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Siempo's new app will break your smartphone addiction

techcrunch.com

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Re: Siempo's new app will break your smartphone addiction

#11

Post by andrewmd »

solutionyogi wrote: post #9

Currently, I use the Moment App on the iOS to keep track of how much time I spend on my phone and it has been immensely useful. Though it only captures my usage and can't actively help me reduce my smartphone usage. I love the ability to batch up the notifications. In my ideal world, I would get notifications at 8AM, 12pm, 5pm and 9pm. And that's all. I am jealous of the Android platform that it is possible to create…

Moment is great! Android gives devs the freedom to be so much more than just a self control app - we can reimagine the interface from scratch.

We'd love to be on iOS, but b/c of strict permissions we are unable to do the majority of what we have built in the beta so far. A number of our users have actually switched from iOS to Android, not just for Siempo but also for apps that let you set SMS autoresponders, block apps with geofencing, and other cool things that won't be possible unless Apple radically changes their interface or permissions.

Re: Siempo's new app will break your smartphone addiction

#12

Post by solutionyogi »

Rotdhizon wrote: post #10

RIP to anyone who clicked that link without ad block. The app is a cool concept but I don't see it ever taking off. They broadly assume that people want to be distanced from their phones, which I'm sure most don't. There is nothing wrong with enjoying technology. Yes I check my phone at last once every few minutes when I'm at home, does that made me an "addict"? I'm not checking social media, I'm just browsing throug…

I am not sure why you are so down on this app.

I would agree that majority of people don't realize how addictive smartphones can be and they don't care about fixing it.

At the same time, I think there are a decent number of people who realize that a smartphone is a GREAT tool they must have in their life but if they are not careful, it will take over their attention completely. The fact that apps like Moment (https://inthemoment.io/) exist and do well is a proof.

I welcome Siempo and I hope they offer a compelling app on the iOS platform. (See my other comment to know why I have my doubts regarding this)

Re: Siempo's new app will break your smartphone addiction

#13

Post by ben_jones »

Rotdhizon wrote: post #10

RIP to anyone who clicked that link without ad block. The app is a cool concept but I don't see it ever taking off. They broadly assume that people want to be distanced from their phones, which I'm sure most don't. There is nothing wrong with enjoying technology. Yes I check my phone at last once every few minutes when I'm at home, does that made me an "addict"? I'm not checking social media, I'm just browsing throug…

If you do it every few minutes I feel like its more of a "tick" then a conscious choice. Furthermore it is a choice motivated by for-profit entities. Doesn't that make you feel uneasy?

Re: Siempo's new app will break your smartphone addiction

#14

Post by JohnJamesRambo »

Rotdhizon wrote: post #10

RIP to anyone who clicked that link without ad block. The app is a cool concept but I don't see it ever taking off. They broadly assume that people want to be distanced from their phones, which I'm sure most don't. There is nothing wrong with enjoying technology. Yes I check my phone at last once every few minutes when I'm at home, does that made me an "addict"? I'm not checking social media, I'm just browsing throug…

>Yes I check my phone at last once every few minutes when I'm at home, does that made me an "addict"?

I'd say undoubtedly so.

"Addiction is a brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction

The adverse consequences is debatable but it is very likely we are all missing out on experiences and losing health by checking our phones every few minutes for those hits of neurotransmitters.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5076301/

"Cell-Phone Addiction: A Review"

Re: Siempo's new app will break your smartphone addiction

#15

Post by protonimitate »

ben_jones wrote: post #13
Rotdhizon wrote: post #10

RIP to anyone who clicked that link without ad block. The app is a cool concept but I don't see it ever taking off. They broadly assume that people want to be distanced from their phones, which I'm sure most don't. There is nothing wrong with enjoying technology. Yes I check my phone at last once every few minutes when I'm at home, does that made me an "addict"? I'm not checking social media, I'm just browsing throug…

If you do it every few minutes I feel like its more of a "tick" then a conscious choice. Furthermore it is a choice motivated by for-profit entities. Doesn't that make you feel uneasy?

Not Op - but for me, no.

When smartphone 'addiction' starts getting in the way of day-to-day responsibilities and personal health then we can talk about ways to curb smart phone addiction.

