Excellent. Definitely a cause for introspection. On the one hand, I've almost entirely quit social media other than Substack, but even so I'm reading this, other articles, and Notes on my phone. I guess the key is being deliberate about it and always prioritizing real world experience. Thanks!
I'm in the exact same situation. When balanced with nature and the real world, which you do extremely well and I strive to do as well, I think the phone can be nothing but good. All about the balance. Thank you Erik.
Substitute food, or gambling, or dope, or booze for "devices" and the essay will still read well. The challenge is this: each person afflicted (and we all are) must alone face these perils designed and aggressively maintained by an army of marketing professionals. We are under-dogs before the fight even starts. This takes a level of self-discipline beyond most and, because the damage is insidious and not dramatic like other addictions, is therefore not urgent. There have been days when I have felt physically ill from screen time. Will there be a reckoning?
It is a bombardment of the brain. Your point that the true intensity of negative impact is not immediately seen is spot on. This dulls us and our response, and to a certain extent, leads many people to think it's not that big of a deal. But it is life we're talking about. Perhaps the reckoning is starting by removing devices from schools, but I don't know if we can truly overcome this problem without articulating "why" it is so devastatingly wrong for a child to stare at a screen instead of each other or the natural world. That will be a fight indeed.
The problems are many and are beyond social isolation and distraction. They can't read maps, can't memorize numbers, cannot remember appointments, birthdays and stories and cannot read or write cursive. GPS blindness abounds even among us GenXers. There has never been a greater experiment on the human mind.
I’m sure a past generation said the same thing about the television; for that matter, even the radio. Just one more device to pull us away from real connection and the present moment. Humans are resilient. Always have been. A reckoning I think there will be not. Instead, an adaptation. A hidden mutation in the deep recesses of our brains. Only time will reveal what this will do to our youth. The only thing we can do is remind them of the joys of humanity, and being connected with our world by living IN it. As parents, we have a tough job indeed.
True Cory - only time will tell. However I would add that phones are a world apart from TV, as they emit wireless radiation in close promiximity, whereas the field emitted by TV had a longer wavelength - radiofrequency is short, intense, and a 2b carcinogen.
I forgot to give credit where credit is due… Sam did an excellent job showing us what connection with our world and our own humanity is like in his piece. Bravo, bro. This was a solid post
This became especially personal to me recently. My husband was diagnosed with cancer last year and after an initial hopeful period, he declined rapidly in three months. I would think to myself often during those months that, even though he and I both did not want to admit it, he would be gone very soon; too soon. It pushed me forward every day and kept me focused. Memento mori did not prevent every wasted moment, but having death actually on your heels has an ability to affect each decision.
Sam, great piece. Loved it. I see this every day and feel sad for this generation of kids. I have two myself, and the battle to keep their attention in the real-world vice a fake, digital one is challenging. The makers of social media are lying to us. They are not 'creating a platform' but creating an opium den for the young. It's who they target. They know they can't get you and I fully, so they go after less developed minds. Evil. You did a great job showing this. Your writing was always good, but it's getting better with each post. Solid work, through and through.
In my job I saw many, many hundreds of people die and thousands more have extremely close brushes with death - I never heard a single one of them say they wished they had spent more time gaming or browsing social media.
However I did hear people say they wished they had spent more time with their loved ones or travelling to new places.
It made me realise just how lucky I was to be alive for a brief time in this world and led to my deep held belief in the values of Stoicism for facing the trials and tribulations we must face in order to be human.
Excellent. Definitely a cause for introspection. On the one hand, I've almost entirely quit social media other than Substack, but even so I'm reading this, other articles, and Notes on my phone. I guess the key is being deliberate about it and always prioritizing real world experience. Thanks!
I'm in the exact same situation. When balanced with nature and the real world, which you do extremely well and I strive to do as well, I think the phone can be nothing but good. All about the balance. Thank you Erik.
