Why your phone is making you sad
Phone addiction is real, and researchers are becoming more concerned with what it is doing to our brains and bodies. This video explains the up to date research on what creates phone addiction, how to tell if you are clinically addicted to your phone and the top three scientific tips for decreasing phone use.
PODCAST ABOUT CELLPHONES + OUR BODIES: • Smartphones: are they ...
Huge thank you to Dr. Anna Lembke for her incredible book "Dopamine Nation" buy it at your local bookstore for even more information on this issue.
Resources:
time.com/5437607/smartphones-...
www.rcpch.ac.uk/sites/default...
academic.oup.com/ijnp/article...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12055...
Written by: Gregory Brown
Drawn by: Max Simmons + Gregory Brown
Edited by: Luka Šarlija
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Whether it is the new Oliver Anthony video, or a science video about crowd control or the new Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell video about nuclear war, our phones are tempting us to watch videos constantly. This is changing your brain and making you sad, this video will explain why, and how to fix it (neurologically)
So glad I'm not phone addicted. *Sits at computer 10+ hours a day*
I have 12+ on work days...
You just described me, I don't use my phone at all (except for calls and messaging), but I use my laptop the entirety of the day.
Fr people are so late lol I was addicted to computers and now I'm addicted to phones too 😂
@@markmuller7962 Phones are slow and cumbersome to use compared to PCs though, only useful when not at home
I get cravings to go back home to my computer all the time while others around me are glued to their phone screens. It's harmful in a different way.
The people who designed the stuff on phones literally took and used all the techniques casinos use to create gambling addicts.
Wait how?
@@RosheenQuynh programming. You having to constantly scroll(as opposed to instantly loading a web page) because that makes you continually have to refresh content. Which is coded by the same people who make slot machines.
@@Praisethesunson Huh. Interesting. What does it say about me then, as I eventually get bored of scrolling (after, like, ten minutes)? 🤣
@@RosheenQuynh Nothing. Same reason you aren't addicted to the super pot scratcher lottery tickets or menthol long cigarettes. It's not about *you* specifically. It's about intentionally designing a product that will get a non zero percentage of pleb consumers, like you, physically/mentally addicted to consuming that product.
Cal Newport does a segment on this on TedTalk (I believe) on why you should quit social media. He also has a pretty good book called Deep Work that sort of touches on this too. Or maybe it's his other one called So Good They Can't Ignore You.
I once lost my phone for 2 days and I spiraled into a depression. I genuinely did not know what to do with my time. I went through patterns of feverishly searching for it, getting upset that I couldn't find it, experiencing anxiety and despair, staring at my ceiling, and even moments of crying. When I found it, I felt immediate euphoria. Looking back, I cannot believe how ridiculous this is. My phone controls my life and honestly it's sickening.
My lil brother just broke his phone screen like 2 days ago, but we were all busy so we couldn't do anything yet. He only waited 1 whole day to get it repaired. But MAN, he was trippin hard, like he was asking how he was ever able to survive life before he had the phone and everything. He didn't wait long enough to break the phone addiction and snap back into reality. But I hope when he gets older he does
So where was it? 😅
You not alone!
To be fair everything is electronic now a days. My phone has my life on it. It's not even about getting my dopamine from social media, literally my life. Bank.. stock market... All my information I could see why you'd get the anxiety
@@HUMANOID6969 this!! I can happily do without social media but if I lost my phone I'd be very anxious
I went from enjoying scrolling on my phone to feeling this weird sense of impending doom every time I did it too much. Worst part is I couldn’t even stop doing it. I’ve managed to control my urges of picking it up every now and then but I keep thinking about how many people could struggle with this like me, it all feels way too dystopian to be real
How do you manage spending less time on your phone ?
@@leilasol i honestly just adopted a schedule that i stuck to. when i know what to do at a certain time i just dont procrastinate by picking my phone up. so you really need to build a habit i guess? but also find other things that make you feel relatively better so everytime you decide to scroll too much your brain kinda tells you to do another hobby of yours thats more fun
@@sonyclaystation I like that. Thank you 😊
sometimes I say to myself okay im gonna reduce my screentime, then im like.. okay.. what to do with all this free time? I don’t have a proper replacement for it. I wanna do something productive also enjoyable besides mu daily duties
Have the exact same experience - I’ve set time resteictions on apps I know I tend to check compulsively and try to do wind-down before bed (some days it’s better than others)
Switching from your phone to your laptop somehow helps a lot. Also watching long-format videos like KZhead is a lot less detrimental than short clips like TikTok.
I get nauseated from Tiktok. My younger sister (gen Z) constantly sends me videos from tiktok, so I try to oblige her and watch them. But even then it gets to be too much.
@@blojofosho133dumb take? I completely disagree. Obviously whether it be phone or laptop their still the same concept, can use the same apps and waste your life away. Although, a laptop has a longer loading time, not only do you have to open up your browsers, it’s not instant and things aren’t just a swipe away. And how many times do we get computer rage when things won’t load be frl? It helps us practice patience unlike our phones. And yt, is a whole different ball game then TikTok The long intros before even getting into the video, and not to meantion how their minutes maybe even hours long unlike mindlessly scrolling through 15 second long clips that only makes you feel worse abt yourself after
I watch a lot of movies and KZhead videos idk if it fits in social category but it's like 8+ hours of my day
the reason i hate the existance of youtube shorts
Are you sure you're not just drugging yourself with long format videos? If somebody watches TV for 4 hours a day - not to mention more - would you consider that normal and ok?
