Digital Minimalism: A Review
Technology Infestation in our Daily Life
Technology Infestation in our Daily Life
June 16, 2022
I was chilling on the couch as usual reading on my kindle. Anas, my housemate, who sat across from me, was consuming a feast of videos well-prepared by social media. His speaker was on, I overheard that he’s been watching the videos on the defamation trial of Amber Heard and Johnny Depp. And this is the fourth day in a row I noticed this.
I was chilling on the couch as usual reading on my kindle. Anas, my housemate, who sat across from me, was consuming a feast of videos well-prepared by social media. His speaker was on, I overheard that he’s been watching the videos on the defamation trial of Amber Heard and Johnny Depp. And this is the fourth day in a row I noticed this.
I casually asked: “You really are into this case yeah?”
I casually asked: “You really are into this case yeah?”
He replied: “I mean, it’s everywhere.”
He replied: “I mean, it’s everywhere.”
“Everywhere.”
“Everywhere.”
I didn’t have so many thoughts back then. But I remember it wasn’t everywhere for me.
I didn’t have so many thoughts back then. But I remember it wasn’t everywhere for me.
Yes, my Snapchat and IG explore tabs had a few videos about it. And yes, I saw the popular meme of Amber Heard in the Squid Game while browsing through Facebook. I thought it was funny.
Yes, my Snapchat and IG explore tabs had a few videos about it. And yes, I saw the popular meme of Amber Heard in the Squid Game while browsing through Facebook. I thought it was funny.
And that’s it.
And that’s it.
We either have a different definition of “everywhere”, or we just live in a different social media world while using the exact same tools.
We either have a different definition of “everywhere”, or we just live in a different social media world while using the exact same tools.
The Danger of Social Media
The Danger of Social Media
This concern is not new for many people.
This concern is not new for many people.
Tech giants such as Facebook and Google monitor user behaviour by collecting every minuscule detail on your fingertips, literally. They jot down everything you’ve searched, clicked and liked along with timespan on specific content you’re watching in the notebook. They analyse your usage data thinking: “Huh, so you like this huh?” And then push more similar contents into your feed. Voila. Your feed is instantly filled with Taylor Swift’s commencement speech (well, at least in my case).
Tech giants such as Facebook and Google monitor user behaviour by collecting every minuscule detail on your fingertips, literally. They jot down everything you’ve searched, clicked and liked along with timespan on specific content you’re watching in the notebook. They analyse your usage data thinking: “Huh, so you like this huh?” And then push more similar contents into your feed. Voila. Your feed is instantly filled with Taylor Swift’s commencement speech (well, at least in my case).
Well, I like Taylor Swift, so I am glad to watch more of her content without having to look it up for it.
Well, I like Taylor Swift, so I am glad to watch more of her content without having to look it up for it.
Imagine a different situation: a cynical young boy who was bullied by his friends, thinking the world is unfair. His mind was filled with hatred and resentment. He then saw a hateful post on Instagram out of millions of contents. He felt relatable. He clicked like.
Imagine a different situation: a cynical young boy who was bullied by his friends, thinking the world is unfair. His mind was filled with hatred and resentment. He then saw a hateful post on Instagram out of millions of contents. He felt relatable. He clicked like.
The next day, he saw some other hateful posts that he found relatable.
The next day, he saw some other hateful posts that he found relatable.
He clicked the second like.
He clicked the second like.
As time passed he found more of these posts, some even containing extremist thoughts, he felt more and more relatable as he was already previously influenced by the similar contents.
As time passed he found more of these posts, some even containing extremist thoughts, he felt more and more relatable as he was already previously influenced by the similar contents.
In this highly individualised world, people have no idea how much they are influenced by others on a daily basis. We think we have our own ideas. We think we have control over what goes on our mind. The fact is that as people stick their nose on the screen, their thoughts and behaviour are following what the contents on the screen lead us to.
