image
Thoughts and tid-bits
27 Nov, 2024
This week I’ve been:
Absconding from corporate tech giants.
TLDR// huge rant about why I dislike smart phones and how a button phone ‘changed my life’ (oh god did I really just say that)
In this day and age the average person spends over eight hours a day on their smartphone. For the majority of us, social media is an essential part of life whether for staying in touch with friends, keeping up with news, or scrolling social media. Older generations would always say, ‘get off that damn phone of yours and go outside’. And I’ve started to think, maybe it IS ‘the damn phone’. As someone who grew up surrounded by the internet, smartphones have always been a part of my life. I spent my formative years watching Minecraft YouTube Let's Plays and ever since the age of 13, scrolling through social media platforms. But, in the last few months during my final year of high school I made a brash impulsive decision that has enlightened me in more ways I could have ever hoped for: I switched from a smartphone to a button phone. In the digital age it’s an extreme idea but this switch was the start of a journey that has redefined how I engage with technology.
You don’t need to be an economist to figure out tech companies want us to spend as much time on their apps as possible. It’s been preached before and no one needs convincing about this fact. Social media is less about being ‘social’ anymore and more about getting the user to spend as much time on their app. Companies profit by keeping us scrolling, advertisers cash in on our attention. We are paying in our time and mental health. Social apps shouldn’t be designed to cause depression, anxiety, self loathing, but it does and research shows. Younger generations such as myself have grown up with social media as a core part of their lives, the illusion of connection it created left me and so many others socially inept. Not to sound like a boomer but we’ve been disconnected from the world around us, maybe it’s time to put the phone down.
For a lifetime, my phone has been by my side. A scapegoat from the outside world, I had all the information in the world in my pocket. But after an accidental swim my smartphone was rendered useless, I found myself relying on my dad’s old button phone. I was resistant at first—after all, how could I possibly function without all the features my smartphone provided? But as I used the button phone, something surprising happened. The absence of apps, notifications, and constant social media access began to expose the addictive nature of my smartphone usage. I started to notice how often I would instinctively check my phone for no reason at all, even in the middle of a conversation, waiting for the bus, or during any moment of silence. These moments of idle time had always been filled with doomscrolling, now they weren’t.
The first weeks of using a button phone were brutal, I had to stay away from modern technology against my will and be forced to communicate solely through a button phone. I didn’t learn much from the initial experiences, all I knew was that I needed a new phone and asap. These first experiences with a button phone were anything but positive, I hated it. However it did show how much I relied on my phone, and I began to resent that. Months later in a desperate attempt to escape from the internet once more I chose to pick up the button phone, this time with intention. Intention to cut back the ridiculous time I was wasting staring into the iridescence of my phone. First plan of action was to decentralise my phone use. I began using a point-and-shoot camera in replacement of the photos app, an old MP3 player in replacement of Spotify, and even a small journal to keep track of my thoughts and notes. Having each tool as its own seperate item gave me a newfound appreciation for these things that I loved. I was finding new local artists more often, I took a step back from taking photos every time I went out and only chose to capture the more profound moments. It was a real change of pace, I think my friends were all annoyed at the fact that they had to put more effort into contacting me instead of pinging a group chat (and I apologise for that, on my part I should have given more energy into staying in contact with my friends). The verdict? It was a surprising success. Instead of feeling like a social recluse I began to not care about experiencing every single moment on the internet, it was nice.
These tech companies have made us believe that smartphones are essential for modern life. After all, they provide convenience, entertainment, and connectivity. The feeling of scanning a QR code or accessing the verification codes sent via email will be sorely missed. However we seem to forget the biggest issue: they often rob us of our attention and time. We’re so busy sharing our lives online, trying to craft the perfect image of yourself, that we forget to live. We forget what it means to connect with people, to enjoy a moment without worrying about how you are going to tell all your friends and followers what you got up to this weekend. When you are stripped of all the convenience of a smartphone, you’re forced to focus on the things that matter to you the most.
