For my screen usage I would guess that most of my time is divided between YouTube and chrome. I watch YouTube pretty often while I’m eating or just doing small tasks so that’s probably going to be the largest screen time usage. If it counts music apps then possibly my music will be up there as well as I usually listen to a podcast or playlist when I’m at the gym. I’m not sure if that will count though because its usually playing music but the phone is off in my pocket so it’s not technically “screen time.”
1 – Make a list of what the Internet/phones train that’s beneficial; Then make a list of what behaviors are displaced, disrupted or harmed.What are social consequences of this shift?
Beneficial:
- Digital literacy, identifying what is fake/believeable
- How to quickly find information/what is needed from a dense environment.
- Tech Savviness, how to use modern technology
- Self-education, trains us to seek knowledge and provides an easy way to do that.
Disruptive:
- Short term gratification/projects, longer term activities are discouraged. More than just attention span but that is a good example.
- Trains idea that things that don’t happen immediately aren’t worth while.
- tiktok, reels, etc ultimate short term content that get to the point quickly and grab attention.
- Tasks are generally so easy that hard tasks or long term ones seem more insurmountable.
Consequences: We become better at using technology and processing information, but we are also trained to expect fast results from ourselves and everything in general. Long term commitments are de-valued and difficult.
2- List at least 3 APP/Internet examples of bad friction & how it generates harm.Then list at least 3 examples of good friction? Are they defaults? Or user settings?
NVC Feelings & Needs Feelings & Needs Infographic
Because _______ is being harmed or overloaded, I will redesign _______ so that _______ becomes easier and _______ becomes slower.
Good:
- Screen Time Notifications, suggests a break increases awareness
- Notification silencing options- protects attention
Bad:
- Mini-screen playing/the ability to watch multiple things at once on social media. Overloads attention
- Deceptive subscription canceling of most services
- Ads with fake closing buttons.
3- Pick one distressing feeling that emerges when you try a digital fast (eg boredom, anxiety, loneliness, etc)Then explore what changes might happen (positive and negative) if you focused some attention and energy on that feeling to meet your need in other ways? What is the point of the feeling?
I think the primary feeling that would emerge for me in a digital fast would be boredom. Attempting to meet that need in a different would absolutely be good for me. I would be forced to be more productive and creative by this feeling. It would be difficult and I struggle with the feeling a lot which is why I think I so often go for the easy route of my phone or another digital experience, but there are a million slightly more difficult activities that would alleviate that boredom and make me much more productive overall. I would feel better about myself as well if I used these times for something other than my phone as well. My instinct is that if I were on a digital fast my boredom would drive me to read a lot more books. This isn’t necessarily much more productive then merely going on my phone but it would at least be more enriching and mentally stimulating. I doubt that I would feel much anxiety or loneliness being away from being away from my phone because that’s not where I go to relieve those feelings generally anyways.
