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Will we be addicted to our phones forever? An optimistic outlook

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Re: Will we be addicted to our phones forever? An optimistic outlook

#2

Post by vasco »

We'll forever be addicted to the shared global (or interplanetary at some point) information network, but the phone itself won't be needed forever. I don't think there's a way to get a human to not want to know what other people think about stuff or to more generally get information for free in real time. This plus access to computational power is a pretty good combo.

If the interface is a brain chip or a phone or whatever, it doesn't matter.

Re: Will we be addicted to our phones forever? An optimistic outlook

#4

Post by laszlojamf »

Although it's nice to hear an optimistic perspective, I can't help but think it's overly optimistic. 1. I don't think moderation works for most people who struggle with addiction. I think this is fairly incontroversial. AA doesn't give out "only-one-drink-a-day" chips. 2. The reason we got smoking under control, I suspect at least, is because the downsides are so obvious. And even then it took a long time. I feel like the negative effects of technology usage are so much more varied and subtle that it's going to be hard for society to rally around an opposition movement the way it's done for smoking.

I hope the article is right and I'm wrong, but it feels a little bit like another "the solution to tech's problems is more tech"-argument

Re: Will we be addicted to our phones forever? An optimistic outlook

#7

Post by darklycan51 »

I don't really use my phone as a software developer, mostly because I have my pc with me all the time and pretty much all software is better on pc than on phones (thanks Apple/Google).

I don't really know what people are doing to be addicted to their phones? maybe you're just addicted to social media? find other hobbies...

Re: Will we be addicted to our phones forever? An optimistic outlook

#8

Post by XorNot »

vasco wrote: post #2

We'll forever be addicted to the shared global (or interplanetary at some point) information network, but the phone itself won't be needed forever. I don't think there's a way to get a human to not want to know what other people think about stuff or to more generally get information for free in real time. This plus access to computational power is a pretty good combo. If the interface is a brain chip or a phone or wh…

People complain all the time about "being addicted to our phones" but my memory of the world pre-smartphone was that newspapers and magazines were everywhere and frankly...I'm not really seeing the difference - in quality or content.

Because while "the newspaper" was always considered respectable...that's ignoring the endless mounds of gossip magazines, fashion magazines, lifestyle...basically every category which has now moved to Instagram and YouTube. People went somewhere and it was expected that there'd be magazines and newspapers to read.

Re: Will we be addicted to our phones forever? An optimistic outlook

#9

Post by SethMurphy »

darklycan51 wrote: post #7

I don't really use my phone as a software developer, mostly because I have my pc with me all the time and pretty much all software is better on pc than on phones (thanks Apple/Google). I don't really know what people are doing to be addicted to their phones? maybe you're just addicted to social media? find other hobbies...

This for one. This site is on the dopamine list. Phone is a metaphor. Choose your addictions wisely.

Edit: removed unnecessary, kinda rude, wording.

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