Digital Addiction - awareness and reflection
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
Digital Addiction - awareness and reflection
I work in technology.
I value technology.
I see merit in many of the technological advances in the past couple decades and the benefits they've brought us.
I am an addict in recovery.
I value sobriety.
I work at it comprehensively.
Technology can be a threat to it... not so much as a path back to alcohol or drugs, but as a replacement.
Today I read an article about numerous prominent tech leaders leaving the field, disconnecting, banning apps and social media from their lives. They tell of the purposeful engineering that has gone into making our phones as addictive as possible. Years of research and ongoing development relentlessly aimed at getting us HOOKED.
In honest reflection, I can see that social media, apps, my 'smartphone' in general with its functionality and interwoven tapestry of reward systems - has taken its place as an addictive threat in my life.
When I'm honest with myself I can see myself:
wasting precious moments of the 'now' to check my phone or engage in pointless meandering.
thinking about social media or how some real event in front of me might be posted to others.
sharing, liking, scrolling, sharing, liking scrolling away precious hours of my week with no real return apart from a short-term reward sensation.
neglecting other things I need to be doing because of a device
being overly engaged in technology to the point that I'm distracted from my life and loved ones.
I reflect on the research and I see how spending far too much time with tech may be negatively impacting my emotional wellness, my focus, my attention and my simple living of LIFE in the moment.
As an addict in recovery, I think this is really important to be aware of. I think it's really important not to just blow it off as "not as bad" as drinking or doing drugs. To be honest and aware and conscious of how it is gradually taking over pieces of me in much the same way that alcohol did.
The irony of my sharing this on an internet forum isn't lost on me. Moreso than alcohol or drugs, I find that technology addiction is ever-more-difficult to avoid. To even EXIST in modern society seems to necessitate technology. Every day, it becomes seemingly more unavoidable.
And yet - the damage it can do to our lives and our happiness is on par with the booze, with the drugs, with the negative consequences we brought ourselves with those addictions.
I don't know the answer and I know I'm not the first one to bring this up.... but today I deleted my facebook app, my instagram app, my shapchat app, and I logged out of facebook resolved to make it through a day without them.
I'm not sure I'm ready to totally go without facebook - there is so much connection interwoven there now after nearly a decade..... it feels so isolating to think about leaving that all behind.
Maybe I can just moderate.....
wait.....
I value technology.
I see merit in many of the technological advances in the past couple decades and the benefits they've brought us.
I am an addict in recovery.
I value sobriety.
I work at it comprehensively.
Technology can be a threat to it... not so much as a path back to alcohol or drugs, but as a replacement.
Today I read an article about numerous prominent tech leaders leaving the field, disconnecting, banning apps and social media from their lives. They tell of the purposeful engineering that has gone into making our phones as addictive as possible. Years of research and ongoing development relentlessly aimed at getting us HOOKED.
In honest reflection, I can see that social media, apps, my 'smartphone' in general with its functionality and interwoven tapestry of reward systems - has taken its place as an addictive threat in my life.
When I'm honest with myself I can see myself:
wasting precious moments of the 'now' to check my phone or engage in pointless meandering.
thinking about social media or how some real event in front of me might be posted to others.
sharing, liking, scrolling, sharing, liking scrolling away precious hours of my week with no real return apart from a short-term reward sensation.
neglecting other things I need to be doing because of a device
being overly engaged in technology to the point that I'm distracted from my life and loved ones.
I reflect on the research and I see how spending far too much time with tech may be negatively impacting my emotional wellness, my focus, my attention and my simple living of LIFE in the moment.
As an addict in recovery, I think this is really important to be aware of. I think it's really important not to just blow it off as "not as bad" as drinking or doing drugs. To be honest and aware and conscious of how it is gradually taking over pieces of me in much the same way that alcohol did.
The irony of my sharing this on an internet forum isn't lost on me. Moreso than alcohol or drugs, I find that technology addiction is ever-more-difficult to avoid. To even EXIST in modern society seems to necessitate technology. Every day, it becomes seemingly more unavoidable.
And yet - the damage it can do to our lives and our happiness is on par with the booze, with the drugs, with the negative consequences we brought ourselves with those addictions.
I don't know the answer and I know I'm not the first one to bring this up.... but today I deleted my facebook app, my instagram app, my shapchat app, and I logged out of facebook resolved to make it through a day without them.
