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Screen Time: How to make peace with your devices and find your techquilibrium
Rather than going cold turkey or fighting against the finely calibrated, billion-dollar barrage of demands for our attention that ping up on our phones, we need to know how to strike a healthier balance with our devices. If we can understand the ways in which our phones affect every area of our lives, from our concentration to our body image, then we can start making the small shifts that will add up to ensure our technology is working for us, not the other way around.
Forget aiming for inbox zero and screen-free instead, learn to reassess your relationship with your phone on your own terms, spotting what works for you and what doesn't.
Your phone? Your rules.
Forget aiming for inbox zero and screen-free instead, learn to reassess your relationship with your phone on your own terms, spotting what works for you and what doesn't.
Your phone? Your rules.
355 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2021
9 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Becca Caddy
2 books6 followersHi, I’m Becca!
I’m a freelance writer and author, specialising in consumer technology, popular science and the future.
I write about things like the importance of giving robots eyes, why we need to take harassment in virtual spaces seriously, what physicists think about the multiverse we see in movies, and whether you’ll own a flying car one day (probably not).
Over the past ten years I’ve had bylines in all kinds of titles, including Metro, OneZero, Inverse, The Observer, Insider, Wired UK, Stuff, New Scientist, Gizmodo UK, T3, How it Works, All About Space, MSN, ShinyShiny, Lifehacker, Wareable, TechRadar, and many others.
My first book, Screen Time, was published by Bonnier Books (Blink Publishing) in January 2021. It’s a guide to help people find a better balance with the technology they use every day. One reviewer called it “a love letter to tech while also setting healthy boundaries to ensure you can keep loving it,” which I think sums it up perfectly
Alongside an endless fascination with technology, science and the future, I have a soft spot for all things science-fiction, Arthurian legend, brutalist architecture and floating through the stars in VR.
I’m a freelance writer and author, specialising in consumer technology, popular science and the future.
I write about things like the importance of giving robots eyes, why we need to take harassment in virtual spaces seriously, what physicists think about the multiverse we see in movies, and whether you’ll own a flying car one day (probably not).
Over the past ten years I’ve had bylines in all kinds of titles, including Metro, OneZero, Inverse, The Observer, Insider, Wired UK, Stuff, New Scientist, Gizmodo UK, T3, How it Works, All About Space, MSN, ShinyShiny, Lifehacker, Wareable, TechRadar, and many others.
My first book, Screen Time, was published by Bonnier Books (Blink Publishing) in January 2021. It’s a guide to help people find a better balance with the technology they use every day. One reviewer called it “a love letter to tech while also setting healthy boundaries to ensure you can keep loving it,” which I think sums it up perfectly
Alongside an endless fascination with technology, science and the future, I have a soft spot for all things science-fiction, Arthurian legend, brutalist architecture and floating through the stars in VR.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 30 reviews
March 13, 2021
Thank you Harper Collins for providing me a copy of this book to review.
It was coincidental that I was talking to a friend about digital minimalism and this book happened to come my way within days of that. Becca Caddy's book contains 10 essays on technology's impact on - addiction, mental health, connection, work, body image among others. I wanted to enjoy this book and for the first 100 or so pages I did but then it got repetitive and slow really quickly.
My biggest qualm can be summed up by this quote on page 244 - "...The spot on my phone's home screen where the calorie-counting app I used to open 15-20 times a day is now taken up by an app which measures my moods. " As an antidote to whichever technological problem is mentioned, the author advocates using other applications far too much. I understand she's a tech journalist so it's part of the job for her but some of the suggestion were so bizarre - using apps to track your sleep, playing ambient music playlists while sleeping, buying a smartwatch and connecting your phone so that you can read them on the watch and need not pick your phone - amongst many. Further, the author quotes ample research through 300+ pages and just doesn't commit to any side ever. I'm all for nuance but this book is just her throwing her hands up and going 'It depends' on every single issue, which is frustrating as a reader.
However, it is written in a direct and accessible manner. There are plenty of tips in every chapter, were you to follow them, and all the chapters end with a bulleted summary which was helpful to recap the content. I suspect I was not the audience for this. It felt like it was written for someone who's in way too deep with their phones and can't cut down on anything. What I was keen on reading on was how stepping away from my phone is actually what I need to be doing.
