional hobbies, shifting them towards monetization, performance, and consumption rather than pure enjoyment. The speaker discusses how social pressure, convenience, and the desire for online validation have altered people's engagement with their interests, sometimes replacing active participation with passive content consumption. While acknowledging some positive aspects of online communities, the video argues that the internet fundamentally warps our relationship with hobbies.

Key takeaways

• Monetization of Hobbies: The internet encourages turning hobbies into "side hustles" or monetizable content, devaluing activities done purely for personal enjoyment.
• The Creator vs. Consumer Divide: Online platforms create distinct roles where people either create content for an audience or consume content about hobbies they don't actively practice, often driven by social pressure and trends (e.g., BookTok).
• Convenience over Experience: Digital services offer convenience but can lead to passive consumption (e.g., curated playlists over listening to vinyl with friends) and diminish the shared, in-person experience of hobbies.
• Social Pressure and Validation: There's an increasing expectation to share and monetize hobbies online, leading to a focus on performance and external validation rather than intrinsic satisfaction.
• Deterioration of In-Person Interaction: While online communities can connect like-minded individuals, they can also replace genuine in-person interactions and social rituals that were once central to hobbies.