Smart Phones

[William_Montgomery]

It's hard to think of a modern day piece of tech that's had so much influence on people, individually and culturally. It's an amazing thing to be able to access so much information and so many resources at the press of a button.

But, to my mind, it is very much a double edged sword. Whilst I find it provides incredible opportunities (you can pretty much run a business from your pocket, free education on any subject you can think of, communication over thousands of miles etc) I'm wary of its insidious nature, an addiction and reliance that can quickly turn unhealthy.

What are your views or concerns about maintaining a healthy relationship with it?

Also, more broadly, does this constant advancement in technology (it doesn't take long before new tech is suddenly an integral part of society) allow for us to develop a healthy way of incorporating it into our lives?

 

[TeeDee]

It's hard to think of a modern day piece of tech that's had so much influence on people, individually and culturally. It's an amazing thing to be able to access so much information and so many resources at the press of a button.

But, to my mind, it is very much a double edged sword. Whilst I find it provides incredible opportunities (you can pretty much run a business from your pocket, free education on any subject you can think of, communication over thousands of miles etc) I'm wary of its insidious nature, an addiction and reliance that can quickly turn unhealthy.

What are your views or concerns about maintaining a healthy relationship with it?

Also, more broadly, does this constant advancement in technology (it doesn't take long before new tech is suddenly an integral part of society) allow for us to develop a healthy way of incorporating it into our lives?

Normalise a habit of switching it off. Long weekends. Holidays etc.

Quicker you start doing it the easier and more liberating it is.

 

[Chris]

It’s incredibly important to me that I interact with it, rather than it interacting with me. I choose when to look at it and when to use it, and will not allow anything on my phone to try and get my attention other than an actual phone call.

They are addictive and the software is specifically designed to be addictive, in the industry this is given the term ‘engagement’ which is the main metric companies measure when it comes to software applications. They spend billions and billions of pounds each year trying to get you to even just look at the app and ideally then to use it.

For example, those little ‘Read’ icons you get on messaging apps. Why does someone need to know their message has been read? The answer is, they don’t. It’s entirely to psychologically pressure you, the recipient, into replying as the false implication otherwise is that you’re ignoring someone.

Why do you need a notification telling you about Breaking News (which often is banal and unimportant) every few hours? You don’t. But companies want you to click the notification and engage with the app - often due to them then getting ad revenue, though not always for that reason.

Short form media content (TikTok and such) designed to keep you hooked with regular dopamine hits whilst you sit there gormlessly and having adverts and bad-faith influence/manipulation shoved into your eyes.

That said, it’s amazing having a GPS OS map in my pocket, the ability to contact people in emergencies, check information on the internet, take high quality photos or videos, take notes, identify mushrooms and wildlife without needing to carry physical books everywhere and so on and so forth.

A smartphone is useful when the servant and master relationship is kept the right way round.

 

[Broch]

I'm not on any social media (actually I use WhatsApp for family messaging) so my phone is incredibly quiet - I go to it when I need it. If you're all so worried about using a card for payments, you need to stop using your phones

 

[John Fenna]

I have never owned a Smart phone - and do not want one!
I have a "Dumb" phone that only gets switched on when I want to make a call or when awaiting a call from the handful of folk who have the number...

 

[TeeDee]

I'm not on any social media (actually I use WhatsApp for family messaging) so my phone is incredibly quiet - I go to it when I need it. If you're all so worried about using a card for payments, you need to stop using your phones

Enforced bans tend to work like that Broch.

Its not a 'worry' about using cards for payment - its a concern that there will be no potential alternative to cards. Subtle.

But I do agree with smart phones tendency to listen in to everything audio - again its not a worry its just somewhat indicative of how every bit of personal preference is data to be sold or linked to a commercial vendor.

 

[William_Montgomery]

Why does someone need to know their message has been read? The answer is, they don’t. It’s entirely to psychologically pressure you, the recipient, into replying as the false implication otherwise is that you’re ignoring someone.

Yeah, that's something that's always bothered me, and I wonder how things like that have affected how we interact outside of phone communication.

A smartphone is useful when the servant and master relationship is kept the right way round.

I think that's a good way of putting it. It feels like, on a societal level, we've still got a way to go on that front.

 

[William_Montgomery]

Its not a 'worry' about using cards for payment - its a concern that there will be no potential alternative to cards. Subtle.

Absolutely. I was surprised that that point seemed to be so misunderstood.

 

[saxonaxe]

A very useful, convenient and possibly life saving device they can be, too.
However, as much as ordinary folk are concerned, you don't actually need one. Yes! Life really is liveable, and very happily, without one. You won't die or get lost on the way to Asda and what Mrs Jones said to Mrs White can wait until someone actually speaks face to face.
Libraries are nice places full of information and for the addicts there are computers in there too.
I really admire the deep thinking and soul searching of people who have long since convinced themselves that life will end without a Smartphone. It will not... I promise you. News may be a little delayed, the Internet will still be there by other means rather than in your back pocket..People are adept at convincing themselves that unlike all the other Smartphone users they are different, they don't make excuses for ownership, they actually really do need a smartphone.

My son tells me that his smart phone could save his life because of the ability to track him in an emergency, like 95% of Smartphone owners he hasn't been out of shouting distance of another person for years....

This is not a rant, rather than the opinion of an increasingly amused Wrinkly in awe of the variety of excuses for being a willing disciple of the glowing screens. Of course there is good use for a Smartphone, but like just one more chocolate from the box, self discipline and will power should not be abandoned.
And in case anyone is wondering...Yep, £7 monthly contract..just to keep it alive..

