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Comment by lazyjones | Hacker News Reader

It feels like only months (OK, it's been a few years) since we were being told that not having a social media presence may be considered suspicious.

http://business.time.com/2012/08/08/does-not-having-a-facebo...

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There is a use for having a facebook account but never using it, and that is identity theft protection.

You don't want someone creating an account for you and hitting your friends up for money. It would be akin to someone taking over your phone number and asking family members/ friends to send a check.

Cal Newport is the author of Deep Work. So at least what he is saying is consistent.

People have different opinions. There's no homogenous voice of authority that tells people what to do and what not to do.

These aren't "opinion" articles. Their findings are reasoned and presented like facts. If the NYT wrote "Quit eating chocolate, your health may depend on it", would you perceive it as an opinion, or advice based on facts/research?

As 8ytecoder said, Cal Newport has never been wishy-washy on this topic (please correct me if I'm wrong). He's also been pretty clear in interviews that deep work is incredibly beneficial for some professions and less so for others. I know there are careers out there where having a social media presence is important (PR, marketing, etc) and others where it's not necessary and would be a hindrance to getting deep work done.

mm but Newspapers compete with Social Media not the same thing.

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