The Project: Waleed Aly launches scathing attack against social media and vows to never use it
Waleed Aly launches devastating attack on social media, vowing never to use it: ‘It’s one of the worst things we invented’
Waleed Aly has made it clear why he refuses to use social media.
The veteran TV presenter, 44, appeared on The Matty Johns Podcast on Sunday and said he has “major problems” with social media and will never use it.
‘It’s a disaster. I’ve never done it and I’m not interested in it. I think it’s one of the worst things people have invented in the last 50 years,” he told Johns.
Aly said he believed there were no “meaningful” conversations on platforms like Instagram and Twitter because users posted in a “performative” way.
“Meaningful speech is where minds and ideas meet and argue. But social media converts all that kind of interaction into performance.
Waleed Aly (pictured) has made it clear why he refuses to use social media
“And when you’re performing, you’re in a very different mode than when you’re discussing,” he added.
He said he will always prefer face-to-face discussions over Twitter debates, where the desire to get likes and retweets makes people “put on a show.”
Aly is the oldest living cast member of The Project after a slew of high-profile departures last year.
The veteran TV presenter, 44, appeared on Matty Johns’ podcast (left) on Sunday and said he has ‘major problems’ with social media and will never use it
And in March, the journalist admitted that it was an adjustment of sorts to no longer work with his close friends on the controversial current affairs show.
“I feel their absence,” said the 44-year-old Stellar magazinethe podcast Something to talk about.
‘It’s a disaster. I’ve never done it and I’m not interested in it. And I think it’s one of the worst things people have invented in the last 50 years,” he told Johns
“But when you have a new group of people to work with, you hardly have time for that, especially when you’re right in the middle of it,” he added.
Waleed says he was really good friends with his former co-stars, especially Peter Helliar and Carrie Bickmore.
The TV star said he shares “pretty deep relationships” with his co-stars, but that “busyness can get in the way of them” catching up.
Aly is the oldest living cast member of The Project after a slew of high-profile departures last year. Pictured with former co-hosts Carrie Bickmore, Peter Helliar and Lisa Wilkinson