What Eddy Burback got wrong about his phone... [Discussion of Fediverse as an alternative within] (videos.abnormalbeings.space)

submitted 3 weeks ago by AbnormalHumanBeing@lemmy.abnormalbeings.space to c/fediverse@lemmy.world

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.abnormalbeings.space/post/918244

Companion article here: https://blog.gardinerbryant.com/what-eddy-got-wrong-about-his-phone/

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[-] InfiniteHench@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

I feel like this kind of misses the point. To be clear: If someone absolutely cannot avoid installing slop apps and enabling notifications for everything, I can see their need for an ultra minimal device or other solution. But I also think that speaks to a larger, personal discussion about discipline and possibly addiction, but that’s outside the realm of this thread.

My point is we can choose which apps, notifications, features, and algorithms are allowed to get our attention. It’s easy to turn off all notifications or never even allow them in the first place—after all, apps have to ask for that permission in the first place.

But the choice is the point. If someone is traveling somewhere they probably want maps to tell them important information about the journey. Otherwise why turn on directions at all? That’s the entire point.

We even have the ability to disable all texting notifications but also choose to allow them from certain people if they’re important enough. These devices are simply tools and we have the power to choose how they operate. The device isn’t the problem, it’s our choices.

[-] Keeponstalin@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

I think addiction is a key aspect. Like with gambling there is of course that aspect of responsibility, but regulation to minimize harm is also important.

All the major social media apps being designed to exploit that dopamine response is kind of like junk foods being the most common due to being subsidized; of course people just shouldn't eat junk food, but we should make healthy options the most prevalent and common instead.

Of course that would require a government that would actually force corporations to implement harm reductive measures, instead of one bought by and working for corporations...

FOSS alternatives like Lemmy, Pixelfed, and Loops should be much healthier due to no algorithm working to maximize engagement. I also think social isolation is a big part of the addiction aspect, at least in America

[-] jeffhykin@lemm.ee 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I'm saying one of the big downsides has nothing to do with self discipline.

Even if we never click an advertisement.
Even if we never eat from the candy bowl.
Even if we never use the bad phone apps.

Merely living in a world covered in advertisements, living next to a delicious smelling candy bowl, living 30 seconds away from memes, rage-bait, doom scrolling, sports gambling, and other slop -- just living next to those things are bad for our mental health.

Some sources if you're curious on the research behind it. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4731333/

https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301694

https://scholarworks.uark.edu/mgmtuht/31/