Quinn Williams, Staff Writer—
When the iPhone was first released in 2007 its image was vastly different from what we think of the device today. Ultimately, the phone was meant to act as an iPod that could make calls, far from the multitasking devices we have today. Now, it’s not uncommon for individuals to complete most of their daily tasks with just their smartphone. While these advancements may seem like simple quality-of-life improvements made possible by a world of technology that is rapidly improving, I urge you to consider the potential harm that these devices may be causing to your life.
In the past couple of years, given the rise of short-form content and the increased role social media plays in young people’s lives, it’s not unlikely to find yourself or the people you know spending upwards of 7-8 hours on their phones. It’s easy to blame oneself for a lack of self-control or have feelings that you simply lead a boring life, but understand the tricks certain companies use to maintain your usership and you’ll realize that you’ve fallen victim to ideologies that have been fabricated to grasp your attention.
Undoubtedly, any individual who’s sat down and tried to give their undivided attention to a task has felt that attention be subsequently unwillfully divided by their phone. The companies that develop the kinds of social media platforms that most of us use rely on having control of your attention to turn a profit. When you consider this relationship, it becomes clear that apps like Instagram or Facebook aren’t really selling you their promised reality of a more connected world, but using psychological tricks to sell your attention to the highest bidder. A drastic philosophy shift is necessary in order to regain control of your attention.
One must consider the true benefit that their phone adds to their life. Most would agree that, while the many intensive tasks a smartphone can perform are nice, the greatest benefit a phone provides is its ability to keep you connected and entertained. Then you must consider if this benefit is something that you need to the extent that a smartphone provides and if this benefit can be sourced through other, more analog, methods.
The world once functioned without the immediacy that smartphones provide. Before the age of constant digital connectivity, people managed their relationships, work, and leisure without the need to be connected 24/7. They relied on face-to-face interactions, handwritten letters, and landline calls. Obviously, some of these methods seem laughably out of date, but it’s not hard to take the essence of these forgotten tactics and apply them to modern technology. Simply leaving your phone at home and only responding to people when you return makes its role much less invasive in your life. Additionally, treating your phone as if it were a landline or even just a flip phone void of distracting apps will force you to source your entertainment and connectedness from far more rewarding methods.
In tracing the evolution of the iPhone from a simple phone that had the capability to surf the internet to the digital anchor of our daily lives, it’s clear how deeply smartphones have penetrated our routines. It’s easy to fabricate reasons as to why you have to bring your phone with you wherever you go or come up with excuses as to why you had to pull it out at a meal. But, ultimately, if you were to challenge yourself to live a more digitally minimalist lifestyle, you’ll realize it’s much less invasive than one may perceive.