I'm actually grateful to have been born in the mid 90's. I got a chance to experience life without all this technology for little while, so now ik how to easily control it. Everything seemed so calm growing up... Now i can't even walk around people without feeling the anxiety emanating from them.
I used a social media platform as 10+ years old, started in 2005 or 2006. It was basically like ig/fb without the algorithm and other addictive things ofc. I remember it being really bad for my mental health at the time. I used to spend hours there being jealous of other people's lives as I imagined them.
I wish I was born in 90's too. Things were probably more natural and beautiful back then.
Born in 2000. Experienced both worlds while growing up. Loved them both.
Unfortunately I was born in 2010 and got my first device at 2
I remember a time before smartphones but I'm still addicted....
I think the pandemic dramatically increased our phone usage since we were so accustomed to socially isolating at that point lol
Sad but totally accurate
I spent a Summer at a lab studying substance use disorders, and the more I learned about substance use disorders the more I realized they mirrored my relationship with my phone. Felt validated by this video!
Yes !!
Read Dopamine Nation it talks about this comparison
This will definitely have long term effects when we're all older, eye strain, headaches, poor vision, etc.
NOT TRUE!!! BAD HEALTH ADVICE!!!
@@adamabramson2504how?
@@adamabramson2504bozo
but hey, apples stock went all time high for a moment in human history and a bunch of wealthy investors increased their wealth
Reading books all day causes the same issues and people have been doing that for centuries. There are way more people affected now of course.
This is something I’ve worried about so much in the last 5-7 years. I’m so glad you guys made a video on this and can bring everyone together to talk about it
Yeah.
Yeah let's make a whatsapp group to talk about it... no, wait
If you want to procrastinate less and concentrate better on studying you can study with me here. Instead of watching videos on youtube you can have a video of me studying and keeping you company, so you don't get distracted. You can make youtube into something useful instead of a distraction. I study for 1-3 hours with breaks in between while I keep you company If you're interested, feel free to study with study videos of mine Hopefully it will be useful for you...
@@_Ginger_Tea_Nice self promotion. But. Nah ill pass😢
Have you heard of ATOMSUNPLUGGED? There’s two days a week that we turn off our phone for 24 hours. It’s Tuesdays and or Thursdays. They call in no tech Tuesday or no tech Thursday. The thing that makes this so successful is 1. Some folks use it for a free out of work day. The law in the states prohibits the termination of employment due to “ creed or religious beliefs “ and it’s become a “ moral impedance “ to be mandated to use phones at work and in the event they refuse they are deemed unfit to do the job. 2. You start doing it and telling friends about it , it spreads a lot. And quick. It becomes an attachment point where you and your friends essentially re bond over things that the rest of the world forgot. 3. It’s literally like being unplugged in the matrix. A whole different world of experience and events like fight club sort of only the no tech days are to be kept alive by not talking about the cool or fun stuff they did on that day online. I like my no tech days for urban exploration. Others like family vacation. Whatever you’re into or curious about getting into this is a good place to start. 4. Some people litterally do it’s a giant you know what … to alpha beta bad guys like google and ads peoples. 5.Theres almost always someone we know who will do it with you. No matter what you do with it there’s only good that can come of it .
I disabled all social media for 3 months. And started reading again. At first it was difficult, but then my brain started working again. It’s was like a cerebral rehab
I'm on my third year in college and this phone addiction make me hard to focus on lecture or self-studying time. Even if I have assignment pilled up, I still can't stop scrolling, make me have this chronic procrastination. I realize it's bad for me and my future, I want to stop this phone addiction so badly. Your video is so helpful, make me understand how phone make our brain craving more for entertainment. Currently my average screen time is 10 hours per day, and I want to reduce this to 1 or 2 hours per day. Wish me luck!
good luck ❤
I struggled for a long time with phone addiction. A month or so ago I decided something had to change, but even I greyscale mode my phone was so alluring. I ended up replacing it with a flip phone, getting a separate camera and MFA device to replace the important things I was using my smartphone for and I haven't looked back. It seemed impossible and old fashioned at first to not have the whole universe in my palm at all times, but the mental health benefits have been SO worth it. I also have more time to read books and finally finish the billion video games I got too distracted to finish.
Pointless when you replace it with another addiction
What did you use to deal with MFA? I feel like I unconsciously argue with myself a lot in favor of never getting rid of my phone by remembering the more important uses it has. And it feels really hard to disagree. From camera, and personal archives, but mainly the fact that today our phones and numbers ARE the keys we have for a lot of stuff. Like MFA.
