This Feels Bad, Because It Is Bad: When the Internet Is Too Much

This Feels Bad, Because It Is Bad: When the Internet Is Too Much

From The Cave Project by Jenny and Greg Swan

September 12, 2025 · 1h 9m

About this episode

Jenny and Greg Swan discuss the emotional and digital overwhelm caused by recent events and the impact of social media on mental health.

Are we all just… not okay? In this episode, Jenny and Greg Swan unpack the emotional and digital overwhelm of the past few weeks — from political violence and algorithmic trauma to school shootings and the unbearable pressure to post through it all. They dig into the cultural churn, social media's emotional toll, and the growing desire to simply log off. This isn’t a hot take. It’s a human one. Along the way, they talk about: 🌀 When the algorithm trains you , not the other way around 📱 Why muting, unfollowing, or pausing your feed is not failure — it’s survival 🧒 How to talk to your kids about scary things without transferring your own panic 🧠 The mental load of being extremely online right now 🤖 Why “everyone’s yelling” energy is contagious — and how to break the cycle 🛑 What not to post, even when you’re mad 🧍‍♀️ The power of asking real people real questions — instead of subtweeting them ⚠️ Gentle reminder: You don’t have to become the dumpster fire you see online This episode is for anyone feeling off, overwhelmed, or overexposed. The internet is a tool . Not a place you have to live. Take care of your brain. Then come back when you're ready.

People in this episode

Hosts: Jenny Swan, Greg Swan

Topics covered

  • emotional overwhelm
  • digital trauma
  • social media
  • mental health
  • internet culture
  • parenting
  • self-care

Keywords

  • algorithmic trauma
  • political violence
  • school shootings
  • social media pressure
  • mental load
  • logging off
  • self-care

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