It was coincidental that I was talking to a friend about digital minimalism and this book happened to come my way within days of that. Becca Caddy's book contains 10 essays on technology's impact on - addiction, mental health, connection, work, body image among others. I wanted to enjoy this book and for the first 100 or so pages I did but then it got repetitive and slow really quickly.
My biggest qualm can be summed up by this quote on page 244 - "...The spot on my phone's home screen where the calorie-counting app I used to open 15-20 times a day is now taken up by an app which measures my moods. " As an antidote to whichever technological problem is mentioned, the author advocates using other applications far too much. I understand she's a tech journalist so it's part of the job for her but some of the suggestion were so bizarre - using apps to track your sleep, playing ambient music playlists while sleeping, buying a smartwatch and connecting your phone so that you can read them on the watch and need not pick your phone - amongst many. Further, the author quotes ample research through 300+ pages and just doesn't commit to any side ever. I'm all for nuance but this book is just her throwing her hands up and going 'It depends' on every single issue, which is frustrating as a reader.
However, it is written in a direct and accessible manner. There are plenty of tips in every chapter, were you to follow them, and all the chapters end with a bulleted summary which was helpful to recap the content. I suspect I was not the audience for this. It felt like it was written for someone who's in way too deep with their phones and can't cut down on anything. What I was keen on reading on was how stepping away from my phone is actually what I need to be doing.
December 19, 2021
Disclaimer: I have received this Review copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Neither the publisher, the author nor any third party pay any fee or otherwise offer compensation in exchange for this coverage, and no company was given a preview of the content or given copy approval rights concerning the same.
QoTD : How much Screen Time do you have daily ?
Until recently , my screen time (including phone , desktop(excluding work) and TV ) was close to 6 hours per day. I'm trying to bring it down to under three.
The book that I read and reviewed just before this one was about Artificial Intelligence and its Future. And reading this book just right after , i think , was the right call. While that book focused on the issues with people spending more and more time daily in front of the screens(this book does that too , rather briefly ) , this book gives actual solutions.
The Blurb : Fed up with your screen time going up and up every week, but unable to give up your phone? It’s time for a new, balanced approach.
Rather than going cold turkey or fighting against the finely calibrated, billion-dollar barrage of demands for our attention that ping up on our phones, we need to know how to strike a healthier balance with our devices. If we can understand the ways in which our phones affect every area of our lives, from our concentration to our body image, then we can start making the small shifts that will add up to ensure our technology is working for us, not the other way around.
Forget aiming for inbox zero and screen-free days: instead, learn to reassess your relationship with your phone on your own terms, spotting what works for you and what doesn’t.
Your phone? Your rules.
So the book is exactly what the blurb talks about , it talks about how addiction is bad (I mean Duh!) , how screen time affects ones mental health , focus , work , responsibilities and many more things . It also focuses on how to use your screen time more efficiently and how to be more productive , rather than procrastinating and binging on TikTok or Netflix. The author herself is a tech journalist , so she knows what she is talking about.
I will suggest this book to both people who are trying to be more productive with their electronics , and to parents who are worried for their kids having too much screen time.
QoTD : How much Screen Time do you have daily ?
Until recently , my screen time (including phone , desktop(excluding work) and TV ) was close to 6 hours per day. I'm trying to bring it down to under three.
The book that I read and reviewed just before this one was about Artificial Intelligence and its Future. And reading this book just right after , i think , was the right call. While that book focused on the issues with people spending more and more time daily in front of the screens(this book does that too , rather briefly ) , this book gives actual solutions.
The Blurb : Fed up with your screen time going up and up every week, but unable to give up your phone? It’s time for a new, balanced approach.
Rather than going cold turkey or fighting against the finely calibrated, billion-dollar barrage of demands for our attention that ping up on our phones, we need to know how to strike a healthier balance with our devices. If we can understand the ways in which our phones affect every area of our lives, from our concentration to our body image, then we can start making the small shifts that will add up to ensure our technology is working for us, not the other way around.
Forget aiming for inbox zero and screen-free days: instead, learn to reassess your relationship with your phone on your own terms, spotting what works for you and what doesn’t.
Your phone? Your rules.