@metametodo1014 there are a few places that make physical mfa tokens. Mine is from a company called token2 and I like it well enough! @matt2.052 very true! But fortunately my other hobbies (video games, kites, reading) are something I can put down just as easily as I can pick it up, versus my phone where I would get anxious and irritable if I so much as went out to dinner without my phone
But video games also aren't healthy at all. I recommend using no media at all and go outside in nature, have fun with friends there and a health relationship with a girl. Hope there will be a time where society doesn't rely on digital media anymore
@niklasd03 I go out with friends all the time, and my husband doesn't mind the fact I play video games sometimes. Sometimes we turn it into a group activity where we take turns or play together :)
I've found that if I'm doing something else that's mentally simulating - tabletop games, socializing, playing with my daughter, or one of my myriad craft hobbies - that I have NO desire to check my phone. Doesn't even cross my mind. So I imagine that living in a society in which many of us are working in non-simulating jobs that take up too much of our time and energy to really get into any hobbies is contributing pretty heavily to our screen addictions.
absolutely! It's the human equivalent of the rats in plain empty cages versus the enriched environment in the experiments.
there’s a great video by the book Leo talking about how our stress from a busy life or just dull jobs is what is causing phone addictions, not solely the phones, (she mentions the phones do play a part though, cuz yeah they do)
I struggled with ADHD throughout my school life. In college, I was constantly distracted on my phone instead of studying and I became very depressed. I realized the hard way that I needed a physically active job with a light mental load, and I quit school to clean houses. Now I get to scrub tubs and listen to my audiobooks 😌
@@farelimm Good for you I'm sort of stuck in life and then I go online and go into to search engine to look stuff up but Google for some reason had to put a Twitter bar down below the articles and I might have a really bad compulsion like my head will literally start hurting or get worried if I don't check comments on Twitter or Reddit and etc. I already know it's going to be bad but my brain is like nope you will feel anger and annoyed my biggest problem with internet in general is how people get online and run there mouths like I try to be respectful but everybody gets heart when there online and feel they can just say and make fun of people or kick people when there down and out like wow. Like I don't understand people it seems sorry for the rant friend but I had to get this off my chest and that being said I guess I should just stay away from anything involving politics or sports on the Internet because people turn sadistic and my mental state is not as good as use to be.😢
@@depressed3083 I understand the comment compulsion, I have the same problem. Only thing that has helped me with that is to simply limit my internet time. In the meantime, change your username, open your curtains, and close the laptop. Get some vitamin D and fresh air, my friend! Drink water!! Volunteer for a good cause and do kind things for those who need it! Most of all, each day is a gift. Being thankful every day no matter how dark circumstances seemed helped me out of my own head and got me focused on others. Cheers 🥂
Thank you SO much for the video. When I do have a day that’s not centred around my phone, I feel so much happier. If I’m on my phone all day, I feel like the day has been wasted and it makes me feel really down and upset with myself. This is exactly what I needed to hear today.
I've always been pretty anti social media and anti phone but have still fallen into the hole. Best of luck to everyone in fighting what I consider to be the great drug of our time
Same!!!
I don't use social media but I am still addicted to KZhead. A type of social media itself. Trying to limit that.
The only way I was able to honestly stop my phone addiction was completely deleting all social media platforms. I only use KZhead, and it’s not the same quick and constant stimulation or attention I would receive from other users. But that’s not the case for everyone and I am fortunate enough that I do not require advertising or content within my career.
Ya, this is a good move. I don't post on Social Media anymore, unless you count Reddit where I'll post questions sometimes. I'm on KZhead for about an hour a day, but otherwise have other things to do. It's freeing.
KZhead shorts should also be avoided
I did the same. And when using youtube, I navigate straight to my subscription feed instead of the homepage so that "the algorithm" can not trick me into watching videos/shorts I don't care about.
@@diyeaname too
I'm on KZhead, Discord, and Reddit for the most part. I look at discord memes too often. A huge part of my introverted lifestyle is talking with people online. Not sure where to draw the line there.@@diyeana
One day I caught myself picking up and checking my phone like every 5 minutes while watching TV. When I noticed the behavior I got mad and decided to start limiting my phone access. On Sundays I don’t touch my phone at all and I can’t tell you how relaxed and free I feel on my Sundays. I think I’m going to start doing that more than just on Sundays. Like leave it in the other room every evening, or when working, etc. Thanks for discussing this. It’s definitely a problem.
Man I struggle with this. It is so hard to stay away from your phone while watching TV and then you miss what goes on in the TV show. I would love to know how long it took you to get over this
@@garlicman82 It was surprisingly not difficult. When the phone is in the other room and I catch myself starting to reach for it, realizing it's in the other room, I'm also reminded that I left it in the other room on purpose so I'd stop compulsively checking it. It has probably also helped that I was just so irritated with my behavior that I just don't want to repeat it, so it's easier for me to just leave it in the other room. Good luck to you! If I can do it, you can!
@@kellyro77 ahhh cool. Well I appreciate the encouragement !
One step at a time
ATOMSUNPLUGGED has no tech Tuesdays or Thursdays. Just ask that you keep what you do with those you do it with off the internet, and spread it around so more of us can re bond re bound and revive UNPLUGGED. plus you actually make money by doing it, less advertising in your face !
After watching this, I decided to go for a 20 minute walk outside and left my phone at home. I actually had more pleasure in that 20 minute walk outside than I did 5 hours watching KZhead on my phone. Put the phone down, get out there and start living!
I mean realistically, it’s hard to be a member of society and not use a phone. That being said, the way social media apps have been engineered and the constant need to stay “in the know” with corrupted media is definitely destroying us.
As a teacher, I see the addiction firsthand of all of my students. I’ve been trying to cut back on my phone use, and I’m excited to have some tips to try.
