Roger Daltrey, the 82-year-old frontman of The Who, recently criticized social media, warning that it is 'destroying civilization' and mocking younger generations and influencers for their reliance on online validation.
During a performance at the Yaamava' Resort & Casino in Los Angeles, Daltrey questioned the depth of online connections. "When you think about it, we've got this new world of social media which seems to be destroying civilization," he told the audience. "A platform for everybody to scream at each other, but nobody's f***ing listening."
He continued to challenge the audience's perception of online popularity, asking, "How many friends have you really got when you look at Oh, I got all these likes. That's just your ego. Let it go. Let it go. It's not worth it."
Daltrey, who is nearing 83, reflected on the transient nature of online fame and friendships. "How many friends have you really got? We did a song once. How many friends have you really got? You can count them on one hand. Never a true word was written," he stated, referencing The Who's 1965 hit 'My Generation.' The crowd responded with approval before he performed the song.
This is not the first time Daltrey has expressed concern over contemporary culture. In 2021, he commented on 'woke culture,' stating, "If you're going to micromanage every emotion you ever have and you live in fear of upsetting someone or being objectionable... We all have the right to be objectionable to anyone we meet. If you're offended, fine. Get over it. Get a life and move on."
Daltrey, who co-founded The Who in London in 1964 with Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon, now lives a quiet life in Sussex with his wife Heather. The band experienced significant losses with the deaths of drummer Keith Moon in 1978 and bassist John Entwistle in 2002.