Substitute food, or gambling, or dope, or booze for "devices" and the essay will still read well. The challenge is this: each person afflicted (and we all are) must alone face these perils designed and aggressively maintained by an army of marketing professionals. We are under-dogs before the fight even starts. This takes a level of self-discipline beyond most and, because the damage is insidious and not dramatic like other addictions, is therefore not urgent. There have been days when I have felt physically ill from screen time. Will there be a reckoning?
It is a bombardment of the brain. Your point that the true intensity of negative impact is not immediately seen is spot on. This dulls us and our response, and to a certain extent, leads many people to think it's not that big of a deal. But it is life we're talking about. Perhaps the reckoning is starting by removing devices from schools, but I don't know if we can truly overcome this problem without articulating "why" it is so devastatingly wrong for a child to stare at a screen instead of each other or the natural world. That will be a fight indeed.
The problems are many and are beyond social isolation and distraction. They can't read maps, can't memorize numbers, cannot remember appointments, birthdays and stories and cannot read or write cursive. GPS blindness abounds even among us GenXers. There has never been a greater experiment on the human mind.
I’m sure a past generation said the same thing about the television; for that matter, even the radio. Just one more device to pull us away from real connection and the present moment. Humans are resilient. Always have been. A reckoning I think there will be not. Instead, an adaptation. A hidden mutation in the deep recesses of our brains. Only time will reveal what this will do to our youth. The only thing we can do is remind them of the joys of humanity, and being connected with our world by living IN it. As parents, we have a tough job indeed.
True Cory - only time will tell. However I would add that phones are a world apart from TV, as they emit wireless radiation in close promiximity, whereas the field emitted by TV had a longer wavelength - radiofrequency is short, intense, and a 2b carcinogen.
I forgot to give credit where credit is due… Sam did an excellent job showing us what connection with our world and our own humanity is like in his piece. Bravo, bro. This was a solid post
This became especially personal to me recently. My husband was diagnosed with cancer last year and after an initial hopeful period, he declined rapidly in three months. I would think to myself often during those months that, even though he and I both did not want to admit it, he would be gone very soon; too soon. It pushed me forward every day and kept me focused. Memento mori did not prevent every wasted moment, but having death actually on your heels has an ability to affect each decision.
I am so sorry. I am grateful that, at a minimum, you were able to derive some solace when it was most difficult to bear.
Sam, great piece. Loved it. I see this every day and feel sad for this generation of kids. I have two myself, and the battle to keep their attention in the real-world vice a fake, digital one is challenging. The makers of social media are lying to us. They are not 'creating a platform' but creating an opium den for the young. It's who they target. They know they can't get you and I fully, so they go after less developed minds. Evil. You did a great job showing this. Your writing was always good, but it's getting better with each post. Solid work, through and through.
"Opium den for the young." That is on point. Really appreciate it, Cory.
I love how you're bringing in the stoic mindset to such a frivolous endeavor - doomscrolling.
The drops of water on a fig are more brilliant than artificial blue light ever be!
That is the truth!
Brother!
Thank you for this gift.
You are most welcome. Thank you for reading.
Great article and very well written
Really appreciate it, Marc. Thank you for reading.
Excellent article sir !
In my job I saw many, many hundreds of people die and thousands more have extremely close brushes with death - I never heard a single one of them say they wished they had spent more time gaming or browsing social media.
However I did hear people say they wished they had spent more time with their loved ones or travelling to new places.
It made me realise just how lucky I was to be alive for a brief time in this world and led to my deep held belief in the values of Stoicism for facing the trials and tribulations we must face in order to be human.
Your former profession in particular lends itself to a pretty incredible, boots on the ground perspective. Thank you for sharing. We are lucky indeed.
Great post. I explored similar with How to Train Your Algorithm.
https://www.polymathicbeing.com/p/how-to-train-your-algorithm
I am stoked you found value in it Darrin.