Of course, button phones aren't for everyone. Smartphones are essential for many people—whether for work, or staying connected with family. And not everyone will find the same sense of peace in a complete disconnect from smartphones. But for those who feel overwhelmed, ‘dumb-ifying’ your smartphone can be incredibly beneficial. (Ok don’t get me started on the digital detox trend I despise digital detoxes, they’ve been marketed as a way to end all problems you have with your smartphone all the while ignoring the problem, which is your smartphone. Anyway I’m getting carried away, maybe another time). The key isn’t to ditch your smartphone outright—it’s about finding a balance. Take control of your tech use. Reclaim your time. Spend more time doing things that make you happy. Some of the best moments in life happen when no one else is watching.
Thats all.
Lots of love, Ell
23 Nov, 2024
DISCLAIMER!!!! Ok so yeah I'm a terrible writer who barely reads and dropped english as a subject in year 11 but hear me out... I have to write terribly in order to write well. I don't know what to write about so my first little tid bits here and there will be atrocious. But whats a little embarrasement when you're having fun eh
This week I’ve been: Reading a lot of substack from a New York writer JENNA PARK. I’ve been reading her work over and over and just can’t get enough of it. She writes personal essays about things such as:
* the joys of midlife (with a side of sarcasm)
* rambling commentary on current events (hoo boy, this world is a lot)
* leaving said career to return to her first love: art
* raising adult children and empty nest life
* caring for elderly parents and processing death and grief
As a 18 year old from Aotearoa I feel like I am the complete wrong demographic this is written for, but oh well. I highly reccomend it, really cool stuff
In other news, I’ve finally started reading the Scott Pilgrim comic after rewatching the movie again. I hadn’t realised this before but the film holds up to the comic standards well, obviously, it keeps out a lot of information that is present in the comic but god Scott's character holds so true in the film. Scott is so relatable as a person; not in the dating 17-year-olds kind of way but in the douchebag sort of ignorant person way where he paints himself in his head as the “good guy”. I’ve got tons of flaws, you’ve got tons of flaws, everyone does. Scott's character just heavily leans into that side of being a bad person. We all turn a blind eye to the bad sides of us and paint the idea that we are a good person. The movie and comic are so appealing that way. People will say they dislike Scott Pilgrim because he is a bad person, that’s like saying you didn’t like Breaking Bad because Walter white is a drug dealer. Anyway, I’m excited to finish the series for once.
Biased as hell weekly thoughts on stupid topics only I am interested in:
Okay okay okay I say we need to learn how to listen again… this may be blindsided of me, so bear with me lol. But in an age where the majority of our lives is defined by what big corporate tech giants decide, it is more and more important to USE this technology that seeps into every aspect of our lives, not for short-term gratification and stimulation but to engage critically with the endless media and content we have at our fingertips. We’ve grown accustomed to consuming content as fast as we can and yet still, we’ve forgotten how to engage meaningfully and listen to what the content is trying to say, or even just what others are saying about it. If we collectively just realised how meaningless most of the content shown to us on the internet is then maybe people would stop engaging uselessly with them, but they drive engagement through the roof and we can’t get enough of it. I fear younger generations won’t engage in art** (and all adjacent topics) with nearly enough interest or attention/retention as it may call for. They are seeing it; sometimes with half their attention, and moving onto the next as quickly as can be. Of course, many people still care about music, art, and writing; most of us do. But when was the last time you sat through an entire album while doing nothing else, just laying on the ground or your bed as you listen to it. The ‘enshitification’ of the internet and the popularisation of short-form content has made art feel like running water or electricity; we won't listen to what it wants us to listen to; we take it at face value within seconds and form judgments from that. We are only getting sharp short bursts of gratification this way. What I’m trying to get at is that that I think we need to consume less content and be more meaningful with the content we are consuming. I’m not talking about writing know-it-all essays on the historical significance of this fantastic piece of art for every piece of content you consume. Just listen. Listen, and take it in. No progress will be made as we all shout down each other's throat. Remind yourself to not be blinded by short-sighted gratifications.
**I say art broadly, anything expressive, could be writing painting movie video music yknow?
21 Nov, 2024
I have decided that modern social media brings me no value whatsoever; I post stories, and that's it, but I can do the equivalent on this site. Instagram makes me think I'm staying in contact with my friends, but all I'm doing is just sending reels to people and reacting to reels I get sent back. I have been Zucked off by Mark Suckerberg, and now I feel FOMO every time I stay away from my feed. This site is an attempt to ditch modern social media.
