How did Twitter affect Sam Harris?

Twitter had a profound impact on Sam Harris, particularly in terms of how it occupied his mental and emotional bandwidth and influenced his sense of identity. Harris described feeling like he had a part of himself that existed on Twitter, which he ended up "amputating" when he left the platform. He likened the experience to removing a phantom limb, suggesting it was both unreal and yet a pervasive presence in his life. Deleting his Twitter account, which served as a pseudo-journal for over a decade, meant severing a significant connection point with the public and his own historical perspective, which he did not archive or save. This decision led him to a less noisy and cluttered life, which he views positively 1.

Moreover, Harris noted that Twitter often exposed him to what he perceived as the worst aspects of humanity, affecting his view of people and impacting his ability to engage positively with those around him. This negative experience contributed to his decision to leave Twitter and seek a quieter space where not everything invites an immediate response, ultimately leading to a more considered and peaceful existence 2.