In this highly individualised world, people have no idea how much they are influenced by others on a daily basis. We think we have our own ideas. We think we have control over what goes on our mind. The fact is that as people stick their nose on the screen, their thoughts and behaviour are following what the contents on the screen lead us to.
In this highly individualised world, people have no idea how much they are influenced by others on a daily basis.
In this highly individualised world, people have no idea how much they are influenced by others on a daily basis.
The book unveils the detrimental effects of social media and it is even worse than most people think. For example, research suggests Americans are more politically polarised than ever with the booming of social media [2], which reaffirm why people should take it more seriously with their use in this daily tool.
The book unveils the detrimental effects of social media and it is even worse than most people think. For example, research suggests Americans are more politically polarised than ever with the booming of social media [2], which reaffirm why people should take it more seriously with their use in this daily tool.
Attention Economy
Attention Economy
I first learned the term “attention economy” from Cal Newport, the author of this book. Basically, some dudes from the Silicon Valley decided that they don’t wanna invent new cool technologies and sell you products anymore, because that’s exhausting. They make you a product instead. You are the product. They exploit your time by constantly feeding you “what you like” so that you won’t leave your eyes on the app. Your time equals their money.
I first learned the term “attention economy” from Cal Newport, the author of this book. Basically, some dudes from the Silicon Valley decided that they don’t wanna invent new cool technologies and sell you products anymore, because that’s exhausting. They make you a product instead. You are the product. They exploit your time by constantly feeding you “what you like” so that you won’t leave your eyes on the app. Your time equals their money.
The thing is, they don’t just feed you “good” content. Darker emotions attract more eyeballs than positive and constructive thoughts. They stoke your darker instincts, even worse, they validate them. I believe they purely just want money, but all that leaves you with more negativity in your life.
The thing is, they don’t just feed you “good” content. Darker emotions attract more eyeballs than positive and constructive thoughts. They stoke your darker instincts, even worse, they validate them. I believe they purely just want money, but all that leaves you with more negativity in your life.
Basically, some dudes from the Silicon Valley decided that they don’t wanna invent new cool technologies and sell you products anymore, because that’s exhausting. They make you a product instead. You are the product.
Newport argues with evidence that social media is designed to be addictive. Similar to cigarettes having nicotine as the addictive chemical, tech companies encourage behavioural addiction through intermittent positive reinforcement and the drive for social approval as the ingredients.
Newport argues with evidence that social media is designed to be addictive. Similar to cigarettes having nicotine as the addictive chemical, tech companies encourage behavioural addiction through intermittent positive reinforcement and the drive for social approval as the ingredients.
He mentions, our brain is highly susceptible to these forces and that’s why people almost feel compelled to check their smartphones for notifications, making them impossible to resist. As Sean Parker, an infamous teenage hacker then, now an entrepreneur, put it: "it's a social-validation feedback loop… exactly the kind of thing that a hacker like myself would come up with, because you're exploiting a vulnerability in human psychology.”
He mentions, our brain is highly susceptible to these forces and that’s why people almost feel compelled to check their smartphones for notifications, making them impossible to resist. As Sean Parker, an infamous teenage hacker then, now an entrepreneur, put it: "it's a social-validation feedback loop… exactly the kind of thing that a hacker like myself would come up with, because you're exploiting a vulnerability in human psychology.”
Fake Freedom
Fake Freedom
Mark Zuckerberg, like other tech giants, projects the service as some kind of Eden. “Facebook was built to accomplish a social mission - to make the world more open and connected,” he said. This utopian view lures billions of people into using the service. More and more people can enjoy the freedom of speech and share their thoughts with virtually anyone they could imagine.
Mark Zuckerberg, like other tech giants, projects the service as some kind of Eden. “Facebook was built to accomplish a social mission - to make the world more open and connected,” he said. This utopian view lures billions of people into using the service. More and more people can enjoy the freedom of speech and share their thoughts with virtually anyone they could imagine.
