Today we are going to explore the book “Digital minimalism” by Cal Newport. And this will be helpful to break the cell phone addiction. I hope this blog will be a game-changer in your life. This blog is for the people who waste their precious time on social media and spending the time unproductively.
For many of us, starting from the morning and at the end of the night, we couldn’t remember what we have done. Because we are simply scrolling through Instagram and updating status on WhatsApp.
We could feel that our phone is taking control over and not leaving us to achieve our goals in life and made us “ DIGITAL ZOMBIES”.
Our brain takes some time to rationalize the Good and bad things. For many of us, we are unknowingly getting addicted to our smartphone. Hence we should clearly prioritise the day before what we are going to do the next day.
There many good benefits that make things easier for people like promoting their business on social media, selling online etc…But it depends upon the user whether it is positive or negative to them. A big question is whether we use technology or technology to use us?
Have you ever noticed that you will be going to Instagram to reply to your friend’s message, several hours later you’ll wonder “Oh god! for what I came here and now what I am doing right now” Everyone has gone through these kinds of situation?
Many brilliant minds are working in silicon valley investing billions of dollars to understand us and make us spend our time in an app, website or device.
They’ll analyse human behaviours to make people addicted to that app or website. Addictive to your phone is not only your weakness but it is also the strength of the other person who makes you addicted to your device.
The author has clearly explained how silicon valley have developed various networks to create an app by understanding human behaviours and psychology.
I don’t suggest you say NO to technology instead we are going to see many practical ways to tackle this phone addiction and use our time wisely.
It seems funny, right? But this small notification with a beep sound creates more impact in our brain. According to our understanding, the apps are created by the app developers, right? But the truth is that these kinds of addictive social media are designed with the help of psychologists, human behavioural experts etc…
Whenever you have received a notification and your phone beeps, You’ll just open your smartphone to see it but it is one of the trap to gain your attention to a particular app or website.
Generally, Human beings used to think about their social ties when they are free, based on this instinct Social networks were developed.
Basically, people have a thirst for being approved in society. But social media companies use this behaviour to use their app for a long time. Hence if someone tags you on social media, it will feel good to you.
Initially, the notification colour on Facebook is in the combination of blue and white, But very few people used their app. After noticing this, Facebook had changed their notification colour to red. This is because the red colour represents “alertness” according to human instinct.
Whether the notification is important or unimportant, we’ll just click the notification. In my case I don’t like to see that red colour notification in order to remove it I will be clicking the notification. I hope this will be experienced by many of us in our lifetime. After clicking the notification many addictive contents will be waiting to distract us and use their app.
Social media is unpredictable because we don’t know what is going to happen, whether someone likes your photos or tag you somewhere etc…anything could happen, Hence our brain will be more interested in using social media.
Whenever someone likes your photo on social media Dopamine hormone is released in our brain. when the dopamine secretion spikes, it will stimulate cravings in us.
Watching a scary movie for the first time releases dopamine and watching the same movie again is not effective in producing dopamine because we know what is going to happen in the next scene.
In the case of social media, we couldn’t predict anything like who will give you a friend request, comment on you, like your photos, what is going to be trending, who will see our post etc…
Social media use our curiosity to release dopamine in our brain, leading to addiction.
Tobacco companies want our lungs whereas Silicon valley needs our time, mental peace.
When human interaction decreases, our knowledge of understanding other humans also decreases.
Generally in this modern era starting a conversation is easy but we don’t know how to end!. This should be accepted by us.
It should be accepted that whenever we are ending a conversation we send 4 smiley emojis and the other person also sends another 4 smiley emojis. Again don’t try to escape from this point, admit this mistake. This, not the correct way to end the conversation right. We should be confident to express our views.
But the social media gives the easiest options such as emojis to choose from. Hence we’ll keep on practising this types of conversation. But during the face to face interactions, it will be very difficult to hold or carry a conversation.
This modern generation is the only generation in history to enjoy the beautiful experience of solitude, Hence we don’t know about ourselves. If we are in solitude(without a phone), we have a chance to explore ourselves. But our interests, character, personality everything is collected by data, apps etc…which is created by the social media companies.
“ Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius “
PRACTICAL WAYS TO REDUCE SMARTPHONE USAGE:
If you tell “No I am not addicted to phone”, you’re wrong. You are unknowingly addicted to your phone.
Here are the important steps to take control of your smartphone.
“You are the average of the 5 people who spend the most time with”
Technology is intrinsically neither good nor bad. The key is using it to support your goals and dreams, rather than letting it use you.
This book will show the way and I hope this blog will create an immense impact in your Life.
what triggers you to use your smartphone?, Let others now by reading your comments below. Meet you in the next blog until spread positivity and stay connected❣️
Originally published at https://sanjaytheexplorer.blogspot.com.