For me, since I live alone, using phone helps counter that loneliness. Hence it has now become a compulsion
I am happy to know that researchers are interested in this subject because I have been noticing people self diagnosing themselves with ADHD and I am almost entirely sure it’s because of the fast lifestyle we have nowadays. For example we went from hunting to grocery shopping then cooking to just ordering food online with a press of a button. We went from sewing our own clothes to going to the mall to buy them and finally a press of a button, our attention span has been greatly impacted by the fast lifestyle. 2) social interactions have been way more difficult since everyone is so used to texting and/ or calling. Everyone has social anxiety now. 3) money flies I literally cannot keep money in my account I keep buying stuff online all the time. My phone is my life and I hate it and I am actively trying to decrease my attachment and explain to others how the fast life/ consuming lifestyle is ruining us and our children
Totally agree with you.
Same. I’ve been told how mature of an adult I became when i graduated high school and when i heard that I felt like i was ready for retirement and planning my funeral
Good luck to you for keeping a healthy lifestyle. And Not to ignore most of your points, but I really hate how people went on about how mall shopping is terrible because of the over consumerism but now everyone’s ordering foods via apps and going on Amazon to buy everything.
Technology has ruined us all.
Try minimalism and use flip phones instead.
I think it's also hard to get off the internet now, schools, work, even restaurants at times almost integrate the internet/phone to everything. It kind of sucks to know that I was able to live without a phone back then and I wish I had waited to get a phone. I got it right before covid and that was probably not a great time to have it in that setting
true. We use are our phones to pay for things now such as the DC Metro. Businesses seem to expect that everyone has a smartphone which they carry with them everywhere
Boomers used to preach against computer/phone overuse so much but now they shuddup because the economy is digital. It was bad as long we were doing it for fun, now it's "for work and necessary". Overuse is guided and legitimised top-down from the economy.
If you want to procrastinate less and concentrate better on studying you can study with me here. Instead of watching videos on youtube you can have a video of me studying and keeping you company, so you don't get distracted. You can make youtube into something useful instead of a distraction. I study for 1-3 hours with breaks in between while I keep you company If you're interested, feel free to study with study videos of mine Hopefully it will be useful for you...
it sucks to be born on this generation
@@sabrinadiyorioYou can choose to opt out and not participate. And I think more and more people of your generation are feeling that way and wanting to, but they don't want to be the odd one out among their peers. Maybe you could improve your own life while at the same time showing other people that it's possible ... you could be a leader in improving life for your generation and those that follow..
this is reassuring. i have been really distressed recently from feeling like i’ve become…less smart. i think really it’s that i can’t pay attention to things the way i used to and i ruins myself compulsively reaching for my phone for things to laugh at. the month i spent in a hospital where patients weren’t allowed our phones was actually really good for my mental health. it’s hard, though, when your closest friends live far away and the main way you interact with them is via the phone. maybe deleting apps like youtube, tiktok, and instagram with those endless video feeds would be helpful too
You are not alone, I too self critic myself for being addicted thinking I’m becoming less intelligent and stuttering in speech.
Thank you for doing this video! I see phone addiction with everyone in my life, including myself. It's such a problem that only awareness can combat. Or the Internet just blowing up.
Thank you, this has been such a plague for me. I’m 8 months sober and this is one part of my addiction spectrum that proves most challenging to disengage with. Will be trying some of the tips to try and reclaim my life back!
This video came at the exact same time I was trying to put my phone down lol I miss the old days, when phones were meant for calls, SMS and snake game.
I love snake game
And you could determine how long a friend spent on their phone by their high score in snake 😂
Snake game???
@@rebeccahylant7695 yeah
@@rebeccahylant7695I think they mean one were a pixel collects other pixel and grows, the shape was like a snake.
I share my phone with my 2 kids who are 12 and 17. The fact that we do not each have our own personal, private device that does everything really prevents us from spending too much time and getting too attached. The mobile phone is used like an umbrella, in that you take it if you are going out and think you need it.
wow,the method you use is excellent!GOOD IDEA!
How do you call each other?
@@joeyswoosh5 we do not call each other much, but we have a home phone. My oldest daughter has an iphone 4 that is only good for texts and calls. My husband has a work cell phone. This "technique" is not something I developed to try to minimize phone time, but rather just not buying any phones and using castoffs from family members as they upgrade.
@@joeyswoosh5Skype I guess
@@Abcd-jz4gpto be able to contact them when out and about without having to use other people's phones/landlines
I have always loved your videos. Learning about and understanding your addictions makes them so much easier to overcome
Thank you for putting so much time and research into helping others. I’m going to try these three steps.
It’s not about the phonе but about the overusing of social media. The knife can cut the meal or kills.
Yeah i agree all (if not most) the negatives could be linked back to social media
It's not just social media, people get addicted to all sorts of things on the internet
Not just social media, video games are also there.
preach 🙌
Not just social media. I don't have any of the popular social medias but I'm still addicted to my phone. Deleting the distracting apps has freed up space and attention to work on actual projects that will improve my skills and my life, but I always relapse back to my phone eventually.
Back in the day we didn't realize these things were an option... and life was better. We actually came over peoples houses and welcomed them in. Not avoided calls and interaction. I miss those days.
They're gone forever
@@pouyan_m I know 😞
@amycohen5 Ive come so far that now i wish i was born before invention of samrtphone and internet
I sincerely wish I was born ten years earlier for many reasons and having an entire childhood without a smartphone would be a very good reason.
@@iantaakalla8180 i agree
Thank you for you for this video! I never thought to look into the brain chemistry of phone addiction, I had always assumed that the phone addicts were irresponsible. This changes my perspective and is helpful should anyone ask me one day to help with their phone addiction. Once again thank you!