I'm not sure I'm ready to totally go without facebook - there is so much connection interwoven there now after nearly a decade..... it feels so isolating to think about leaving that all behind.
Maybe I can just moderate.....
wait.....
Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Wareham, Mass
Posts: 7,067
I play a match 3 game—not Candy Crush—on my tablet.
Countless hours spent.
It has definitely cut into reading time.
But, then, unless the book is large print, reading is a bit problematical these days.
So that could be part of it.
I could, and do, read on my ipad.
I can adjust the print.
So, yes, upsides and downsides to technology.
Countless hours spent.
It has definitely cut into reading time.
But, then, unless the book is large print, reading is a bit problematical these days.
So that could be part of it.
I could, and do, read on my ipad.
I can adjust the print.
So, yes, upsides and downsides to technology.
Giving up is NOT an option.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 7,808
I got an icky feeling in the pit of my stomach reading your post, FreeOwl. I need to take a look at my habits. This almost feels like when I was starting to realize I'm an alcoholic.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Minnesota, USA
Posts: 1,468
I totally agree with you. I removed facebook from my life, deactivated my account 2 weeks ago. It was the best thing I could do for myself and my family (besides not drinking). Being more present, picking up more books and so on.
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: far away
Posts: 392
Lol
For some people it can be problematic but nowhere does it compare to booze for me.
It's not got me in jail or crashed cars or fights etc. but for some it may give problems but for me it's great. It's great to be distracted for the drudgery of life.
These forums and the sort give me a lift sometimes.
I cancelled Facebook tho too I find it can be over bearing people knowing your everyday business or you knowing theirs even when you don't want to. Not got snap chat or Instagram either, I don't like all that ****
For some people it can be problematic but nowhere does it compare to booze for me.
It's not got me in jail or crashed cars or fights etc. but for some it may give problems but for me it's great. It's great to be distracted for the drudgery of life.
These forums and the sort give me a lift sometimes.
I cancelled Facebook tho too I find it can be over bearing people knowing your everyday business or you knowing theirs even when you don't want to. Not got snap chat or Instagram either, I don't like all that ****
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
Originally Posted by miko67 
Lol
For some people it can be problematic but nowhere does it compare to booze for me.
It's not got me in jail or crashed cars or fights etc. but for some it may give problems but for me it's great. It's great to be distracted for the drudgery of life.
These forums and the sort give me a lift sometimes.
I cancelled Facebook tho too I find it can be over bearing people knowing your everyday business or you knowing theirs even when you don't want to. Not got snap chat or Instagram either, I don't like all that ****
For some people it can be problematic but nowhere does it compare to booze for me.
It's not got me in jail or crashed cars or fights etc. but for some it may give problems but for me it's great. It's great to be distracted for the drudgery of life.
These forums and the sort give me a lift sometimes.
I cancelled Facebook tho too I find it can be over bearing people knowing your everyday business or you knowing theirs even when you don't want to. Not got snap chat or Instagram either, I don't like all that ****
That said - I've spent a LOT of time in forums over the years too, doing the same kind of gettting lost in time-wasting and non-reality that I can fall into with facebook.
True - none of it has landed me in jail.... but there are definitely costs that take away from my experience of life and my limited, cherished SHORT time on this planet.
I am looking at this today and asking honest questions about boundaries and limits...... Oh no.... there it is again.... "maybe if I just MODERATE"....
Giving up is NOT an option.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 7,808
I do try to moderate. But before I know it, a couple of hours go by. Hours that could have been used in more constructive ways. This has given me a lot to think about, for sure.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
Originally Posted by MLD51
I do try to moderate. But before I know it, a couple of hours go by. Hours that could have been used in more constructive ways. This has given me a lot to think about, for sure.
my daughter said to me the other day "daddy, why can't I have a phone.... you're ALWAYS on yours".
Gotta get honest and clear.... addictions aren't just substances....
The costs aren't always as obvious as jail.....
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
this video above isn't just about digital addiction, but it's a really powerful video about addiction, about life, about digital addiction, about leadership and about how addiction can impair our overall abundance ..... some good things to learn.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,518
Wow I couldn't have said it better myself .
I use my laptop for email, education , kindle books , shopping . wait for it ........AVforum .com
I never had any social media ,too much stress lies and gossip there for my liking .