Maybe for others its different, but the only time I have the 'tick' is when I'm otherwise unoccupied - watching boring tv, riding on public transit, or otherwise killing time. Could you replace that with more beneficial ways to pass time? Sure. But to me the 'smart phone addiction' craze is the same thing as 'tv rots your brain'. Overstated and not really an issue imo.

And on the point of 'motivated by for-profit entities', how many aspects of your life are not in the same bucket?

Re: Siempo's new app will break your smartphone addiction

#16

Post by rkangel »

thirduncle wrote: post #4

It's actually quite easy to "break" your addiction to smartphones: Don't use them in the first place.

That comment is even less helpful than saying "It's actually quite easy to break your addiction to alchohol - just don't drink".

The reason it's even less helpful is that, unlike alcohol, smartphones provide useful functionality in day to day life.

Re: Siempo's new app will break your smartphone addiction

#17

Post by Karunamon »

JohnJamesRambo wrote: post #14
Rotdhizon wrote: post #10

RIP to anyone who clicked that link without ad block. The app is a cool concept but I don't see it ever taking off. They broadly assume that people want to be distanced from their phones, which I'm sure most don't. There is nothing wrong with enjoying technology. Yes I check my phone at last once every few minutes when I'm at home, does that made me an "addict"? I'm not checking social media, I'm just browsing throug…

>Yes I check my phone at last once every few minutes when I'm at home, does that made me an "addict"? I'd say undoubtedly so. "Addiction is a brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction The adverse consequences is debatable but it is very likely we are all missing out on experiences and losing health by checking our…

I thought the defining definition of addiction is that the action causes an interference in your ability to function. I'm not sure this qualifies.

Re: Siempo's new app will break your smartphone addiction

#18

Post by ASalazarMX »

Rotdhizon wrote: post #10

RIP to anyone who clicked that link without ad block. The app is a cool concept but I don't see it ever taking off. They broadly assume that people want to be distanced from their phones, which I'm sure most don't. There is nothing wrong with enjoying technology. Yes I check my phone at last once every few minutes when I'm at home, does that made me an "addict"? I'm not checking social media, I'm just browsing throug…

> Yes I check my phone at last once every few minutes when I'm at home, does that made me an "addict"?

Probably. Many applications (web, desktop or mobile) today are designed to maximize interaction. They try to tickle our reward loop as often as possible, and vie for our attention between themselves. They manipulate us into devoting them our attention while feeling good about it.

On the other hand, we tend to constantly crave for entertainment. If it wasn't apps, it would be TV, movies, newspapers, books, etc. I guess we can't be helped.

Re: Siempo's new app will break your smartphone addiction

#19

Post by tetrep »

solutionyogi wrote: post #9

Currently, I use the Moment App on the iOS to keep track of how much time I spend on my phone and it has been immensely useful. Though it only captures my usage and can't actively help me reduce my smartphone usage. I love the ability to batch up the notifications. In my ideal world, I would get notifications at 8AM, 12pm, 5pm and 9pm. And that's all. I am jealous of the Android platform that it is possible to create…

> I love the ability to batch up the notifications. In my ideal world, I would get notifications at 8AM, 12pm, 5pm and 9pm. And that's all.

Couldn't you do this manually by silencing your phone except for alarms, and then setting vibrate-only alarms at those times?

Alarm goes off, you check your phone and deal with any notifications you have so far, and then you go back to ignoring it.

Re: Siempo's new app will break your smartphone addiction

#20

Post by Rotdhizon »

solutionyogi wrote: post #12
Rotdhizon wrote: post #10

RIP to anyone who clicked that link without ad block. The app is a cool concept but I don't see it ever taking off. They broadly assume that people want to be distanced from their phones, which I'm sure most don't. There is nothing wrong with enjoying technology. Yes I check my phone at last once every few minutes when I'm at home, does that made me an "addict"? I'm not checking social media, I'm just browsing throug…

I am not sure why you are so down on this app. I would agree that majority of people don't realize how addictive smartphones can be and they don't care about fixing it. At the same time, I think there are a decent number of people who realize that a smartphone is a GREAT tool they must have in their life but if they are not careful, it will take over their attention completely. The fact that apps like Moment ( https:…

I meet everything with criticism until it proves applicable. I hope this app succeeds as much as the next person, I just enjoy creating discussion on this type of forum. Instead of just blindly saying "Go app team", I want to point out all the concerns I have with the foundation of the app. That is what this site is about, intellectual discussion.
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