I’ve been saying this for years. Thank you for putting it all together in a succinct video. I will like and share!
Love these tips! I think going camping somewhere without service can be a great way to reset. I always feel so much more happy after a period of time without phone service!
i noticed i was only going to do fun things so i could post about it later, rather than for my own enjoyment. i also realized how much i tie my self esteem to social media and comparing myself to others online. i deleted tiktok and twitter entirely and am working on only taking photos of fun things to have memories and not to post on my insta story. i def havent been perfect but it is slowly helping. the biggest challenge is not replacing tt with other things like yt
This is one of the most important videos out there. Thank you for making this. Nice work 🤘
Thank you so much for this information. This video was very well put together. I am a young mom and I have been struggling so much with my phone use. I've been going to therapy to heal from trauma and doing other things to become more healthy and well, and I can see how getting control of my phone use is going to be an important part of my Wellness journey.
Not being addicted to social media and deleting many apps is enough I wouldn't dare go from 100 to 0; there are healthier ways than that!
I use my phone to have reminders, shopping lists, what I need to pick up from certain places, when I have appointments. Its more convenient than anything else for me.
God forbid you use your phone to listen to music to help you concentrate on work, listen to music while working out, or even *gasp* listen to an audiobook (bonus points for reading the physical copy along with listening to the audio)...
I’ve replayed the delivery at 4:54 so many times 😂 I love this channel! Thank you for making these topics so fun to learn about ❤
I think it's a very important topic that doesn't get enough attention. I hope your video helps to start a conversation about phone addiction. It's a problem that we can all overcome together.
A half step between between giving your social media credentials is deleting the apps and accessing them on the phone browser. It may seems meaningless but having access to your socials without the notifications helps more than it seems
This. Also, i would like whatsapp can have a log off option. Im trying to focus on my work and i noticed that the stories option on social media is a trap, because people tend to compare themselves and their activities
Just turn off notifications
@@susannewillert2685 That’s what I did. I will admit that KZhead is still my kryptonite, though. So. Much. Information. 🤗
@@nikindd I have a WhatsApp that I can turn off the wifi in. It helps SO MUCH especially if I'm studying something on my phone
Yeah, I think often even a small barrier is enough to give you a moment to think if you actually want to go on that app or if you're just compulsively checking it.
I used to be addicted to my phone and it's taken about a year to improve my phone use. There's still more improvements to make but it's a long and active process.
I highly respect what your guys are doing, keep up the great research To be honest, addiction, media, fomo has never been a problem for me, and this topic annoys me to no end (this is like being bought to a seminar on gambling when I don’t buy from ticket machines)
Thank you. I’ve always loved your channel. Your personality is refreshing too. This channel, and this video especially, have been extremely helpful
I suffered the borderline disorder for over 23 years. With so much anxiety Not until I came across psilocybin mushrooms treatmentPsilocybin treatment actually saved my life honestly. 6 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms
Microdosing helped me get out of the pit of my worst depressive episode, a three year long episodeenough to start working on my mental health
Can you help with the reliable source I would really appreciate it Many people talk about mushrooms and psychedelics but nobody talks about where to get them. Very hard to get a reliable source here in Germany. Really need
Yes, dr.poras. I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
The shroom experience stands as my most remarkable journey, an awe-inspiring encounter that left an indelible mark of amazement.
Is he on instagram?
I love this channel’s content. It always comes at just the right time.
Shoutout to my brothers and sisters who practically forget their phones exist once their laptop or desktop PC is booted up 👊
I’ma middle boomer who has been working at a computer since the 80s. I love my phone, but I’m a natural introvert and I always found social media hugely intrusive. I think that’s the thing that has saved me from addiction. I use my phone all day long but my feedback is set so I hear when I have a message, so I don’t worry about missing important things.
I switched to a flip phone for awhile, that really helped. Eventually though, I switched back because it is so much easier to communicate with my family and navigate with a smartphone. I appreciate these practical suggestions.
The grey scale method mentioned in the video definitely works ! When everything is black and white, content becomes so boring and you harder want to use your phone. When it’s turned off though the screen does look so vibrant too
yo wtf, i literally just joked to my bf about how “there must be a magnetic field between my hand and my phone, bc holy sh*t, i have a problem” and then not even 2 seconds later , i got a notification for this video 💀💀💀
You just have a problem... especially if your on tik tok, insta, twitter, Facebook the main social media. I'm only on KZhead and that's technically a video platform.
@@shaunmacready701 i just watch youtube and play games on my phone mostly 💀
@anniemontion8816 yeah incase your curious go into your settings well being and just check out how much time you spend on your apps etc. My daughter used to say she doesn't spend much time on social media, then we checked her stats and I was like yeah you do. My wife says I don't use Facebook much, checked stats. Yes she spent most her time without realising. I'm about 35 hours a week that's including d8sney plus, netflix, which is 25 hours a week I don't watch TV I use mobile only in bed at night. When off work I use an app for s video game I play around 5 hours per week and 4 hour on KZhead. I listen to meditation music to fall asleep too. Check out your wellbeing stats you might be surprised.
nah that's so real, there must be a magnetic field between mine too. 💀
Jesús loves you
Before COVID, I had a routine down where I didn’t use my phone unless for directions, messages, or other bare bones purposes. I put the phone on black and white mode, kept it in a backpack instead of in my pocket, and used the time I’d be on my phone at night to meditate. Trying to get back into that habit.