I use my smartphone for notes , weather ,calc , pictures, email , all basic stuff including phone calls .
I enjoy the hardware side of technology ,fixing or at least trying to fix things .
When the family have a sit down meal 2- 3 times a week I ask them to ditch their phones for the duration of the meal .
my youngest grandson will be 3 next week and guess what we were thinking of getting him ? a kindle for kids ,you know the ones with the rubber bumper in pink or blue .
My 3 older grandsons 8 10 13 , are never off their tablets the electronic babysitters .
A holistic practitioner I have been interested in ( her work that is ) tells us to have an electronic curfew at home an hour before bed and don't take your phone to bed ......hmmm I cant see that happening , i need the torch to go for a pee .
Great post .
I use my laptop for email, education , kindle books , shopping . wait for it ........AVforum .com
I never had any social media ,too much stress lies and gossip there for my liking .
I use my smartphone for notes , weather ,calc , pictures, email , all basic stuff including phone calls .
I enjoy the hardware side of technology ,fixing or at least trying to fix things .
When the family have a sit down meal 2- 3 times a week I ask them to ditch their phones for the duration of the meal .
my youngest grandson will be 3 next week and guess what we were thinking of getting him ? a kindle for kids ,you know the ones with the rubber bumper in pink or blue .
My 3 older grandsons 8 10 13 , are never off their tablets the electronic babysitters .
A holistic practitioner I have been interested in ( her work that is ) tells us to have an electronic curfew at home an hour before bed and don't take your phone to bed ......hmmm I cant see that happening , i need the torch to go for a pee .
Great post .
Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: United States
Posts: 421
The last month or so I've not felt like going on social media much. Not like I used to. I'm not sure what to make of that. Maybe I just need a break. But I kind of feel like, WHO CARES what 350 of my not-so-close friends are doing. It just feels like noise right now.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 279
So much to think about FreeOwl! I feel the same way. I am close to getting rid of Facebook. I don’t go on much anymore, it is so hard to cut the cord though because it is good for staying in touch with far away friends and family.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
Posts: 535
Originally Posted by FreeOwl
I work in technology.
I value technology.
I see merit in many of the technological advances in the past couple decades and the benefits they've brought us.
I am an addict in recovery.
I value sobriety.
I work at it comprehensively.
Technology can be a threat to it... not so much as a path back to alcohol or drugs, but as a replacement.
Today I read an article about numerous prominent tech leaders leaving the field, disconnecting, banning apps and social media from their lives. They tell of the purposeful engineering that has gone into making our phones as addictive as possible. Years of research and ongoing development relentlessly aimed at getting us HOOKED.
In honest reflection, I can see that social media, apps, my 'smartphone' in general with its functionality and interwoven tapestry of reward systems - has taken its place as an addictive threat in my life.
When I'm honest with myself I can see myself:
wasting precious moments of the 'now' to check my phone or engage in pointless meandering.
thinking about social media or how some real event in front of me might be posted to others.
sharing, liking, scrolling, sharing, liking scrolling away precious hours of my week with no real return apart from a short-term reward sensation.
neglecting other things I need to be doing because of a device
being overly engaged in technology to the point that I'm distracted from my life and loved ones.
I reflect on the research and I see how spending far too much time with tech may be negatively impacting my emotional wellness, my focus, my attention and my simple living of LIFE in the moment.
As an addict in recovery, I think this is really important to be aware of. I think it's really important not to just blow it off as "not as bad" as drinking or doing drugs. To be honest and aware and conscious of how it is gradually taking over pieces of me in much the same way that alcohol did.
The irony of my sharing this on an internet forum isn't lost on me. Moreso than alcohol or drugs, I find that technology addiction is ever-more-difficult to avoid. To even EXIST in modern society seems to necessitate technology. Every day, it becomes seemingly more unavoidable.
And yet - the damage it can do to our lives and our happiness is on par with the booze, with the drugs, with the negative consequences we brought ourselves with those addictions.
I don't know the answer and I know I'm not the first one to bring this up.... but today I deleted my facebook app, my instagram app, my shapchat app, and I logged out of facebook resolved to make it through a day without them.
I'm not sure I'm ready to totally go without facebook - there is so much connection interwoven there now after nearly a decade..... it feels so isolating to think about leaving that all behind.
