With the improvement of social living standards, the popularity of mobile phones is also getting higher and higher, up to the elderly, down to children, will choose to use mobile phones to work, entertainment, Internet access and so on. But unconsciously, mobile phones have slowly affected the way we live. In the past, people liked to chat with their families or go for a walk at leisure, but now people are more willing to rely on a small mobile phone in the spiritual world, gradually reducing the time for communication and communication with family and friends. How much time do you spend on your phone right now?
Data Analysis Company DataReportal gives the answer. Worldwide, the average amount of time people spend staring at a screen is 6 hours and 55 minutes a day. This means that half the time we are awake, we are staring at the screen. And that's just an average.
What are you doing when you swipe your phone?
Why take so long? One is the reason for work, a lot of work content needs to be docked through WeChat, WeChat groups; on the other hand, the mobile phone is too powerful, you can play games, watch news, watch videos, listen to audio, shopping, order takeaway, navigation, read books... Most of the food, clothing, shelter and transportation in life can be done by mobile phones.
We spend so much time on social media, takeaway apps, shopping platforms, tools that originally tried to make things convenient for humanity, but now dominate the lives of the vast majority of people. They are no longer waiting to be used by us, but have become their own brains and goals, and algorithms make up their capillaries that penetrate into our lives.
Every morning when you wake up, the first thing someone does is to put on the glasses that were placed at the head of the bed last night, and then take out the mobile phone to open WeChat, see if anyone is looking for him, and then browse the relevant news App; if time permits, they will first lie in bed and play games, and then get up after ten minutes; on the way to work, the mobile phone is almost not left, not to play games, or to listen to songs, listen to audio programs; when you come home from work, you still hold the phone, sometimes because of work, sometimes it is purely to play games; before going to bed, you will habitually look at WeChat again , brush the circle of friends.
In the documentary "Surveillance Capitalism: The Smart Trap," Tim Kendall, who worked at Facebook for five years and was general manager of Pinterest, an image social media, said he came home every day with little time with his children and spent all his time looking at his phone. He is familiar with the principles of algorithms, which is very ironic, "I go to work during the day to construct something that treats me as a prey."
In a modern society that relies heavily on digital technology, how exactly are we influenced by algorithms, and can we break free from the control of technology?
Some are trying to get rid of control of the digital world. Someone uninstalled shopping software, someone tried to quit short videos, someone tried to use an elderly machine, or put down their phone for thirty days. Some people try to use the elderly machine, and then return to the smart phone after a week; some people limit the time of mobile phone use, and they will impulsively brush until they can't stop.
But there are still some reflections in these stories, and they also provide a reference: how can we live with digital technology in modern society? As ordinary people, how can we fight against powerful algorithmic systems, tear open a hole, and take back our lives? Our aim is to re-examine the relationship between people and technology, to return tools to tools, and life to life.
How do we learn to live in harmony with mobile phones?
Borrowing from the Buddhist concept of "precepts, concentration, and wisdom," we need to learn "stopping" and "contemplation." The so-called "stop" means stopping in the right place. Whether it is in daily study work or entertainment, it is very important to set a breakpoint. It prevents you from getting bogged down in a quagmire without knowing it.
To achieve "stopping," we cannot do without "viewing." The so-called "contemplation" refers to observing oneself and the external environment. For example, it's like putting a monitor on yourself, perceiving what you're doing, how your mood feels, and how your body feels.
By practicing "stop" and "view", we can improve our self-control in the process of getting along with mobile phones.
Practicing "stopping" and "contemplation" is essentially practicing meditation. Neuroscientists have found that meditation improves self-control and improves your ability to concentrate, manage stress, restrain impulses, and recognize yourself.