I’ve always been relieved of not watching tv, not needing it constantly in the background like, needing it to sleep. I read instead, constantly, ravenously. I haven’t read a book or play or any poetry for over three years now. I need KZhead constantly going. And, while I’ve always been depressed, I’ve never been THIS despondent, this unwilling to pull myself from the pit of despair I’m currently deeply entrenched in. This video was, ironically, just what I needed right now.
This introvert is shielded by nature against addiction to all social media. I feel so free, so unburdened. It's AMAZING.
I recall watching a seminar by Dr. Russell Barkley on ADHD. He discussed how willpower and self-control are essentially genetic traits that we are born with. It's primarily linked to the functionality of our prefrontal cortex. He mentioned that phones themselves do not cause shorter attention spans and addiction. Instead, individuals with ADHD, which involves a delay in prefrontal cortex development, can become more prone to phone addiction. This might also clarify why 70% of people do not report being addicted to phones?
Russell Barkley is the bomb when it comes to executive functioning. Love his stuff.
But can't they be increased?
I have diagnoses adhd (both attentive and innatentive type) and I can safely say I am not addicted to my phone. I have a very hard time going on social media even if it's to text back a friend. I haven't used instagram in over a year, and the only things I do use my phond for are for youtube, sending my fiancé snaps while he is at work, and checking emails and texts from family. All this to say i believe we are definitely still more at risk, but i do think the 70% makes up a ton of people with and without ADHD. My theory is that Symptoms of ADHD are becoming more and more common in people who don't have it due to the same parts of the brain being effected by social media. I also am an adamant believer that executive function can be trained and improved, as i have becomd better at controlling my adhd the less i give in to impulses. Rant over, just wanted to share a perspective 😊
@@mmmmmmkatata Yes and no, I guess to his extend there are techniques and training methods that will increase people's attention spam & will power, it is like building muscle, if you dont sustain it you will lose it (for ADHD patients to this case) .
Dr. Barkley states that most ADHD patients experience improvement in their early 30s, likely due to a 30-40% delay in prefrontal cortex development. I'm noticing increased productivity, better self-control, and reduced impulsiveness right now in my late 20s comapre to my early years. I definitely believe and have high hopes in executive function training, but I also know that was something impossible for me to stick to when I were younger.@@vivyn6349
this was so great i’ll probably rewatch until i internalize it! something i like to do is put my phone in different places at night, sometimes under the couch so that when my alarm goes off i have to physically out of bed and tend to scroll less that way! good luck to us all out here
Thanks for the explanation! Always helpful for me to understand the problem at its core so I can start making long lasting changes rather than just getting mad at myself for the symptoms
I think phone addiction is partially contributed to more than one cause. While it indeed is very rewarding to people to use their phones, it doesn't necessarily mean that the mayority would prefer it over every other task. Therefore i also suspect that reducing screentime does not guarantee improvements at all. It all comes down to what was missing prior to phone usage. Distance between people increased, life became fast paced, expectations rose, the environment offers less freedom (like more restrictions in what you can do, like "you can't ride your bike this way" or you can't walk that way because it's now owned by xy"). The phones get better, but the playgrounds for our children didn't. We cannot just quit phones for good. Some people need it even more than others ro avoid being abandoned, because their network do not grew their roots close nearby. In a world that gets more and more complex, the root issue digs deeper and deeper and will be harder to get a grip on. The dilemma is that therefore your audience shrinks, because you have to get more abstract and theoretical too. For many people that means that they may have a hard time identifying what really holds them back.
I went on a cruise recently and didn’t want to pay for WiFi/service while out of the country. Ended up turning off my phone and not using it for 5 days straight. I didn’t even have a way to tell the time and left it on the boat when going on excursions. It was weird/scary going out in a foreign country with no phone but I was with friends that had theirs. Really wild to go 5 days checking nothing. Felt nice
I definitely relate a lot to this video. For me, it got to the point where I had to erase all my social media profiles entirely. KZhead is the only one I kept. I still notice symptoms of addition though. This video is inspiring me to talk to my wife about what we want our family technology boundaries to look like.
A good way to motivate is toward something, rather than away from it. Picking up a new or old hobby or dedicating a time slot to pray or eat mindfully is a good tip I found helpful, rather than “I’m going to use my phone less.”
I've been on reddit allll day while visiting my dad I haven't seen in years and just can't u glue... I was literaly thinking about my endless scrolling addiction just moments before opening KZhead and seeing this pop up... Very eerie... But I did need to see this. Ive always struggled to perform well at my jobs and I got a dog walking job and it's one of the only jobs I've been able to hold solely because I can look at memes and listen to podcasts the whole time. I need to work on this
You'll get there. It just takes time and little tenacity, so try to be patient and especially good to yourself on days when things don't go your way. Wishing you the best.🙏🙏
This really made me think about how bad my phone, pc and internet addiction is.
Hanging out with friends in a place that's close to nature works like a charm. Talking out the good and shitty things you did over the past few days to your friends relaxes your mind. Just don't stick out your phone while hanging out except for taking pics maybe.
