How to overcome Phone Addiction • Hacker News Board

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#101

Post by gauravphoenix » Sat, Jan 02, 2021, 11:30 PM UTC

isn't it true that any form of addiction is bad for you? instead of focusing on the "phone" part, maybe we should think of addiction as any other form of illness and build detection and prevention capabilities in a generic manner? otherwise, we will keep seeing - X addiction is bad, where X can be social media, porn, news etc.

I recently did the following and have never felt better

- deleted (not just deactivated) social media accounts. The only accounts left are LinkedIn, HN and Reddit. (I use them for professional/intellectual reasons so I doubt I will delete them)

- I no longer keep phone next to me while sleeping.

- blocked access to all "news" websites- cnn, fb, twitter

I had been been on journey to digital detox anyways (disabled all notifications everywhere etc) but getting rid of social media definitely felt better than anything else.

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#102

Post by meowster » Sat, Jan 02, 2021, 11:32 PM UTC

launderthis wrote: post #9

correlation does not equal causation. Phone addiction or internet addiction is a symptom not a cause. People are escaping to the internet becuase of the world we live in is cold. There is a new US marine commerical out that shows a kid wandering the street kind of lost in hyper interactive world. The commercial plays off of this internet addiction and data mining product selling. Then clips to them becoming a Marine…

The US Marines recruiting commercial mentioned:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=bCjEV75F2tM

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#103

Post by kingTug » Sat, Jan 02, 2021, 11:33 PM UTC

pueblito wrote: post #44

amelius wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Its a good commercial because its actually something that is a problem and that the Marines do have an answer Perhaps we should bring back a year of mandatory military service. Or some other kind of mandatory community service.

We never HAD a year of mandatory military service to bring back

I would quit my job and drop everything in my life to join a program like that. The Intercept did an episode on it over the summer and I got chills listening to it.

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#104

Post by cageface » Sat, Jan 02, 2021, 11:33 PM UTC

makecheck wrote: post #74

I basically discourage addiction by making things “difficult” for myself on my phone: - Minimal web bookmarks (i.e. I have to type in most web sites I want to visit; this is just enough of an encumbrance that I won’t flip open things like Reddit every 30 seconds). - I never install apps meant for content consumption, I use their web sites. (This is usually a better experience anyway, since the vast majority of them a…

Another tactic I find useful is to ban any apps with an endless content feed from my phone.

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#105

Post by paulryanrogers » Sat, Jan 02, 2021, 11:35 PM UTC

shawnz wrote: post #82

2OEH8eoCRo0 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree except some things are actually addicting. Phones are dopamine slot machines that fit in your pocket so that you can't escape. I think it's both. People seek an escape and phone apps are extremely addicting.

Is it bad to feel rewarded for legitimately engaging your brain? Is it bad for something to be a "dopamine slot machine" if it's only because it actually allows you to consume knowledge more rapidly/efficiently?

I don't think so--if the activity fits your life and not the other way around. But that's just my opinion.

Books and pen pals can be similarly problematic for some.

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#106

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jan 02, 2021, 11:36 PM UTC

makecheck wrote: post #74

I basically discourage addiction by making things “difficult” for myself on my phone: - Minimal web bookmarks (i.e. I have to type in most web sites I want to visit; this is just enough of an encumbrance that I won’t flip open things like Reddit every 30 seconds). - I never install apps meant for content consumption, I use their web sites. (This is usually a better experience anyway, since the vast majority of them a…

[deleted]

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#107

Post by jondwillis » Sat, Jan 02, 2021, 11:37 PM UTC

foobiekr wrote: post #65

Noos wrote: post #51

Given this is Hacker News, I await the solution of LSD-assisted therapy to counter phone addiction to be proposed soon.

Please invest in my new startup - we provide an app that recommends LSD microdoses to address your milliphone exposure count.

https://aurynproject.org/pala

re: the business and yogafication of psychedelics

Quite a long story but I found it thought-provoking.

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#108

Post by paulryanrogers » Sat, Jan 02, 2021, 11:37 PM UTC

launderthis wrote: post #9

correlation does not equal causation. Phone addiction or internet addiction is a symptom not a cause. People are escaping to the internet becuase of the world we live in is cold. There is a new US marine commerical out that shows a kid wandering the street kind of lost in hyper interactive world. The commercial plays off of this internet addiction and data mining product selling. Then clips to them becoming a Marine…

> That still wouldnt fix the problem that you might feel closer to someone across the world than someone right next to you.

Wait, is it a problem that some have remote friendships that are closer than those physically near them? If so why?

Which isn't too say proximity is bad. It can be a relationship enhancer, and so can distance.

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#109

Post by friendlybus » Sat, Jan 02, 2021, 11:41 PM UTC

bumby wrote: post #58

launderthis wrote: post #9

correlation does not equal causation. Phone addiction or internet addiction is a symptom not a cause. People are escaping to the internet becuase of the world we live in is cold. There is a new US marine commerical out that shows a kid wandering the street kind of lost in hyper interactive world. The commercial plays off of this internet addiction and data mining product selling. Then clips to them becoming a Marine…

> Marines do have an answer, although with a great cost. Do you mean an individual cost or societal cost? I think one of the ironies about the human condition is that we value things that we’ve sacrificed toward much more than the things we have not. E.g., Marines have esprit de corps in part because of their sacrifices not despite them. The strongest connections are often made through hardship. To think we can have…

The marines come with an individual cost that is frequently less valued than service in the army or airforce.

Re: How to overcome Phone Addiction

#110

Post by LucyFur » Sat, Jan 02, 2021, 11:42 PM UTC

Noos wrote: post #51

Given this is Hacker News, I await the solution of LSD-assisted therapy to counter phone addiction to be proposed soon.

Another thing about HN patriots patrons is that they worship 'Thinking fast and slow,' the book, and I can tell you; evvery page of that book is laced in L S D ( !)

it's virtually dripping in it!