Unplug!
Suggestions
- Set a longer Passcode– The longer it takes to get into the phone, the greater your chances of say “aw, forget it!”
- Set Airplane Mode- This turns off wireless connections, WiFi, Bluetooth, Data, meaning you can listen to downloaded music or podcasts but won’t be able to use an apps.*
- Turn off Push Notifications- The buzzing or the popping up of banners or the red circles let you know that something just happened. It can usually wait.
- Turn On Do Not Disturb- This directs calls to voicemail, holds your texts on the server, and suppresses any push notifications you have turned on.*
- Read more about the difference between devices: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/androids-do-not-disturb-is-way-better-than-ios/
- Put a hairband around your phone- This will prevent you from interacting with your phone’s apps but still allow you to answer calls.
- See Rule #6 https://nosidebar.com/phone-addiction
* Note: This will also prevent you from receiving calls/texts.
Health Considerations
We talked about how too much phone use has been linked to memory issues. It could be a result of either “I don’t need to remember that I can just Google it!” or following the myth of mulitasking, doing more than one thing at once gets you in the habit of not deep reading or critical thinking. But don’t take our, entirely unqualified, words for it. Read more:
- Oprah (yes that one): https://www.oprah.com/health_wellness/why-your-smartphone-is-killing-your-memory
- National Institute of Health: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29324924/
- University of North Carolina Medical Center: https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/the-effects-of-smartphone-usage-on-the-brain/
There’s also a very real issue called Social Media Envy, that makes you feel bad that all your friends are living perfect lives…even though they’re most certainly not. Read more here: https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-stop-social-media-envy/
Other Stuff We Said
Infinite scroll is that neat trick where the page loads more content as you get to the end without you having to tap next or something. Asa Raskin deeply regrets it: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-m-so-sorry-says-inventor-of-endless-online-scrolling-9lrv59mdk
Lisa’s entrepreneurial dreams are dashed, seat belt cellphone holders are a thing: https://www.amazon.com/Convenient-Technology-Backpack-Adjustable-Smartphones/dp/B0745W9332
Alexa can, indeed, respond to you without a wake word. Amazon touts this as a more natural conversational exchange. Privacy experts tout this as a bad idea: https://www.engadget.com/2019-05-23-amazon-alexa-recording-before-wake-word-patent.html
Finally, you can Facetime with more than 1 person, 32 persons in fact: https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/ready-to-video-chat-how-to-group-facetime
Food for Thought
The typical cell phone use touches their phone 2617 times a day.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/dscout-research-people-touch-cell-phones-2617-times-a-day-2016-7
It’s worth noting that Doctor Jacob Groshek from BU calls this stat into question: https://joctec.org/articles/1-1/111.pdf
