Social Media = CB Radio for the Digital Age 🚀
(Yes, I went there)—you’re welcome, #EnthusiasticTechie
Alright, buckle up. Imagine this: You’re cruising down the highway — old school CB radio squawking in the background. Some guy’s talking about traffic, another’s complaining about brother-in-law Bob’s lousy shepherd’s-pie recipe, and somewhere someone’s debating who makes the best BBQ on Route 66. You listen. You might chime in or you might not. If you don’t relate? You change the channel. End of story.
Now swap in social media. Same vibe. Same “open mic” energy. Entire digital town squares. So yeah… “Social media is like CB radio”? I say: pretty dang accurate.
🎙️ Why the CB-Radio Analogy Actually Works
1. Open mic, many voices
Just like CB radio, where multiple folks broadcast their thoughts simultaneously, social-media timelines are crowded. Every post, tweet, image, or skeet on Bluesky is someone’s opinion, reflection, rant, or snapshot of their situation. Few expect everyone to resonate—and they definitely don’t expect everyone to listen.
Research supports this: social media has become a huge part of how folks encounter information and opinions. Georgetown University+1
2. If it doesn’t resonate, change the channel
On CB radio, if one channel doesn’t fit your interests, you switch. On social media? Same deal. If someone’s post doesn’t speak to you, maybe it simply wasn’t meant for your ear. You scroll past. Maybe DM if you’re curious. Otherwise: move on.
3. Posts ≠ universal truth
That post? Yep… someone’s voice. Someone’s lens. Someone’s mood. It might be grounded in facts, or it might be a raw reaction. Science says: reshaped posts in social media amplify content but don’t necessarily change beliefs. R Street Institute Meaning: What you see in your feed is often echo-chamber stuff, for better or worse.
Echo chambers + filter bubbles? Yep, social media plays host. Wikipedia+1
4. If you want clarity—DM.
If someone posts and you're scratching your head like “What’s this even about?”, two strong options:
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Leave it be—doesn’t need to click.
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Ask them—via DM or comment. Because context matters: maybe it’s an inside joke, maybe it’s situation-specific, maybe it’s just a thought experiment.
There’s no rule that says everyone has to get it. And honestly? That’s okay.
🔍 What Science Supports Here
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One study found social-media reshaped content does not detectably affect beliefs or opinions despite high reach. Science+1
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Scholars note how people frequently interpret identical content differently based on their vantage point. Wikipedia
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Research also shows that norms on social-media platforms can become more extreme than offline norms. Meaning: the “channel” you’re tuned into might amplify more niche views. ScienceDirect
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A Pew Research report shows 53% of U.S. adults get news at least sometimes from social media. Pew Research Center
So yes, the analogy holds—not just as a cute metaphor but as a real framework for how we consume, perceive, and act on social-media posts.
🧠 My Take, #EnthusiasticTechie
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If you post something? Awesome. That’s your lane.
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If someone doesn’t understand it? That’s fine. It doesn’t mean you failed—it just means you weren’t necessarily speaking to them.
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When you scroll and your reaction is “Huh?” → maybe ask for clarity instead of assuming bad intent. DM or comment: “Hey friend, curious what you meant here?”
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Use your feed like you’d use the CB: tune the channels you vibe with, mute the static that doesn’t matter.
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And remember: your posts are your thoughts. Other folks’ posts are theirs. Context, background, mood, personal history—all play a role.
So next time you see a post that seems off, confusing, or just not for you—swap the channel, skip the judgment, and keep working on building your own clear digital broadcast of #ChasingTheTechInside.
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Stay Curious, Stay Connected, #ChasingTheTechinside