So the book is exactly what the blurb talks about , it talks about how addiction is bad (I mean Duh!) , how screen time affects ones mental health , focus , work , responsibilities and many more things . It also focuses on how to use your screen time more efficiently and how to be more productive , rather than procrastinating and binging on TikTok or Netflix. The author herself is a tech journalist , so she knows what she is talking about.
I will suggest this book to both people who are trying to be more productive with their electronics , and to parents who are worried for their kids having too much screen time.
March 12, 2021
How many times have you opened Instagram, watched one reel, got sucked down a black hole of endless memes and reels, and emerged after 500 years to a completely different era? Because I seem to do it at least once everyday!
When the COVID pandemic started my reliance on tech increased even more - I was pretty much glued to my screen 15 hours a day, sometimes on Zoom calls, and at other times on Netflix. My screen time nearly doubled from 2019 to 2021, and I am certain I am not the only one. I found this book to be both interesting and relevant.
*
Becca Caddy, a tech journalist by profession, has distilled and compiled numerous studies from the disciplines of psychology, sociology, anthropology, ethics and economics to talk about how technology affects our lives both in positive and negative ways.
*
The first tenet the book emphasizes on is that a lot of tech - especially social media websites - are designed in a way to attract attention for long periods of time. The more time we spend of Facebook/Instagram/YouTube scrolling through endless posts and videos, the more data they have on us to sell to advertisers, or the more chance they have to show advertisements and sponsored content to us.
The author goes on to explain how social media websites are designed in a way to literally mess with our brains to keep us scrolling. She then goes on to list out helpful practices to manage our time better, and not get sucked down a cesspool of notifications.
*
The book then goes on to talk about online algorithms that create artificial echo chambers . Facebook or You Tube algorithms are more likely to show us posts and videos that are similar to the ones we previously liked. This creates a bias in our minds that what we think is also the popular opinion, when in fact it may be far from true. Such algorithms can also mess with our mental health by creating feelings of FOMO in us. If everyone on my Facebook timeline is talking about one movie, I am very likely to watch that movie regardless of the fact whether I actually like it or not.
*
One fact which truly shocked me was that research says even if we are not using our phones, simply by having our phones near us, we are weakening our attention power and conversation quality. That is truly terrifying for me because I cannot bear to be parted from my smartphone for even a minute!
*
The book ends on a more evangelical note, with a conversation on tech waste and privacy. Becca Caddy makes some relevant points about how privacy is something we tend to overlook when using tech and this allows data mining firms to misuse our data to sell more things to us. Let's be honest: most of us click on 'accept' without actually reading - much less understanding - the terms and conditions. So I was very gratified to learn:
When it comes to tech waste, the author draws a disturbing image. According to the UN Global e-waste monitor 2020 report we generated 53.6 million metric tonnes of tech waste in 2019 . That is the author clarifies
The book ends with a list of helpful resources for a plethora of things ranging from timekeeping, content blocking, and mental health to body image, meditation and mood tracking. I fully intend to refer to this list multiple times in the near future.
*
Thank you Harper Collins India for gifting me a copy of this book
When the COVID pandemic started my reliance on tech increased even more - I was pretty much glued to my screen 15 hours a day, sometimes on Zoom calls, and at other times on Netflix. My screen time nearly doubled from 2019 to 2021, and I am certain I am not the only one. I found this book to be both interesting and relevant.
*
Becca Caddy, a tech journalist by profession, has distilled and compiled numerous studies from the disciplines of psychology, sociology, anthropology, ethics and economics to talk about how technology affects our lives both in positive and negative ways.
*
The first tenet the book emphasizes on is that a lot of tech - especially social media websites - are designed in a way to attract attention for long periods of time. The more time we spend of Facebook/Instagram/YouTube scrolling through endless posts and videos, the more data they have on us to sell to advertisers, or the more chance they have to show advertisements and sponsored content to us.
As the saying goes, if you're not paying for the product, you're the product.And on social media websites, we are the products.
The author goes on to explain how social media websites are designed in a way to literally mess with our brains to keep us scrolling. She then goes on to list out helpful practices to manage our time better, and not get sucked down a cesspool of notifications.
*
The book then goes on to talk about online algorithms that create artificial echo chambers . Facebook or You Tube algorithms are more likely to show us posts and videos that are similar to the ones we previously liked. This creates a bias in our minds that what we think is also the popular opinion, when in fact it may be far from true. Such algorithms can also mess with our mental health by creating feelings of FOMO in us. If everyone on my Facebook timeline is talking about one movie, I am very likely to watch that movie regardless of the fact whether I actually like it or not.
