When I taught psychology, I was struck by the power of reinforcement (as demonstrated by B.F. Skinner) to shape behavior. Turns out that random rewards (e.g., occasional hits of adrenaline or dopamine as we scroll social media) are amazingly powerful ways to perpetuate that behavior. I can almost feel that "ping" as I land on a meaningful tidbit online. Like gambling, variable reinforcement can be addictive. I do turn off my mobile phone every night, but it's easy to get stuck on there during the day!
At the risk of being self-promoting, I talk a little about the book Stolen Focus in my latest post, at https://open.substack.com/pub/louisejulig/p/turning-fomo-into-jomo?r=29kh6&utm_medium=ios. There’s also Deep Work, by Cal Newport (with some caveats for male privilege IMO) and How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell, which I haven’t read yet but is on my TBR list.
I am 1000% with you, Lindsey. If we want to talk about personal accountability and control, our attention is the most valuable asset we have and the easiest to take control of, given that it doesn't rely on anyone else's participation. It's too convenient to funnel those genuine human concerns into a tired political binary that forces us to choose between two shitty options; those tech billionaires know we'll just keep tearing each other apart and ignoring the very real problems they've created. I'm more than ready for an attention revolution.
Well said. Since Covid our attention has been high jacked and the spirit of the people has been dampened (in my opinion anyways). Everything on the news has been negative loops of fear by people who have been exposed as lying to the American people. Left, Right, MAGA, vaccinated, White, Black, Gay, Libtard, White Supremacist….so many files for us to fall into and they all are going in the same file cabinet. What’s the answer though, Lindsey? Awareness can only go so far. A vision is only a dream without action, I think anyways. Once aware, then what? I need my phone for so many things? All the technology makes life very convenient. I’ll be honest.
I think we "need" our phones for less than we think we do. And I think the convenience comes at the expense of autonomy and agency. It's definitely not easy or simple, but I think as we make changes, the tech companies will have to respond in kind.
This picture got me thinking of oligarchs and Russia. I’m from Finland and have seen how oligarchs influence politics and how dictators are made. So this picture scares me a lot.
I've recently cut waaay back on social media, and it's amazing how much calmer I feel, and how much time I have. BTW- don't forget about the flag, a symbol "owned" by Republicans. A few years ago, (during Trump's first term, now that I think about it), my husband hung a beautiful wooden flag, crafted by veterans, on our front porch. I balked, worried people would think we were Republicans. Isn't that sad? My husband insisted that all Americans own the flag, and he's right. The flag remains. Maybe someday I'll hang a Pride flag next to it, just to keep people guessin'.
We are on the same vibe. A friend recently summed up my last newsletter in a repost that said something like “How Louise is going off social media in favor of being more social.” And yeah — the whole attention manipulation thing is creepy. As is that photo 😬
With you all the way, Lindsey. All the shiny things have blinded us and we do not see the consequences or the writing on the wall. As an educator, critical thinking was always my highest priority as I taught my middle-grade, high school, and adult students. We need more thinking.
If we compare Substack to the experience we had 20 years ago when we subscribed to a printed publication - and if we felt so inspired responded via a letter to the editor (I never actually did that I confess). Doesn’t technology pretty radically break down a lot of barriers in a very good way? If nothing else encourages and enhances communication - as the name ‘social media’ implies.
To say technology has dangers is not to say that it does not also have wonderful benefits. The tech bros are informed by the concept of tech-utopia, a world in which technology is ONLY positive and humans are ONLY progressing. My argument is that all technologies since the printing press have come with trade-offs, and that it is wise to step back from this technology long enough to evaluate what those trade-offs are.
P.S. Love that you commented. Everybody, meet Matt! He's my friend.
When I taught psychology, I was struck by the power of reinforcement (as demonstrated by B.F. Skinner) to shape behavior. Turns out that random rewards (e.g., occasional hits of adrenaline or dopamine as we scroll social media) are amazingly powerful ways to perpetuate that behavior. I can almost feel that "ping" as I land on a meaningful tidbit online. Like gambling, variable reinforcement can be addictive. I do turn off my mobile phone every night, but it's easy to get stuck on there during the day!
