Yes, I am in a similar boat but I have been making an effort to break the chains of habit and not use my phone when I am doing other things. I always teach my kids to use technology as a tool not a toy but sometimes I don't follow my own advice.
All the time. And I try HARD to work against this. My digital detox (most Sundays) is really useful.
I'm thinking about making a browser extension. Key would be that before opening ANY new tab, you'd have to solve a tiny math problem - something simple, but not too simple - maybe adding two 2 digit numbers together. When you do that, you can open the tab.
I'd have to change the way I browse, though. When I browse, I right click and open a bunch of tabs at a time, then go through them. I'd need - to rethink this.
I do the weekly digital detox, but also need to figure out daily digital detox - i.e. each day have at least an hour or two where I can't access ANY internet.
I'm thinking about making a browser extension. Key would be that before opening ANY new tab, you'd have to solve a tiny math problem - something simple, but not too simple - maybe adding two 2 digit numbers together. When you do that, you can open the tab.
Sounds interesting!
I think the goal of the math problem is to add friction to make the user reconsider their choice. (Sometimes it doesn’t even feel like we made a conscious choice.) Maybe a loading screen with suggestions what else you could do or how long you’ve already been browsing the web is enough?
Edit: Actually, I think solving a problem to continue will make it feel more like a choice so maybe that’s better.
Okay, after a lot of "vibe-coding" with AI, I think I have the browser extension. I'm going to test it some more, and if everything goes okay, maybe I'll put it on github.
It really is a useful little thing - instead of me instantly popping up a new tab at the slightest little hint of boredom, I pause for a sec, and decide whether I really want/need to. If I decide that I DO want to, I just open the tab, am presented with the little math problem, execute a bit of mental arithmetic to solve the problem, and VOILA the new tab comes up.
So far so good. I'm really impressed with this vibe-coding thing. I'm using ppq.ai., with grok 3. It's taken quite a few prompts - there's bugs, I tell the ai model what the bugs are, I get some updates, load them, and repeat.
But right now, I'm at a state where it seems to be working fine. I'll probably need to change it to make the math problem more difficult. Or maybe allow an option in that regard. Also it needs an icon...
Yes, right now it's so automatic (cntrl + T to open a tab, type url in browser, hit enter) that if I'm just a tiny bit bored or frustrated, I will instantly pop open another tab, and do whatever (check weather forecast, stacker.news).
It's like scratching a little itch, or biting a fingernail or something. It's mindless. And very destructive of my ability to focus.
I've noticed a big improvement since I started reading fiction again. I recall that it took a little while, though, for my brain to relax and let me get immersed.
I spend more than 12 hours in front of the computer, I've practically forgotten what it's like to watch television, if I'm out I'm on my cell phone, these habits drive me crazy.
Absolutely. Our minds are being fractured in real time. We’ve outsourced boredom, introspection, and focus to dopamine loops engineered by trillion-dollar companies.
The scary part? Most people don’t even realize it’s happening. They think it’s normal to watch a show while scrolling, while checking notifications, while answering texts — like running five tabs in their brain at once.
Attention is the new currency. If they can steal it, they can shape your thoughts, your emotions, your decisions… even your identity.
Opting out isn’t easy — but it’s necessary. Hard money. Hard mind. Same fight.
my basic flip-phone has my attention span in check; my wife's smartphone screen is grayscale or amber (due to blue light & flicker blocker), so that it's unappealing to look at; it's also using the 1-Tap-Zap app, so in order to get online, it takes a few clicks; plus if i want to get online, i have to ask to use her smartphone or hotspot, and she doesn't always let me...
despite these adjustments, days still go by quickly;
I try hard to monotask these days and focus on one thing at a time. It's difficult, but can be done. Put the phone in another room or turn it off for an hour.
It is influenced a lot if I am alone, or with interesting people, or with boring people. If there is something, usually people, that enriches me or if I am in a calm place, I do not need to use any digital things.
But it feels like it is more and more difficult to talk to/meet such people or being at such calm places. Anyway, communication with humans wins against the digital crap, at least for me.
It may be affected a little bit, but I don't think it's anything too crazy. I still read a lot of books and have hobbies though, so that probably helps. According to my phone I've had 58 minutes of screen time since I unplugged it this morning, although that's not counting the podcast and music I was listening to on the work commute. I spent maybe a half hour to an hour editing some pictures on the computer this evening, but that's about it.
There are definitely days where I spend a good bit of time using electronics, whether it's gaming, watching a show or movie, or something else, but I usually end up doing other things as well. The biggest thing I will not do is get on any of the big social media platforms. I've seen how they suck people's lives away, and I don't want to have that happen. Even SN itself can take up a good bit of time if you let it, which is why I'm not on here as much as I was.
Yes, I am in a similar boat but I have been making an effort to break the chains of habit and not use my phone when I am doing other things. I always teach my kids to use technology as a tool not a toy but sometimes I don't follow my own advice.
I finally stopped using it before bed.
That's hard for me... Always tempted to play a few rounds of chess before nighty-nighty
Same. Certainly around other people or in convo, then phone stays in my bag
Holy smokes, yes.
All the time. And I try HARD to work against this. My digital detox (most Sundays) is really useful.