Of course, people have freedom to choose if they want to sign up. People have freedom to decide if they want to open the app. People have freedom to do whatever they want, even if they decide to browse through their phone while having a family dinner or on a Valentine’s date.
Of course, people have freedom to choose if they want to sign up. People have freedom to decide if they want to open the app. People have freedom to do whatever they want, even if they decide to browse through their phone while having a family dinner or on a Valentine’s date.
We are having full control over using those services, right?
We are having full control over using those services, right?
That’s what we as public think. At the same time, we simply cannot resist the urge to pull out our phones constantly from our pockets to check on new notifications and IG stories of some people we barely meet in real life.
That’s what we as public think. At the same time, we simply cannot resist the urge to pull out our phones constantly from our pockets to check on new notifications and IG stories of some people we barely meet in real life.
Technologies based on attention economy are cleverly engineered this way. As argued earlier, they are programmed to be addictive, which takes away your freedom to do other high quality leisure activities.
Technologies based on attention economy are cleverly engineered this way. As argued earlier, they are programmed to be addictive, which takes away your freedom to do other high quality leisure activities.
"Technologies based on attention economy are cleverly engineered this way...they are programmed to be addictive."
"Technologies based on attention economy are cleverly engineered this way...they are programmed to be addictive."
Cal Newport, author
Reclaim Leisure
Reclaim Leisure
What I did not expect to learn from the book is the substantial amount of pages covering the topic on high-quality leisure activities. It is argued that technologies have taken away our freedom to perform high-quality leisure activities that are supposed to make people have an elevated sense of satisfaction in life. Essentially, if it weren’t for those technologies hijacking our natural instincts to construct a purposeful bond with our close friends, we would have better things to do on a Saturday movie night.
What I did not expect to learn from the book is the substantial amount of pages covering the topic on high-quality leisure activities. It is argued that technologies have taken away our freedom to perform high-quality leisure activities that are supposed to make people have an elevated sense of satisfaction in life. Essentially, if it weren’t for those technologies hijacking our natural instincts to construct a purposeful bond with our close friends, we would have better things to do on a Saturday movie night.
Engaging in a meaningful conversation with your friends is a high-quality leisure; hanging out with friends where everyone is browsing individual phones is not.
Engaging in a meaningful conversation with your friends is a high-quality leisure; hanging out with friends where everyone is browsing individual phones is not.
Crafting a physical DIY project is a high-quality leisure; building an empire in Minecraft is not.
Crafting a physical DIY project is a high-quality leisure; building an empire in Minecraft is not.
Spending time in solitude walking in the woods is a high-quality leisure; listening to some music banging to the beats is not.
Spending time in solitude walking in the woods is a high-quality leisure; listening to some music banging to the beats is not.
In Mandarin, we have two distinct common words to describe “happiness”, one is kuài lè (快乐), which is a bubbly kind of happiness; another one is xìng fú (幸福), let’s call it hardship kind of happiness.
In Mandarin, we have two distinct common words to describe “happiness”, one is kuài lè (快乐), which is a bubbly kind of happiness; another one is xìng fú (幸福), let’s call it hardship kind of happiness.
A night out dancing at a club or going on a fun trip with friends make you feel kuài lè. Xìng fú, on the other hand, is difficult to attain. It requires adversity, some level of sacrifice and self-awareness in life. A single parent who raises her son in hardship and watches him accomplish things in life is xìng fú. A playboy who meets his love of life and finally settles down in a committed relationship is xìng fú.
A night out dancing at a club or going on a fun trip with friends make you feel kuài lè. Xìng fú, on the other hand, is difficult to attain. It requires adversity, some level of sacrifice and self-awareness in life. A single parent who raises her son in hardship and watches him accomplish things in life is xìng fú. A playboy who meets his love of life and finally settles down in a committed relationship is xìng fú.
In Mandarin, we have two distinct common words to describe “happiness”, one is kuài lè (快乐), which is a bubbly kind of happiness; another one is xìng fú (幸福), let’s call it hardship kind of happiness.