 

[Glow_worm]

I've owned one for a year, against my better judgement. It's a tool, a small portable computer which has come in handy when out and about. I don't take it out and fiddle with it in spare time (whatever that is!). I don't compulsively check it. It is on aeroplane mode unless I am using it. It is to all intents and purposes a desktop PC I can use on the road if needs be. I rule it, it doesn't rule me. It has saved me some time and money and has therefore been a useful exercise, but I wouldn't notice much difference going back to my simple call and text phone. I imagine users like myself are in the minority!

Edited to add- I don't have any 'apps' either, or not that I'm aware of.

 

[William_Montgomery]

I have never owned a Smart phone - and do not want one!
I have a "Dumb" phone that only gets switched on when I want to make a call or when awaiting a call from the handful of folk who have the number...

But... surely that makes uploading daily selfies to your instagram account virtually impossible?? I don't understand!

 

[ijohnson]

A smartphone is useful when the servant and master relationship is kept the right way round.

Exactly!

Also, and this applied equally to all mobile phones for the 28 years I've had one, my mobile is for my convenience! Not yours or anybody else's. I'll answer your call if it is convenient for me to answer your call.

 

[gibson 175]

Normalise a habit of switching it off. Long weekends. Holidays etc.

Interesting. Is that what you do? Do you have any tips. I am such a mobile phone addict. What times would you recomend swoitching it off and when do you switch it off. Sounds like you've got it under control?

 

[crosslandkelly]

Phone when I can remember to put in my pocket, everything else can wait until I look at my laptop. I feel no need to have constant contact.

 

[Tengu]

Nope not for me.

 

[Broch]

Absolutely. I was surprised that that point seemed to be so misunderstood.

I can assure you it was not misunderstood; just poking the hornets nest

 

[demented dale]

It's hard to think of a modern day piece of tech that's had so much influence on people, individually and culturally. It's an amazing thing to be able to access so much information and so many resources at the press of a button.

But, to my mind, it is very much a double edged sword. Whilst I find it provides incredible opportunities (you can pretty much run a business from your pocket, free education on any subject you can think of, communication over thousands of miles etc) I'm wary of its insidious nature, an addiction and reliance that can quickly turn unhealthy.

What are your views or concerns about maintaining a healthy relationship with it?

Also, more broadly, does this constant advancement in technology (it doesn't take long before new tech is suddenly an integral part of society) allow for us to develop a healthy way of incorporating it into our lives?

I find them intrusive and anti social when used by some people. They are banned from my living space. When someone gets in my van I ask them do they want to go on their phone or talk to me. But they cant have both . I refuse to talk to someone who is not present and glued to a screen but I am quite happy for them to be on the phone if that's what they want. On the flip side they are incredibly useful and a superb resource when used in a healthy way. I will further add that I do not have one. My phone is for hello.............goodbye and I read a map and actually know where I am in the world . xxxx

 

[Kepis]

My phone is a good ten years old, it still works and does me fine, i don't run nor have any additional apps apart from Whatsapp, Facebook (only because i use it to keep in touch with family overseas), internet & email, the camera is handy and nearly every piccie i post up here was taken on it because it was convenient.

Most of the apps that were preinstalled when i bought it, i deleted or hid the annoying ones you can't delete, at the moment due to my medical situation, it has become a bit of a lifeline, it's convenient to drop in my neck bag or pocket when i'm hobbling around the house, i have a bluetooth headset so i can make emergency calls without having to pick the phone up, but even with that if i fall over and knock myself out it's useless, i did have an emergency call button thingy, but i got rid of it as it was too expensive.

I was thinking of replacing it at some point, but all the time it's working i'll keep it going, when i do replace it, it's probably be with the new Nokia 3310 style, it's all i need, yup the email and web are handy but i never use them outside, i figure the emails will still be there waiting for me when i turn the pooter on and if i need to search for something, i can do that at my leisure next time i turn the pooter on.

Like many others here, i embrace technology that makes my life better/easier, but it works for me and not the other way round, im not at it's beckon call for every ping, beep or notification it throws at me, it's not going anywhere, so it can wait until im ready to view/respond to it.

 

[TeeDee]

Interesting. Is that what you do? Do you have any tips. I am such a mobile phone addict. What times would you recomend swoitching it off and when do you switch it off. Sounds like you've got it under control?

Addict in remission I guess.

I recently deleted social media and it was an issue. I mean - difficult to accept it was / had become an issue and then an issue to delete it. But all growth lies on the other side of comfort ( I believe ) so thats what happened.

Reference switching the phone off - I find/found that gets easier the more one does it - there really is no need for us/me ( at least ) to be connected and contactable 24/7

As for tips - either master it or make it happen.
Either switch it off and have it in arms reach - the equivalent of going cold turkey and having drugs within reach.

or

If you know you are going away for a weekend - leave your phone at home , its not a friend you need to take anywhere and being physically removed from it will fill odd at first but after a while you'll see it as just a tool.

I also suggest getting into the habit of just switching a phone off for the entire day - switch it off for all of Sunday . Turn it back on Monday - not much has changed in the world during that time that will really affect you.

Make it a resolution for 2025 to have your phone on less.

Pavlov’s Dogs Experiment & Pavlovian Conditioning Response

Pavlov predicted the dogs would salivate in response to the food in front of them, but he noticed that his dogs would begin to salivate whenever they heard the footsteps of his assistant, who was bringing them the food.

www.simplypsychology.org

 

[Pattree]

I’m not sure why I refer to my device as a ‘phone ay all. I probably use it less for telephone messages than any other feature. To start with the ring tone is permanently switched off.

Kindle, banking, letter writing, my weekly comic, a couple of bulletin boards, news, weather, camera, photo storage and manipulation, calculator, even writing a small book take precedence over a chat. It has completely taken over from a computer.