The carnivore dudes and the overwhelming noise of social media

I can’t tell whether they — the carnivore dudes — appear in my newsfeed because of some “algorithm” or because it’s the latest trend.

It could be an algorithm. I’m not a heavy user of Instagram, but I’m guilty of occasionally scrolling — without much of a purpose— through its reels. Komodo dragons eating animals alive is fascinating. Running enthusiasts sharing their tips — I’ll watch them too, even though I know more than most of them and am a better runner.

Then there is this world of health and nutrition “experts”. They are all fucking “MDs”! Cardiologists, surgeons, or graduates of some medical schools — or so they claim. And I don’t mean to degrade them. Maybe they are graduates of medical schools. Maybe their opinions are informed. It’s tough to tell. I don’t have time to dig into their credentials or verify the evidence they’re quoting in their videos.

The carnivore folks especially have been growing like a weed. This guy:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnxM9LCLHN4/

“Carnivore MD” (Paul Saladino)

The guy is clearly in great shape, and I liked a lot of his stuff initially, though I gravitate toward plant-based nutrition. Well, how much of his physical shape is attributable to his diet — I don’t know. The…