In Mandarin, we have two distinct common words to describe “happiness”, one is kuài lè (快乐), which is a bubbly kind of happiness; another one is xìng fú (幸福), let’s call it hardship kind of happiness.
A high-quality leisure likely falls under the latter category. It requires active involvement and intensive energy instead of passive media consumption. Eventually, expending more energy in your leisure, can end up energising you more. On the contrary, low-quality leisure such as watching Netflix or partying make us more fatigued than when we began.
A high-quality leisure likely falls under the latter category. It requires active involvement and intensive energy instead of passive media consumption. Eventually, expending more energy in your leisure, can end up energising you more. On the contrary, low-quality leisure such as watching Netflix or partying make us more fatigued than when we began.
“Reclaim leisure,” Newport wrote. I have argued how the use of technologies is a form of fake freedom. Now as we realise that, we should be more intentional in spending our free time with high-quality leisure. Leisure, as defined in the book, is the effort you voluntarily undertake in your free time. Browsing TikTok is not voluntary - it is addictive. Binge-watching Netflix is not voluntary - it is addictive, so are the use of Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
“Reclaim leisure,” Newport wrote. I have argued how the use of technologies is a form of fake freedom. Now as we realise that, we should be more intentional in spending our free time with high-quality leisure. Leisure, as defined in the book, is the effort you voluntarily undertake in your free time. Browsing TikTok is not voluntary - it is addictive. Binge-watching Netflix is not voluntary - it is addictive, so are the use of Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
As Newport argues, learning and applying new skills is an important source of high-quality leisure. There some examples of high-quality leisure mentioned in the book:
As Newport argues, learning and applying new skills is an important source of high-quality leisure. There some examples of high-quality leisure mentioned in the book:
- Learning a musical instrument
- Gardening
- Hand-crafting
- Playing board games
- Team sport
"Leisure is the effort you voluntarily undertake in your free time. "
"Leisure is the effort you voluntarily undertake in your free time. "
Cal Newport, author
Conclusion
Conclusion
Don’t get me wrong. The book Digital Minimalism does not aim to prohibit you from the use of technology. It simply highlights some of the facts that the public should know and what they can do about it.
Don’t get me wrong. The book Digital Minimalism does not aim to prohibit you from the use of technology. It simply highlights some of the facts that the public should know and what they can do about it.
I still love watching movies. I still love listening to music. We can still watch Netflix and listen to music. But sometimes I cannot help myself listening to music for hours on YouTube, as the algorithm cleverly recommends more of the content I like, resulting in a meaningless afternoon yielding nothing productive and satisfying.
I still love watching movies. I still love listening to music. We can still watch Netflix and listen to music. But sometimes I cannot help myself listening to music for hours on YouTube, as the algorithm cleverly recommends more of the content I like, resulting in a meaningless afternoon yielding nothing productive and satisfying.
Being more intentional about what we do in our free time is a seemingly straightforward idea but some may find it difficult to attain due to the prevalent use of technologies. As major social media platforms were specifically built based on attention economy, it seems like our simple right to have “normal” leisure activities has been taken away without our knowledge.
Being more intentional about what we do in our free time is a seemingly straightforward idea but some may find it difficult to attain due to the prevalent use of technologies. As major social media platforms were specifically built based on attention economy, it seems like our simple right to have “normal” leisure activities has been taken away without our knowledge.
Reclaim our rights.
Reclaim our rights.
Reclaim our freedom.
Reclaim our freedom.
Reclaim our xìng fú.
Reclaim our xìng fú.
Afterthought: Ironically, I learned about this book from a TED talk by Cal Newport while browsing Facebook. I was immediately inspired especially coming from the fact that he's a computer scientist. Ironically again, I am linking the video via YouTube.
References
References
[1] Social Media Increasingly Linked With Mass Shootings via https://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2022/05/25/social-media-increasingly-linked-with-mass-shootings/?sh=711787963c73 [2] The Social Dilemma documentary