I'm thinking about making a browser extension. Key would be that before opening ANY new tab, you'd have to solve a tiny math problem - something simple, but not too simple - maybe adding two 2 digit numbers together. When you do that, you can open the tab.
I'd have to change the way I browse, though. When I browse, I right click and open a bunch of tabs at a time, then go through them. I'd need - to rethink this.
I do the weekly digital detox, but also need to figure out daily digital detox - i.e. each day have at least an hour or two where I can't access ANY internet.
Sounds interesting!
I think the goal of the math problem is to add friction to make the user reconsider their choice. (Sometimes it doesn’t even feel like we made a conscious choice.) Maybe a loading screen with suggestions what else you could do or how long you’ve already been browsing the web is enough?
Edit: Actually, I think solving a problem to continue will make it feel more like a choice so maybe that’s better.
Okay, after a lot of "vibe-coding" with AI, I think I have the browser extension. I'm going to test it some more, and if everything goes okay, maybe I'll put it on github.
It really is a useful little thing - instead of me instantly popping up a new tab at the slightest little hint of boredom, I pause for a sec, and decide whether I really want/need to.
If I decide that I DO want to, I just open the tab, am presented with the little math problem, execute a bit of mental arithmetic to solve the problem, and VOILA the new tab comes up.
So far so good. I'm really impressed with this vibe-coding thing. I'm using ppq.ai., with grok 3. It's taken quite a few prompts - there's bugs, I tell the ai model what the bugs are, I get some updates, load them, and repeat.
But right now, I'm at a state where it seems to be working fine. I'll probably need to change it to make the math problem more difficult. Or maybe allow an option in that regard. Also it needs an icon...
Yes, right now it's so automatic (cntrl + T to open a tab, type url in browser, hit enter) that if I'm just a tiny bit bored or frustrated, I will instantly pop open another tab, and do whatever (check weather forecast, stacker.news).
It's like scratching a little itch, or biting a fingernail or something. It's mindless. And very destructive of my ability to focus.
Yes, but I think it's a pretty shallow effect, meaning I think attention spans can be regained pretty quickly by reading a book or something.
I've noticed a big improvement since I started reading fiction again. I recall that it took a little while, though, for my brain to relax and let me get immersed.
Yea, it's easy to kind of reset your brain. Im considering doing a dopamine detox.
Not quite. Certainly not if the show or movie is top quality.
I do feel the urge to check my phone every so often - bathroom breaks etc
Im always looking at it lol.
You have a double hookup: television and telephone.
I totally agree, we have reached a point where we depend on the phone completely during our day.
This freakin' thing...
Whoa, I haven’t seen the orange one in a long time
I spend more than 12 hours in front of the computer, I've practically forgotten what it's like to watch television, if I'm out I'm on my cell phone, these habits drive me crazy.
I can't read this post, too long. ChatGPT, please summarize this post in 3 dark words...
"Fading digital grip."
Yes, I'm absolutely sure, not on a large scale but yes, I believe a digital detox is the only cure.
Yes, and I hate it.
Absolutely. Our minds are being fractured in real time. We’ve outsourced boredom, introspection, and focus to dopamine loops engineered by trillion-dollar companies.
The scary part? Most people don’t even realize it’s happening. They think it’s normal to watch a show while scrolling, while checking notifications, while answering texts — like running five tabs in their brain at once.
Attention is the new currency. If they can steal it, they can shape your thoughts, your emotions, your decisions… even your identity.
Opting out isn’t easy — but it’s necessary. Hard money. Hard mind. Same fight.
my basic flip-phone has my attention span in check; my wife's smartphone screen is grayscale or amber (due to blue light & flicker blocker), so that it's unappealing to look at; it's also using the 1-Tap-Zap app, so in order to get online, it takes a few clicks; plus if i want to get online, i have to ask to use her smartphone or hotspot, and she doesn't always let me...
despite these adjustments, days still go by quickly;
I try hard to monotask these days and focus on one thing at a time. It's difficult, but can be done. Put the phone in another room or turn it off for an hour.
It is influenced a lot if I am alone, or with interesting people, or with boring people. If there is something, usually people, that enriches me or if I am in a calm place, I do not need to use any digital things.
But it feels like it is more and more difficult to talk to/meet such people or being at such calm places. Anyway, communication with humans wins against the digital crap, at least for me.
very much so, and this is how it manifests https://nostr.at/nevent1qqsz3vk2uvlrl7ltu9uykwl35s6drz33aq52sxvzl595qthmh4wnpngppamhxue69uhkummnw3ezumt0d5pzpml96ysd7rxzjra8fpe8ldz6cjru4tf5d48j9yatq60g7q0u2xvp7cj5jy
I would say it's been both effected and affected.
It may be affected a little bit, but I don't think it's anything too crazy. I still read a lot of books and have hobbies though, so that probably helps. According to my phone I've had 58 minutes of screen time since I unplugged it this morning, although that's not counting the podcast and music I was listening to on the work commute. I spent maybe a half hour to an hour editing some pictures on the computer this evening, but that's about it.
There are definitely days where I spend a good bit of time using electronics, whether it's gaming, watching a show or movie, or something else, but I usually end up doing other things as well. The biggest thing I will not do is get on any of the big social media platforms. I've seen how they suck people's lives away, and I don't want to have that happen. Even SN itself can take up a good bit of time if you let it, which is why I'm not on here as much as I was.
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