Not All Screen Time is Created Equal
... a follow up post on ways to address Social Media Use Disorders
32 days ago TowardWellth’s first post related to Social Media / Digital Health was made, spurred by a month earlier by Ted Gioia’s essay on the same topic.
Here’s the link to that prior post as today we will expand on it with additional commentary and actionable steps you can take to improve your own digital health.
This year my personal achievable goal was to decrease screen time by 10%. It’s measurable in that I can track Screen Time on my iPhone (you can track this with your Digital Wellbeing app on Android).
Not All Screen Time is Created Equal!
60 minutes of ‘mindless’ scrolling of short-form videos or any infinite scroll media (Facebook, X) is not the same as 60 minutes of mindful reading, writing, and thoughtfully engaging.
One key to mindful digital habits is to set an intention for using social media or a screen.
I am going to log onto my Economist App to read the news for 15 minutes.
I am going to check my email specifically reading posts or newsletters from authors who influence me.
I am going to read music blogs to discover new artists and the back story behind their music.
I am going to draft a text to my aunt who recently had health-related procedures. I want to check on how she is feeling and let her know I’m thinking about her.
A bit paradoxically there are “low value” digital activities that can mindfully be engaged. Set timers!
I am going to play this game for 15 minutes (not a 3 hour Candy Crush session!)
I’m going to set screen time limits of 15 minutes for Instagram because the reels make me laugh.
When you open your device, start to pay attention to what types of activities you do.
Are these minutes being invested mindfully?
There will be future posts on this topic of screen time.
As I have continued to do market research for the unmet needs of the community, or the driving issues, professionals that work with high school aged students have shared that social media is by far the number one source of issues.
Unhealthy dependence, the content being consumed - especially if bullying by peers, body image obsessions, misinformation, etc.
thank you for your readership and for making this blog part of your digital wellbeing!
Also, think about how you feel during and after using social media. I began to notice i felt angry, or I found that I dont even know/like/care about that person why am I reading their thoughts on xyz. Could my time be better used in something more meaningful/fulfilling?