*
One fact which truly shocked me was that research says even if we are not using our phones, simply by having our phones near us, we are weakening our attention power and conversation quality. That is truly terrifying for me because I cannot bear to be parted from my smartphone for even a minute!
*
The book ends on a more evangelical note, with a conversation on tech waste and privacy. Becca Caddy makes some relevant points about how privacy is something we tend to overlook when using tech and this allows data mining firms to misuse our data to sell more things to us. Let's be honest: most of us click on 'accept' without actually reading - much less understanding - the terms and conditions. So I was very gratified to learn:
The New York Times summed up nicely in a 2018 report calling privacy policies an 'incomprehensible disaster'. The same report discovered some policies exceed a college reading level. That's because they're not really there to inform you, but to protect the company in case anyone takes legal action against them if they find out their information is being used in a way they didn't expect.
When it comes to tech waste, the author draws a disturbing image. According to the UN Global e-waste monitor 2020 report we generated 53.6 million metric tonnes of tech waste in 2019 . That is the author clarifies
nearly 6000 Eiffel Towers
The book ends with a list of helpful resources for a plethora of things ranging from timekeeping, content blocking, and mental health to body image, meditation and mood tracking. I fully intend to refer to this list multiple times in the near future.
*
Thank you Harper Collins India for gifting me a copy of this book
April 20, 2021
“If you’re not paying for the product, then you are the product” — Daniel Hövermann
Before I even started reading this book, I was suspicious about the author's way of approach and presentation of many different dimensions of this very serious topic, but it turned out to be a very sophisticated and well-researched work, and what I loved the most about this book was the unbiased approach of Author Becca Caddy. I have read enough books on how people can make their lives the most productive and hassle-free but trust me when I say some books can go very hard on you that they can literally make you feel guilty for not breathing 'right'! And that was the same with this book; I, as a reader, didn't want to feel guilty for the reasons of using my cellphone because that has been happened before; you can use your device in the most productive way possible and there will still be some books that may make you feel guilty of even looking at your cellphone.
But with Becca Caddy's “Screen Time”, it was different; in this book, she didn't try to judge, criticize or burden someone with the topics she talks about, she doesn't try to put any pressure of guilt on her readers but instead, she educates and aware her readers about the most essential innovation of this century. There's nothing wrong or right, all she tried to deliver through this book is a sense of knowing that we know whatever that we are doing with the technologies and time that we have in our hands.
We can't deny the fact that there's this invisible galling pressure to fit in in this virtual world we have created where prepossessing platforms offer luring opportunities to present the best version of ourselves; blinded by befuddling information feeding and macaronic intentions of the developers who 'know' what they are doing with us and parlous effects of technology that we overlook and still make conscious decisions to invest ourselves in them. It's true that all these systems were supposed to make our lives comfortable and convenient but it can be troubling if we don't set some boundaries on it, because as the author described in some chapters like 'Mental Health', 'Body Image' and 'Connection' that not having conscious awareness of the way we use our connected-tech and not having some basic rules about when to take steps back and draw lines between our well-being and the addition can cause some serious issues in life.
There's a lot of palavers involved in getting a sense to know the 'right' way to use the tech created, designed, and developed by preeminent minds who manipulate their users through their algorithms and people start investing a nimiety of time on their platforms without being aware of exogenous factors that can disrupt their mental health and well-being. It's almost all subjective but it's still possible for these techs to retrocede our time and peace. The author intelligently shows us the traps and attention 'black holes' and simultaneously offers different ways we can fix those problems. She doesn't force her readers to do everything her way but she leaves that decision on them to make the choices they want. The pros and cons of existing tech and social media platforms have been explained brilliantly through the research and references the author has used.
'Privacy and Security' chapter was an eye-opener and the most intriguing topic of this book, people who have watched the Netflix documentary 'The Social Dilemma' might be aware of the greedy and selfish intentions behind the social platform we use and this chapter discussed those concerns in detail. When I finished this book I was happy, relieved, and glad to know that I have been already following many of those mentioned suggestions and had a system and some boundaries to keep myself at a safe distance but it also helped me to discover and understand some of the loopholes I still need to work on. Overall, author Becca Caddy's work in this book is remarkable and I will highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to understand the psychology of the internet and where they stand in the games of manipulations that tech giants play. It's a must-read to understand the significance of the boundaries one needs to draw to create a healthy balance and techquilibrium.
