Have Smartphones Replaced Your Brain?
Have Smartphones Replaced Your Brain?
America is suffering greater information saturation than ever before, and it appears that this trend will only continue. Increased knowledge brings increased duty. Technology has advanced throughout the years, but we are not here to claim that it is a terrible thing. You may have been able to view this content via your phone or a sharing link. Technology is really useful and beneficial in our lives. It is a part of our employment, social networks, crises, and gathering vital information.
But, and this is a major but, we may get hooked to our screens in the same way that we can to alcohol, narcotics, and other substances. Has your phone replaced your brain?
The worry now is how intertwined our devices have gotten in our lives. We now rely on phones to do basic human activities. Do you struggle to remember how to get to your location without utilising your phone's GPS system? I'm reminded of instances when I had to get out my folding map, squint, and yell out directions from it. Relying on landmarks was vital, since they "paved" the route for us to remember how to navigate. Our reliance on smartphones has reduced our ability to reason and analyse, instead increasing our craving for quick pleasure. We now struggle to function without our phones.
Are you addicted?
Addiction regulates dopamine levels. It is what drives us to seek out enjoyable experiences, and it pushes us to continue pursuing pleasure after we have received the "reward". As a result, we're caught in a seek-and-reward loop. This cycle is prevalent in our everyday lives and serves a crucial purpose of nature, such as providing basic requirements of existence and friendship. So, what about smartphones?The reason why it is easier to become hooked to technology than to other things is because we never fully feel "full" like we do when we eat. This leads to less contentment, and our drive to seek out more grows stronger.
Of course, none of us wants to believe we're addicted to our phones. We believe that we need our smartphones because this e-mail, text, or viral video is vital. That is true at times, but there are certain tell-tale signals of when we are in control of our phones and when they are in control of us.
Mobile addictions include:
- Sleep problems and insomnia induced by extensive phone use.
- Reliance on the phone to feel satisfied and relaxed
- Anxiety or anger when removed from the phone or faced with the inability to use it (for example, when you realise your phone's battery is low).
- Feelings of loneliness or sudden mood shifts when you can't send messages or receive rapid answers
- Continuous and aware phone usage in risky situations, such as when driving, and loss of interest in other things.
- Preference for utilising the phone above human engagement.
Do you remember the telephone number?
Do you recall when it was essential to dial phone numbers from a landline? The actual phone number had to be memorised rather than found in our contact list, as we do now.The information deluge that we face makes it harder for us to create long-term memories. The reason for this is that information enters our brain so quickly that we are unable to distinguish between what is significant and what is not. As a result, it does not become stored in long-term memory. Long-term memories impact our ideas and experiences.
The bottom line is that the more we rely on cellphones and technology, the less knowledge we can keep in long-term memory, limiting our ability to shape our ideas and experiences. Memory externalisation is not always a bad thing, but it should not be used to substitute our capacity to learn and recall from external events and our environment.
Attention span as short as a goldfish
Have you ever owned a pet goldfish? I tried, but I couldn't maintain my goldfish's attention. Now I'm wondering whether my attention span is decreasing to that of a goldfish.Did you know that the sheer presence of a smartphone, whether on quiet or off, decreases cognitive function? This is because the brain was actively attempting to avoid picking up the smartphone and utilising it. When we don't use our phones, we feel as if we're missing out on something that has just been posted on social media or a news story that everyone is talking about.
More connected, yet more alone.
Socialising in person and online are not the same. With our online presence, we select the greatest versions of ourselves as well as the best online characteristics—hashtags, statuses, tales, filters, you name it. We can't see the oddities, defects, and weaknesses that genuinely bind us together. We frequently idolise others who appear to live "perfect" lives, which leads to feelings of inadequacy, poor self-esteem, and loneliness. According to a research performed twenty-five years ago, 48% of young people under the age of thirty-five believed they could only confide in one person, compared to three confidants. It's somewhat amusing, because we have more "friends" than we can count on our internet accounts - hundreds, if not thousands - yet we're lonelier.
How Do We Unplug?
- Here are some strategies that have helped me manage my phone and gadget usage:
- Take a digital fast for one day to remind yourself of life beyond your phone.
- Turn off alerts while attending family events or other activities, as well as at work or in class. On weekends, I also like to disable app alerts, with the exception of phone calls and texts.
- Plan consistent "dates" with your loved ones.
- Create social networks that you can connect with in real life, such as a church organisation or hiking club.
- Outdoor adventures include camping, road vacations, and nature hikes.
If you use technology for work, try to schedule when you use it. Set aside some time to check your e-mail rather than continuously checking it throughout the day.
Use an alarm app that forces you to get up to shut it off. For example, leave your phone downstairs or in another room. This discourages using the phone before bedtime.
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