Thanks for putting into words some of the thoughts that I've had about phones and mental health issues. Years before the advent of Smartphones there was an episode of Max Headroom that predicated a "video virus" that took over the minds of the people who saw it. The instant gratification of the smartphones and their aps follows that notion. We need to go back to flip-phones with B'n'W tiny displays.
I’m watching this on my phone right now 😂
Same lol
This has been a serious issue for children. Do you have any suggestion to approach this to help these age groups? Please make a video if possible, thank you for the awesome content!
You probably helped me a lot in solving my life, with several videos. Thank you for this amazing work on your videos.
I have BPD and one of the first things my DPT counselor said was no alcohol and no social media, I can't believe the difference it makes in my life!!! After being sucked back in for a little over a month I could see the difference and I was able to break free again. Once week in and I am feeling so much better
I used to be addicted. But then I switched to a Note device and its my main work device. The only entertainment app I use it YT. I have zero social media and prefer to listen to my content in the background rather than watch.
As someone with a chronic illness and therefore limited energy, I'm watching screens a lot. One thing I'm finding helpful is to use a timed lock. I'll lock my phone and sometimes remotes in my backpack for 2 or 3 hours at a time. That way it only takes a couple seconds of willpower vs 2-3 hours of willpower to not use it. I figure that if I'm legitimately too exhausted to do anything, I can lie in bed, meditate, etc, but often I end up doing more active things for at least part of the time.
This is rlly good advice. Hope your symptoms aren't too bad
Same here. I barely use social media (unless KZhead counts), but my iPad is usually my source of entertainment when I really don’t have the energy for much else. It’s difficult to know whether I should prioritize screen use so I can connect with others, learn new things and be entertained or if the cons outweigh the pros and I should learn to have a bit more of a boring life. Timed lock sounds like a good idea, though
@@creativename3256Read a paper book and lock yourself out of your phone. This is my plan. ❤
This is great, I’m working on this with my therapist.
Thank you. As more schools are starting to use phone lock bags, I think this video will be helpful.
Thank you for giving a roadmap of what we’re getting into in the beginning instead of guiding us through how we’re screwed and then not givin’ advice on how to get over it.
I do most of these things and I'm so so glad I took action as soon as I felt something was wrong (back in 2016 lol). I'm not sure if you guy mentioned it on the video, but I also like to turn off my notifications, mute certain people's stories on sm, and of course unfollow a few users every now and then. That way I feel I have more control over my phone cause I literally just pick it up to see very specific things and then ba bye! It is also important to replace that time doing other activities, don't just forbid yourself cause then you'll go back to your phone cause is more entertaining.
I watch these videos with skepticism and at the same time I look for info on them. I don’t have a phone problem but this video just sparked curiosity bout it. Thank you 🎉
Sometimes I'll forget to bring my phone to work and feel lost all day, having to read a magazine or do a crossword puzzle for lunch. When I get home and check it- I'm like, oh- I didn't miss anything important. That wasn't so bad really.
Strongly recommend setting time limits for addictive apps as it really helps bring that screentime back to a healthy range. It would be good if the iphone notification that you've reached the time limit didn't have a single press for another 15min though
i often get overwhelmed with the sadness that i didn’t get to live life without technology. it gives the opportunity to learn so much but it closes the mind at the same time. it’s something for sure
Well, yes. Like it's been more than one month I'm trying to live without a phone throughout all day, and I can tell you... I'm doing really better. I started writing my journal everyday, hanging out with friends, reading and attending workshop of my interest. It actually helps you to find your own self also .
Great video! I SERIOUSLY need to minimize my phone use. I’ve been using my phone constantly since I was 12 years old and it’s a true addiction at this point. I’ve been trying to figure out better ways to spend my time like reading, drawing, or physical activities I enjoy
@@ALY_SAIFUDDIN I honestly felt the opposite, time going too slow while using my phone
I have definitely noticed that being on my phone for long periods, especially playing ges, kills my motivation. It's validating to hear that there are physiological reasons.for that, but now to chamge.the patterns! I have also observed that phenomenon of people, especially kids who grew up on phones, being harder to engage--the anhedonia you mention. Sort of confirms that I'm not just imagining that. It's a worrying trend.
I used to configure time limits for social media apps or sometimes I simply delete them. Also I have the screen time widget in my home screen that reminds me how much time I lost in my phone. It really helps!
Literally yesterday I decided to not use my phone for half the day, I felt so free and relieving being with my thoughts and thinking in the moment
Living* in the moment
FOMO seriously affected me almost a decade ago, and I didn't have the knowledge or vocabulary to express the anxiety I felt. As a music lover, I was so sad when my iPod nano finally gave out because *I knew* it meant increasing my phone use, simply to listen to music. I use my tablet & speaker at home, but out the door or on the go, I have no choice.
Yeah, Apple really needs to bring back the ipod nano. Especially the ipod classic.
Just a quick correction on the charging related point that you mentioned, you shouldn't charge your phone in a closed drawer or somewhere similar, as it could potentially heat up due to poor airflow and cause an unwanted fire. Rest of the video was pretty on point though.
great combo of vulnerability and info! we're all in this together. also unrelated but damn i love your shirt the colors and patterns are wonderful and you look great in it!
It’s ironic how an AD for instagram was right before your video. Thank you for sharing this, I’m going to make some changes
I wish he had included all screens rather than emphasizing phones so much. Computer gaming is so addictive.