Before I even started reading this book, I was suspicious about the author's way of approach and presentation of many different dimensions of this very serious topic, but it turned out to be a very sophisticated and well-researched work, and what I loved the most about this book was the unbiased approach of Author Becca Caddy. I have read enough books on how people can make their lives the most productive and hassle-free but trust me when I say some books can go very hard on you that they can literally make you feel guilty for not breathing 'right'! And that was the same with this book; I, as a reader, didn't want to feel guilty for the reasons of using my cellphone because that has been happened before; you can use your device in the most productive way possible and there will still be some books that may make you feel guilty of even looking at your cellphone.
But with Becca Caddy's “Screen Time”, it was different; in this book, she didn't try to judge, criticize or burden someone with the topics she talks about, she doesn't try to put any pressure of guilt on her readers but instead, she educates and aware her readers about the most essential innovation of this century. There's nothing wrong or right, all she tried to deliver through this book is a sense of knowing that we know whatever that we are doing with the technologies and time that we have in our hands.
We can't deny the fact that there's this invisible galling pressure to fit in in this virtual world we have created where prepossessing platforms offer luring opportunities to present the best version of ourselves; blinded by befuddling information feeding and macaronic intentions of the developers who 'know' what they are doing with us and parlous effects of technology that we overlook and still make conscious decisions to invest ourselves in them. It's true that all these systems were supposed to make our lives comfortable and convenient but it can be troubling if we don't set some boundaries on it, because as the author described in some chapters like 'Mental Health', 'Body Image' and 'Connection' that not having conscious awareness of the way we use our connected-tech and not having some basic rules about when to take steps back and draw lines between our well-being and the addition can cause some serious issues in life.
There's a lot of palavers involved in getting a sense to know the 'right' way to use the tech created, designed, and developed by preeminent minds who manipulate their users through their algorithms and people start investing a nimiety of time on their platforms without being aware of exogenous factors that can disrupt their mental health and well-being. It's almost all subjective but it's still possible for these techs to retrocede our time and peace. The author intelligently shows us the traps and attention 'black holes' and simultaneously offers different ways we can fix those problems. She doesn't force her readers to do everything her way but she leaves that decision on them to make the choices they want. The pros and cons of existing tech and social media platforms have been explained brilliantly through the research and references the author has used.
'Privacy and Security' chapter was an eye-opener and the most intriguing topic of this book, people who have watched the Netflix documentary 'The Social Dilemma' might be aware of the greedy and selfish intentions behind the social platform we use and this chapter discussed those concerns in detail. When I finished this book I was happy, relieved, and glad to know that I have been already following many of those mentioned suggestions and had a system and some boundaries to keep myself at a safe distance but it also helped me to discover and understand some of the loopholes I still need to work on. Overall, author Becca Caddy's work in this book is remarkable and I will highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to understand the psychology of the internet and where they stand in the games of manipulations that tech giants play. It's a must-read to understand the significance of the boundaries one needs to draw to create a healthy balance and techquilibrium.
April 10, 2021
The pandemic has proved to be a bane for me till now. Being a sole earner of the family, it has not only affected my smoothly going training career but also has led me to the overuse of mobiles, at least 18 hours a day and has totally disrupted my sleeping patterns, my concentration and zeal to work.
Not only me, screen time of people in general and students in particular has increased manifold due to the consistent online sessions and also to divert the attention from their state of nothingness, to fill that void created by the inability to move freely. Also, the employees in IT sector have been spending most of their time online due to relentless zoom sessions which has deteriorated their mental and physical health too.
The book tries to unearth various reasons behind constant increase in time being spent on social media and other unproductive apps. It gives a deep insight on how almost everything that we see on internet is presented to us to bind our attention and intrudes our privacy. The algorithm of various platforms are created in such a way so that users become the ultimate product and whatever is served to them is in line with their taste and interest.