We're all such suckers for it!! Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke blew my mind.
I really need to read that book.
I was just thinking this, too. I need a reading list, please and thank you. =)
I was just thinking I’d post one! I have so many to tell you about… be careful what you wish for!! 😆
At the risk of being self-promoting, I talk a little about the book Stolen Focus in my latest post, at https://open.substack.com/pub/louisejulig/p/turning-fomo-into-jomo?r=29kh6&utm_medium=ios. There’s also Deep Work, by Cal Newport (with some caveats for male privilege IMO) and How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell, which I haven’t read yet but is on my TBR list.
3 of my faves!!
I am 1000% with you, Lindsey. If we want to talk about personal accountability and control, our attention is the most valuable asset we have and the easiest to take control of, given that it doesn't rely on anyone else's participation. It's too convenient to funnel those genuine human concerns into a tired political binary that forces us to choose between two shitty options; those tech billionaires know we'll just keep tearing each other apart and ignoring the very real problems they've created. I'm more than ready for an attention revolution.
As always, thank you, Lindsey for helping us look at things a little differently.
Well said. Since Covid our attention has been high jacked and the spirit of the people has been dampened (in my opinion anyways). Everything on the news has been negative loops of fear by people who have been exposed as lying to the American people. Left, Right, MAGA, vaccinated, White, Black, Gay, Libtard, White Supremacist….so many files for us to fall into and they all are going in the same file cabinet. What’s the answer though, Lindsey? Awareness can only go so far. A vision is only a dream without action, I think anyways. Once aware, then what? I need my phone for so many things? All the technology makes life very convenient. I’ll be honest.
I think we "need" our phones for less than we think we do. And I think the convenience comes at the expense of autonomy and agency. It's definitely not easy or simple, but I think as we make changes, the tech companies will have to respond in kind.
This post is so aligned with what I've been mulling over for a long time—thank you for writing it!
This picture got me thinking of oligarchs and Russia. I’m from Finland and have seen how oligarchs influence politics and how dictators are made. So this picture scares me a lot.
Same.
I've recently cut waaay back on social media, and it's amazing how much calmer I feel, and how much time I have. BTW- don't forget about the flag, a symbol "owned" by Republicans. A few years ago, (during Trump's first term, now that I think about it), my husband hung a beautiful wooden flag, crafted by veterans, on our front porch. I balked, worried people would think we were Republicans. Isn't that sad? My husband insisted that all Americans own the flag, and he's right. The flag remains. Maybe someday I'll hang a Pride flag next to it, just to keep people guessin'.
Yes, the flag! My sister wanted to wear American flag earrings on Election Day and was worried about how they would be perceived. So sad.
I'm here for this discussion. Very much.
Also why legalizing marijuana is pushed. If people are spaced out and chillin’, less likely to realize the same manipulation tactics.
We are on the same vibe. A friend recently summed up my last newsletter in a repost that said something like “How Louise is going off social media in favor of being more social.” And yeah — the whole attention manipulation thing is creepy. As is that photo 😬
With you all the way, Lindsey. All the shiny things have blinded us and we do not see the consequences or the writing on the wall. As an educator, critical thinking was always my highest priority as I taught my middle-grade, high school, and adult students. We need more thinking.
Brava!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Can't wait to see where this is headed :)
So excited. ;)
If we compare Substack to the experience we had 20 years ago when we subscribed to a printed publication - and if we felt so inspired responded via a letter to the editor (I never actually did that I confess). Doesn’t technology pretty radically break down a lot of barriers in a very good way? If nothing else encourages and enhances communication - as the name ‘social media’ implies.
To say technology has dangers is not to say that it does not also have wonderful benefits. The tech bros are informed by the concept of tech-utopia, a world in which technology is ONLY positive and humans are ONLY progressing. My argument is that all technologies since the printing press have come with trade-offs, and that it is wise to step back from this technology long enough to evaluate what those trade-offs are.
P.S. Love that you commented. Everybody, meet Matt! He's my friend.
Thank you for claiming him 😉
1) Me too.
2) The caption on that photo is my favourite thing about this post - and I liked everything about this post.