This week I’ve been:
Absconding from corporate tech giants.
TLDR// huge rant about why I dislike smart phones and how a button phone ‘changed my life’ (oh god did I really just say that)
In this day and age the average person spends over eight hours a day on their smartphone. For the majority of us, social media is an essential part of life whether for staying in touch with friends, keeping up with news, or scrolling social media. Older generations would always say, ‘get off that damn phone of yours and go outside’. And I’ve started to think, maybe it IS ‘the damn phone’. As someone who grew up surrounded by the internet, smartphones have always been a part of my life. I spent my formative years watching Minecraft YouTube Let's Plays and ever since the age of 13, scrolling through social media platforms. But, in the last few months during my final year of high school I made a brash impulsive decision that has enlightened me in more ways I could have ever hoped for: I switched from a smartphone to a button phone. In the digital age it’s an extreme idea but this switch was the start of a journey that has redefined how I engage with technology.
You don’t need to be an economist to figure out tech companies want us to spend as much time on their apps as possible. It’s been preached before and no one needs convincing about this fact. Social media is less about being ‘social’ anymore and more about getting the user to spend as much time on their app. Companies profit by keeping us scrolling, advertisers cash in on our attention. We are paying in our time and mental health. Social apps shouldn’t be designed to cause depression, anxiety, self loathing, but it does and research shows. Younger generations such as myself have grown up with social media as a core part of their lives, the illusion of connection it created left me and so many others socially inept. Not to sound like a boomer but we’ve been disconnected from the world around us, maybe it’s time to put the phone down.
For a lifetime, my phone has been by my side. A scapegoat from the outside world, I had all the information in the world in my pocket. But after an accidental swim my smartphone was rendered useless, I found myself relying on my dad’s old button phone. I was resistant at first—after all, how could I possibly function without all the features my smartphone provided? But as I used the button phone, something surprising happened. The absence of apps, notifications, and constant social media access began to expose the addictive nature of my smartphone usage. I started to notice how often I would instinctively check my phone for no reason at all, even in the middle of a conversation, waiting for the bus, or during any moment of silence. These moments of idle time had always been filled with doomscrolling, now they weren’t.
The first weeks of using a button phone were brutal, I had to stay away from modern technology against my will and be forced to communicate solely through a button phone. I didn’t learn much from the initial experiences, all I knew was that I needed a new phone and asap. These first experiences with a button phone were anything but positive, I hated it. However it did show how much I relied on my phone, and I began to resent that. Months later in a desperate attempt to escape from the internet once more I chose to pick up the button phone, this time with intention. Intention to cut back the ridiculous time I was wasting staring into the iridescence of my phone. First plan of action was to decentralise my phone use. I began using a point-and-shoot camera in replacement of the photos app, an old MP3 player in replacement of Spotify, and even a small journal to keep track of my thoughts and notes. Having each tool as its own seperate item gave me a newfound appreciation for these things that I loved. I was finding new local artists more often, I took a step back from taking photos every time I went out and only chose to capture the more profound moments. It was a real change of pace, I think my friends were all annoyed at the fact that they had to put more effort into contacting me instead of pinging a group chat (and I apologise for that, on my part I should have given more energy into staying in contact with my friends). The verdict? It was a surprising success. Instead of feeling like a social recluse I began to not care about experiencing every single moment on the internet, it was nice.
These tech companies have made us believe that smartphones are essential for modern life. After all, they provide convenience, entertainment, and connectivity. The feeling of scanning a QR code or accessing the verification codes sent via email will be sorely missed. However we seem to forget the biggest issue: they often rob us of our attention and time. We’re so busy sharing our lives online, trying to craft the perfect image of yourself, that we forget to live. We forget what it means to connect with people, to enjoy a moment without worrying about how you are going to tell all your friends and followers what you got up to this weekend. When you are stripped of all the convenience of a smartphone, you’re forced to focus on the things that matter to you the most.
