Joe Rogan and Shane Gillis Say Put the Phone Down: Why These Comedians Are Done With Social Media

Joe Rogan and Shane Gillis are known for making people laugh, but on a recent episode of the“Protect Our Parks”podcast, the conversation turned serious. The two comedians, joined by Mark Normand and Ari Shaffir, talked about smartphone addiction and the toll social media is taking on young people. Rogan revealed he made the decision three months ago to pull back from his phone, saying he just decided“enough is enough.”He reflected on a pre-iPhone night out in Belfast as an example of freer and more connected times, and he didn’t hold back on his belief that phones have ruined the way people connect.

Gillis echoed that sentiment, admitting he can’t look at platforms like X or Reddit anymore because the negativity“genuinely makes me feel bad.”He also pointed at the camera in everyone’s pocket as a problem for young people, saying cameras have ruined them because they“can’t cut loose.”The pair’s advice for young men is simple: disconnect. Step away from the screen and engage with the world around you before you get stuck in an endless loop of scrolling and comparing.

It’s an interesting conversation for anyone who’s ever looked up from their phone and realized an hour has passed. Whether you agree with everything Rogan and Gillis said or not, the message about being present is hard to argue with. Could you go a full day without reaching for your phone? What would that look like for you?