Interesting, although, I'm still old school and consume my social media the old-fashioned way, though a computer. However, I am in front of my computer most of the day, so a lot of this probably still applies. I justify most of my social media use because I'm using it to promote my books (which is my sole source of income), so it's hard to separate out how much I'm doing it for the dopamine and how much for self-preservation.
Same, and in the pandemic days it was the only way to work
@nikindd my work has required me to be in front of a computer for decades, through a couple of different careers. Pandemic didn't change my life nearly as much as it changed it for most folks.
I took up knitting. It forces me to be off my phone by keeping my hands busy, is calming, and I get a cool handmade project in the end.
Love the energy. New sub. I am going flip phone as long as I can this year to take a break from the constant app notifications. Calls and texts is enough.
This video comes right at the time I'm realising I'm addicted to my phone/PC. I've always known I spent too much time on it, going to bed super late at night, going hours straight switching to the next app once I'm done with the previous one. I attributed it to my next level procrastination, because it doesn't matter if I turn off my phone or hide it, I always find a way to get distracted one way or the other so I don't have to do anything productive. But now I realise it's a chicken and the egg issue, I probably struggle with procrastination and self control *because* I grew up getting addicted to my phone as a young introverted teenager. I tried so many times to ditch bad habits and build better ones, to limit my screentime and actually put effort into doing productive things, but I could never hold a habit for longer than a month so I gave up trying. Now I'm finally trying again cause that's the only way.
If it makes you feel any better, I have the same problem with procrastination, and I grew up without cell phones and with a limited amount of decent TV programming. I spend too much time on my phone, not necessarily out of a desire to see what’s on it, but to avoid doing other tasks, like taking a shower, doing the dishes, etc. I tried going mostly phoneless for a week and still found ways to futz around and accomplish nothing.
Try using app blockers on your phone and website blockers on your PC. I use both on strict mode, and they work for me.
Take everything one step at a time
@@evilsharkey8954 Thanks, it does make me feel a tiny bit better, haha. But yeah it's a constant struggle of knowing what's going on and what's wrong but still not acting on it, or failing to do so successfully. And you're right, the phone is clearly not the root cause of the bigger problem, I remember going 3 months without one, years ago, and not finding it hard at all (I still had access to a PC, but still). But a phone in your hand does makes it a lot easier to find a way of avoiding tasks, when we could at least be avoiding them with healthier activities lol. I find myself reading when my phone dies unexpectedly and I take it as a chance to do something else while it's charging. And I used to clean my room when I had to do my homework and had already put my phone away in another room. Anything will do, when avoiding tasks, even other tasks as well lol! We should learn to do that more often I guess, using tasks as means to avoiding other tasks. In all seriousness, talking about it with a therapist could help recognise the reasons behind this tendency, which is probably a defense mechanism gone wrong, and help find ways to deal with it in a way that it doesn't interfere as much with our daily lives.
I watch KZhead for 1 hour a day and picked your video as one of them today. I find that hilarious and wonderful. I agree with you, cell phones are ruining society. Look up and enjoy the view, everyone. ❤
Impossible, there's so many good recommendations on KZhead I end up watching for 9 hours straight
@@richfactualsavage6219 I admit sometimes I turn off my timer and keep watching. YT knows what they're doing.
@@richfactualsavage6219 I feel like I have this issue. I dont use my phone a lot but I am on YT for long periods of time. Maybe I should limit my time on this website too.
This made so much sense. I find that if I got about a week without my phone, I find the little things so much more thrilling and rewarding, I.e. drinking a cup of coffee or reading a book
I picked up a new hobby crocheting and now instead of being on my phone I work on my hobby. I crochet while waiting for appointments, after school car rider lines, and in the evening on the couch. I actually noticed a change in my stress, mood, interactions with people, and my reward is creating something. I have obtained so many compliments and conversation starters with people of all ages and young adult men are actually amazed and start up conversations. Don’t get me wrong I still get on my phone but my usage daily has decreased a lot. It has now been 5 months and I love my new hobby. Just thought I would share.
I feel like there is a missing distinction between "screen time" and "social media" because there is a lot of overlap but they are different and I think likely effect us differently. I'm an avid reader and read a lot online, often on my phone. Is this effecting me in the same way that someone who spends that same amount of time scrolling on tiktok or twitter? Is spending 7 hours watching youtube educational content the same negative effect as using instagram? I really want to know the more of the details on these things. Cuz on one hand the effects on posture and sight are likely the same, but does it effect dopamine and negatively impact mental health the same?
Omg I was gonna comment something similar ! me too with reading and I am concerned lol
Exactly, because you've been selectived of what you see or what you read, and not only just receiving random information without control.
I wondered this exact same thing through the whole video. Eg. watching study lectures from your phone is very different thing from doom scrolling instagram, but both are 'screen time'
I think as far as dope goes, it is better to read a physical book than electronic. But is it as bad as tiktok? Definitely not! I would say to try to get books for your local library or buy then physically if you can. I realize this isn't always feasible, but imagine a world with no libraries. That just doesn't sit right with me. I go and check books out even if I don't get to reading them just so they stay around. Its amazing the wealth of knowledge most folks have access to at their local library. Plus many libraries are beautiful and offer a unique experience and vibe when visiting.
THIS. My personal hobbies are to make music using FL studio and use my drawing tablet to draw environments. This technically counts as screen time, but it’s not negatively impacting me the same way scrolling through KZhead shorts does to me. I think there should be a distinction between the two