Everything about the book is perfect. The way author asks us to strike a healthier balance with our device is praiseworthy. It seems quite motivating as if a close friend is making us understand the ills and offers quite practical ways to get rid of our addiction. By introducing the readers to some of the most detrimental ways that goes unnoticed in destruction of our lives due to excessive use of mobile, author compels to ensure technology is working for us and not the other way around. It also asks us to reassess our relationship with our phone on our own terms and clearly segregating what works for us and what doesn't.
Truly, a must read for everyone out there.
Not only me, screen time of people in general and students in particular has increased manifold due to the consistent online sessions and also to divert the attention from their state of nothingness, to fill that void created by the inability to move freely. Also, the employees in IT sector have been spending most of their time online due to relentless zoom sessions which has deteriorated their mental and physical health too.
The book tries to unearth various reasons behind constant increase in time being spent on social media and other unproductive apps. It gives a deep insight on how almost everything that we see on internet is presented to us to bind our attention and intrudes our privacy. The algorithm of various platforms are created in such a way so that users become the ultimate product and whatever is served to them is in line with their taste and interest.
Everything about the book is perfect. The way author asks us to strike a healthier balance with our device is praiseworthy. It seems quite motivating as if a close friend is making us understand the ills and offers quite practical ways to get rid of our addiction. By introducing the readers to some of the most detrimental ways that goes unnoticed in destruction of our lives due to excessive use of mobile, author compels to ensure technology is working for us and not the other way around. It also asks us to reassess our relationship with our phone on our own terms and clearly segregating what works for us and what doesn't.
Truly, a must read for everyone out there.
May 29, 2021
How often do you get distracted by the notifications on your phone? How often do you pause your work and take the liberty to watch an episode of a web series instead? How often do you indulge in YouTube videos, one after another after another? To be honest to ourselves, none of us are unaware about how much time we spend staring at our screens, doing this or that, pressing pause to our other important tasks that needs to be get done.
.
This book, I can surely say has saved a lot of my own screen time providing me with genuine information, reasons and easy ways to monitor and manage our time we spend gazing at our screens. The book hooked me from the very beginning and provides with a lot of well researched and well articulated facts, info and resources. Starting witj educating readers about "techquilibrium" and slowly rolling forward touching important aspects like tech and mental health, body image, how our tech affects our focus and work and how tech helps foster connections throughout the world, the book is a really easy guide to know all about your tech and you.
.
The author goes to explain how social media where we don't pay for the products, we are the products. Sounds scary, isn't it! She expresses how the apps and websites are designed to mess with our choices and liking and try to create a space for us where we go back again and again to search for rewards which maybe in any form, likes, comments, messages, anything. She provides easy to do solutions to help us use our tech efficiently and mindfully without really falling into the traps of bottomless apps and websites.
.
The book also talks about creation of virtual " echo chambers " in which our views are continually reinforced by other people who share the same views and opinions and we get stuck on similar mindsets for long, avoiding any new info or better news that might help us grow.
.
Looking beyond our social media for news, backing up every important data of ours, keeping an eye on our privacy settings every now and then, giving importance to eco-credentials of our tech, incorporating JOMO(joy of missing out)for more peace, creating healthy habit loops and not taking burden of using tech and rather enjoy it, are some of the key takeaways from the book.
.
Would recommend this to everyone seeking ways to limit their screen times and create a better peace of mind for themselves.
.
This book, I can surely say has saved a lot of my own screen time providing me with genuine information, reasons and easy ways to monitor and manage our time we spend gazing at our screens. The book hooked me from the very beginning and provides with a lot of well researched and well articulated facts, info and resources. Starting witj educating readers about "techquilibrium" and slowly rolling forward touching important aspects like tech and mental health, body image, how our tech affects our focus and work and how tech helps foster connections throughout the world, the book is a really easy guide to know all about your tech and you.
.
The author goes to explain how social media where we don't pay for the products, we are the products. Sounds scary, isn't it! She expresses how the apps and websites are designed to mess with our choices and liking and try to create a space for us where we go back again and again to search for rewards which maybe in any form, likes, comments, messages, anything. She provides easy to do solutions to help us use our tech efficiently and mindfully without really falling into the traps of bottomless apps and websites.
.
The book also talks about creation of virtual " echo chambers " in which our views are continually reinforced by other people who share the same views and opinions and we get stuck on similar mindsets for long, avoiding any new info or better news that might help us grow.
.
