Magazines are the solution to your social media addiction
Resurrecting physical media in a digital age.
In the 1990s, Magazines were the primary source of news, trends, and advice. Now, they are considered artefacts, stacked with advertisements, resigned to waiting rooms in the dentist’s office.
We’ve replaced flipping through glossy pages with unconscious social media scrolling. But, how we spend our time- sitting with a coffee, waiting for an appointment- is important.
This article explores how social media has replaced magazines and how the loss of physical media has deeper cultural consequences.
Instagram is a magazine in disguise
How we got here
Print magazines dominated the 20th century. After World War II, magazine popularity grew due to increasing disposable income. They were flagships of social change and communicating status, taste and worldliness.
Fashion magazines like Vogue and Elle influenced the interests of women in society during the 1940s-50’s. Dana Brown, former deputy editor of Vanity Fair, said: “Magazines were the arbiters of taste, translator of culture and style to the culture-and-style-hungry masses.”
With the Internet boom of the 2000s, magazines faced a huge threat. Even Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, expressed concern about how digital platforms might erode the magazine industry’s influence.
Adverts and algorithms
Magazines and social media curate content and influence our lives. The Internet allows social media to do it much faster and cheaper. Instead of depending on authoritative editors or experts, social media puts that power in the hands of ordinary users.
Why flip through limited pages when Instagram offers an endless scroll of aesthetic content 24/7? Innovation promises faster, easier experiences—but does that make them better?
"Print has a languorous feeling to it, and I think that's a good thing," said Shanté Cosme, the editor-in-chief of Mic. It encourages fast-paced minds to slow down and consider fact or opinion as art or education rather than a way to pass the time.
Magazines once thrived on advertising revenue. But, as businesses turned to TV and the internet, print ads became less profitable. CBS News says: “The primary reason that print periodicals are dying is that online publishing does a much better job at communicating that kind of information.” While digital platforms claim cost-effectiveness and precision, they exploit user data, shaping our interests to sell us more.
Magazines, on the other hand, are free from algorithms and advertising cookies. They cater to niche passions and encourage intentional exploration. You can get the same experience if not better my exploring the things you actually like, not just the button.
The importance of physical media
Imagine if social media disappeared tomorrow. What would you have to show for your interests, beyond likes and saved posts?
When I reflect on my teenage years, I realise how little I have to show for the time I spent online. Aside from the few CDs I own, the music and the fashion I follow are untraceable. Social media eroded much of my individuality, bombarding me with external trends other people liked instead of creating my own.
Physical media creates permanence and value. Mina Le, the creator of High Brow substack, highlights that physical media like magazines represents “cultural longevity.” You can revisit a magazine months later and still feel inspired. You’ll remember what you read in a magazine on your commute, but can you recall the Instagram post you liked yesterday?
Take back control
Ofcom reported that 51% of social media users aged 16-24 thought they spent too much time on social media (2023). James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, suggests that in order to quit a bad habit, you must replace it with something as ‘satisfying’ and make it as ‘easy as possible’.
So, here’s my challenge:
Think about the activities, ideas, or interests you wish you had more time for.
Replace just 10 minutes of social media scrolling with reading a magazine. Put the magazine in the same places you find yourself on your phone (car, toilet, bedside table).
Start small: buy one issue of a magazine that intrigues you (local libraries also offer free copies, and Libby has thousands of digital publications for free).
If you are looking for a place to get started, Magculture offers a list of the best publications of 2023.
While social media has its place, magazines have to thrive alongside it. Permanent media is essential for our relationship with the world and for being more intentional with our time.
Leave a comment below are share your experience with the community. Additionally, leave a magazine recommendation to support your favourite indie pub