Of course, button phones aren't for everyone. Smartphones are essential for many people—whether for work, or staying connected with family. And not everyone will find the same sense of peace in a complete disconnect from smartphones. But for those who feel overwhelmed, ‘dumb-ifying’ your smartphone can be incredibly beneficial. (Ok don’t get me started on the digital detox trend I despise digital detoxes, they’ve been marketed as a way to end all problems you have with your smartphone all the while ignoring the problem, which is your smartphone. Anyway I’m getting carried away, maybe another time). The key isn’t to ditch your smartphone outright—it’s about finding a balance. Take control of your tech use. Reclaim your time. Spend more time doing things that make you happy. Some of the best moments in life happen when no one else is watching.
Thats all.
Lots of love, Ell
23 Nov, 2024
DISCLAIMER!!!! Ok so yeah I'm a terrible writer who barely reads and dropped english as a subject in year 11 but hear me out... I have to write terribly in order to write well. I don't know what to write about so my first little tid bits here and there will be atrocious. But whats a little embarrasement when you're having fun eh
This week I’ve been: Reading a lot of substack from a New York writer JENNA PARK. I’ve been reading her work over and over and just can’t get enough of it. She writes personal essays about things such as:
* the joys of midlife (with a side of sarcasm)
* rambling commentary on current events (hoo boy, this world is a lot)
* leaving said career to return to her first love: art
* raising adult children and empty nest life
* caring for elderly parents and processing death and grief
As a 18 year old from Aotearoa I feel like I am the complete wrong demographic this is written for, but oh well. I highly reccomend it, really cool stuff
In other news, I’ve finally started reading the Scott Pilgrim comic after rewatching the movie again. I hadn’t realised this before but the film holds up to the comic standards well, obviously, it keeps out a lot of information that is present in the comic but god Scott's character holds so true in the film. Scott is so relatable as a person; not in the dating 17-year-olds kind of way but in the douchebag sort of ignorant person way where he paints himself in his head as the “good guy”. I’ve got tons of flaws, you’ve got tons of flaws, everyone does. Scott's character just heavily leans into that side of being a bad person. We all turn a blind eye to the bad sides of us and paint the idea that we are a good person. The movie and comic are so appealing that way. People will say they dislike Scott Pilgrim because he is a bad person, that’s like saying you didn’t like Breaking Bad because Walter white is a drug dealer. Anyway, I’m excited to finish the series for once.
Biased as hell weekly thoughts on stupid topics only I am interested in:
Okay okay okay I say we need to learn how to listen again… this may be blindsided of me, so bear with me lol. But in an age where the majority of our lives is defined by what big corporate tech giants decide, it is more and more important to USE this technology that seeps into every aspect of our lives, not for short-term gratification and stimulation but to engage critically with the endless media and content we have at our fingertips. We’ve grown accustomed to consuming content as fast as we can and yet still, we’ve forgotten how to engage meaningfully and listen to what the content is trying to say, or even just what others are saying about it. If we collectively just realised how meaningless most of the content shown to us on the internet is then maybe people would stop engaging uselessly with them, but they drive engagement through the roof and we can’t get enough of it. I fear younger generations won’t engage in art** (and all adjacent topics) with nearly enough interest or attention/retention as it may call for. They are seeing it; sometimes with half their attention, and moving onto the next as quickly as can be. Of course, many people still care about music, art, and writing; most of us do. But when was the last time you sat through an entire album while doing nothing else, just laying on the ground or your bed as you listen to it. The ‘enshitification’ of the internet and the popularisation of short-form content has made art feel like running water or electricity; we won't listen to what it wants us to listen to; we take it at face value within seconds and form judgments from that. We are only getting sharp short bursts of gratification this way. What I’m trying to get at is that that I think we need to consume less content and be more meaningful with the content we are consuming. I’m not talking about writing know-it-all essays on the historical significance of this fantastic piece of art for every piece of content you consume. Just listen. Listen, and take it in. No progress will be made as we all shout down each other's throat. Remind yourself to not be blinded by short-sighted gratifications.
**I say art broadly, anything expressive, could be writing painting movie video music yknow?
21 Nov, 2024
I have decided that modern social media brings me no value whatsoever; I post stories, and that's it, but I can do the equivalent on this site. Instagram makes me think I'm staying in contact with my friends, but all I'm doing is just sending reels to people and reacting to reels I get sent back. I have been Zucked off by Mark Suckerberg, and now I feel FOMO every time I stay away from my feed. This site is an attempt to ditch modern social media.