Looking beyond our social media for news, backing up every important data of ours, keeping an eye on our privacy settings every now and then, giving importance to eco-credentials of our tech, incorporating JOMO(joy of missing out)for more peace, creating healthy habit loops and not taking burden of using tech and rather enjoy it, are some of the key takeaways from the book.
.
Would recommend this to everyone seeking ways to limit their screen times and create a better peace of mind for themselves.
April 19, 2022
Surprisingly well researched and written. End of chapter summaries and references further show the quality. Some notes I took for myself:
-----------
Dopamine is the excitement you feel when you expect a reward
Also gives energy and reinforces neural pathway
- Change lockscreen to a big question mark or how do I feel?
- Like Ethan’s what are you doing poster?
Habit loops E.g. Bored and lonely -> check phone.
- Some friends I have have less neuroticism and thus potentially less of these drives?
Alternative suggestions for lonely from the book are message a friend, send boyfriend a funny gif, ring someone I work with
Five types of emotional regulation: Dr James Gross.
Situation selection
Situation modification
Attentional deployment
Cognitive change
Response modulation
Beat saber with OR is cool
Distractions vs interruptions. Endogenous vs exogenous interruptions
Ambient intimacy - Like when you’ve followed someone online for a while
Family time - expectations study
She has the mindfulness concepts right and knows how to write about them
Page 175 - good note system advice
Tim said it in 4 hour workweek. Ivana does it well. Need to schedule email and social media time and stick to it. Intentionality is the name of the game. With social media possibly tie to posting
Indistractable book advice: Touch email twice. Once to read and decide when dealt with, once to deal with it. For deciding sort into two folders, today and this week. Maybe also have a long term projects board on notion
Apple buys cobalt from miners directly to ensure workplace standards are met
Musimagpie and sellmymobile are recycling websites. Also try tech company and retailers directly
Mark Zuckerberg quote worth finding full source: You have one identity. The days of you having a different image for your work friends or co-workers and for the other people you know are probably coming to an end pretty quickly…. …Having two identities for yourself is an example of a lack of integrity.
Tennants:
I choose how my free time is spent
I make the improvements that work for me
I value having the choice to switch on or off
I watch for my feelings being pushed
I don’t need extreme changes, I need balance
-----------
Dopamine is the excitement you feel when you expect a reward
Also gives energy and reinforces neural pathway
- Change lockscreen to a big question mark or how do I feel?
- Like Ethan’s what are you doing poster?
Habit loops E.g. Bored and lonely -> check phone.
- Some friends I have have less neuroticism and thus potentially less of these drives?
Alternative suggestions for lonely from the book are message a friend, send boyfriend a funny gif, ring someone I work with
Five types of emotional regulation: Dr James Gross.
Situation selection
Situation modification
Attentional deployment
Cognitive change
Response modulation
Beat saber with OR is cool
Distractions vs interruptions. Endogenous vs exogenous interruptions
Ambient intimacy - Like when you’ve followed someone online for a while
Family time - expectations study
She has the mindfulness concepts right and knows how to write about them
Page 175 - good note system advice
Tim said it in 4 hour workweek. Ivana does it well. Need to schedule email and social media time and stick to it. Intentionality is the name of the game. With social media possibly tie to posting
Indistractable book advice: Touch email twice. Once to read and decide when dealt with, once to deal with it. For deciding sort into two folders, today and this week. Maybe also have a long term projects board on notion
Apple buys cobalt from miners directly to ensure workplace standards are met
Musimagpie and sellmymobile are recycling websites. Also try tech company and retailers directly
Mark Zuckerberg quote worth finding full source: You have one identity. The days of you having a different image for your work friends or co-workers and for the other people you know are probably coming to an end pretty quickly…. …Having two identities for yourself is an example of a lack of integrity.
Tennants:
I choose how my free time is spent
I make the improvements that work for me
I value having the choice to switch on or off
I watch for my feelings being pushed
I don’t need extreme changes, I need balance
April 1, 2021
Review will be up soon.
December 2, 2024
Nice book that gives actionable advice on how to reduce meaningless phone usage and how to improve the quality of the time spent on it.
March 29, 2021
The pandemic and the lockdown had immobilized the common man's life completely. Having plenty of time at hand, most of us chose to be on the social media 24/7 just to kill boredom. The online classes were another add on to the list of reasons we had , to be glued to the smart device.