Maybe I can just moderate.....
wait.....
I value technology.
I see merit in many of the technological advances in the past couple decades and the benefits they've brought us.
I am an addict in recovery.
I value sobriety.
I work at it comprehensively.
Technology can be a threat to it... not so much as a path back to alcohol or drugs, but as a replacement.
Today I read an article about numerous prominent tech leaders leaving the field, disconnecting, banning apps and social media from their lives. They tell of the purposeful engineering that has gone into making our phones as addictive as possible. Years of research and ongoing development relentlessly aimed at getting us HOOKED.
In honest reflection, I can see that social media, apps, my 'smartphone' in general with its functionality and interwoven tapestry of reward systems - has taken its place as an addictive threat in my life.
When I'm honest with myself I can see myself:
wasting precious moments of the 'now' to check my phone or engage in pointless meandering.
thinking about social media or how some real event in front of me might be posted to others.
sharing, liking, scrolling, sharing, liking scrolling away precious hours of my week with no real return apart from a short-term reward sensation.
neglecting other things I need to be doing because of a device
being overly engaged in technology to the point that I'm distracted from my life and loved ones.
I reflect on the research and I see how spending far too much time with tech may be negatively impacting my emotional wellness, my focus, my attention and my simple living of LIFE in the moment.
As an addict in recovery, I think this is really important to be aware of. I think it's really important not to just blow it off as "not as bad" as drinking or doing drugs. To be honest and aware and conscious of how it is gradually taking over pieces of me in much the same way that alcohol did.
The irony of my sharing this on an internet forum isn't lost on me. Moreso than alcohol or drugs, I find that technology addiction is ever-more-difficult to avoid. To even EXIST in modern society seems to necessitate technology. Every day, it becomes seemingly more unavoidable.
And yet - the damage it can do to our lives and our happiness is on par with the booze, with the drugs, with the negative consequences we brought ourselves with those addictions.
I don't know the answer and I know I'm not the first one to bring this up.... but today I deleted my facebook app, my instagram app, my shapchat app, and I logged out of facebook resolved to make it through a day without them.
I'm not sure I'm ready to totally go without facebook - there is so much connection interwoven there now after nearly a decade..... it feels so isolating to think about leaving that all behind.
Maybe I can just moderate.....
wait.....
Find something you value that is healthy the will empower you in a good way. I know this is easier said than done but think about what might work for you.
No Dogma Please
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SoCal
Posts: 2,562
Yes, tech addiction is a thing.
This morning I got up at 7am and didn't get to the gym until noon. I'm like what was I doing all this time?
Internetting.
Unfortunately some addictions need to be dealt with by moderating. If you have food addictions and eating disorders based on them, you can't not eat. You can not drink or drug and survive (in fact, you're more likely to survive than if you continue to use), but you do need to eat. You can't abstain from food. Same with sex/love addiction. You can spend the rest of your life not having any human contact, but in that case, the cure sounds worse than the disease.
It is very difficult to exist in the modern world without some kind of digital interaction. Moderation is the only strategy that will work.
So how do we do that?
Heck if I know.
This morning I got up at 7am and didn't get to the gym until noon. I'm like what was I doing all this time?
Internetting.
Unfortunately some addictions need to be dealt with by moderating. If you have food addictions and eating disorders based on them, you can't not eat. You can not drink or drug and survive (in fact, you're more likely to survive than if you continue to use), but you do need to eat. You can't abstain from food. Same with sex/love addiction. You can spend the rest of your life not having any human contact, but in that case, the cure sounds worse than the disease.
It is very difficult to exist in the modern world without some kind of digital interaction. Moderation is the only strategy that will work.
So how do we do that?
Heck if I know.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,518
Re-visiting my thoughts on internetting . Lots of views and opinions here but for some people who may be housebound the internet can be not only important but necessary . While I don,t believe in the social media part I find the internet a great resource for learning , same goes for smartphones . I wonder however how us older members managed 30 40 50 years ago . I am straining to think of what to say next but it goes something like consumer technology is here to stay and will advance beyond recognition , Sony Ericsson and the nokia 3210 , the telephone box on the corner , telegraph ( wire) , horse messengers , ravens or was that just in game of thrones . Do you see internetting anonymous in a few years ( IA) .
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