Technology is a boon to mankind and when used wisely , it can do wonders. This is exactly what Becca Caddy has tried to convey in this book. Having researched the topic well , Becca explains how addictive social media websites can be. Furthermore she highlights the fact about the algorithm used by FB and other apps that intrude the privacy of the user.
Striking a healthier balance with our devices will not only save us from various health issues like concentration, body image and mental health but also be helpful in recharging out relationship with our family and friends by spending time with them.
Though each chapter is informative that has the reader takeaway some valuable lessons, I could relate to Mental health and Focus instantly. The inclusion of tips, points to remember is very helpful. The checklist at the end of each chapter is like a ready reckoner that can be referred for future read.
Overall a must read book for every person....
Thank you HarperCollins.in for the review copy
Technology is a boon to mankind and when used wisely , it can do wonders. This is exactly what Becca Caddy has tried to convey in this book. Having researched the topic well , Becca explains how addictive social media websites can be. Furthermore she highlights the fact about the algorithm used by FB and other apps that intrude the privacy of the user.
Striking a healthier balance with our devices will not only save us from various health issues like concentration, body image and mental health but also be helpful in recharging out relationship with our family and friends by spending time with them.
Though each chapter is informative that has the reader takeaway some valuable lessons, I could relate to Mental health and Focus instantly. The inclusion of tips, points to remember is very helpful. The checklist at the end of each chapter is like a ready reckoner that can be referred for future read.
Overall a must read book for every person....
Thank you HarperCollins.in for the review copy
April 23, 2022
This has a balance approach to managing our time online. Becca understands why we like our devices and doesn't want to tell us to go back to the dark ages. Instead she writes questions and things to consider. There is little new here though, but as a reminder and refresher, it's quite good.
January 31, 2021
Excellent. Really well researched and referenced. Very up to date even mentions the pandemic. The best book I've read on the psychology of technology use.
July 8, 2021
BOOK-- Screen Time :
AUTHOR-- Becca Caddy
GENRE-- Non-Fiction
PAGES-- 332
PRICE-- 499/-
FORMAT-- Paperback
MY REVIEW:-⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
First of all, the book cover is really pretty and title is eye-catchy❤ How many times have you opened Instagram, watched one reel or post or story, got stucked and emerged after years and years to a completely different era?How often do you get distracted by the notifications on your phone? How often do you pause your work and take the liberty to watch an episode of a web series instead? How often do you indulge in YouTube videos, one after another after another? Because I seem to do it at least once everyday! To be honest to ourselves, none of us are unaware about how much time we pass staring at our screens, doing this or that, pressing pause to our other important work that needs to be get done. Becca Caddy, a tech journalist by profession, has distilled and compiled numerous studies from the disciplines of psychology, sociology, anthropology, ethics and economics to talk about how technology affects our lives both in positive and negative ways.The book emphasizes on a lot of tech - especially social media websites - are designed in a way to attract attention for long time. The more time we spend of Facebook/Instagram/YouTube scrolling through endless posts and videos, the more data they have on us to sell to advertisers, or the more chance they have to show advertisements and sponsored content to us.
As the saying goes, if you're not paying for the product, you're the product. It's scary isn't it?? And on social media websites, we are the products. The social media websites are designed in a way to literally mess with our brains to keep us scrolling. She then goes on to list out helpful practices to manage our time better, and not get stucked with cesspool of notifications. Facebook or You Tube algorithms are more likely to show us posts and videos that are similar to the ones we previously liked. This creates a bias in our minds that what we think is also the popular opinion, when in fact it may be far from true. Such algorithms can also mess with our mental health by creating feelings of FOMO in us. If everyone on my Facebook timeline is talking about one series or book, I am very likely to watch that series or read that book regardless of the fact whether I actually like it or not. The book ends on a more thought provoking note, with a conversation on tech waste and privacy. She makes some relevant points about how privacy is something we tend to overlook when using tech and this allows data mining firms to misuse our data to sell more things to us. Let's be honest: most of us click on 'accept' without actually reading - much less understanding - the terms and conditions.
When we talk about tech waste, the author draws a disturbing image. According to the UN Global e-waste monitor 2020 report we generated 53.6 million metric tonnes of tech waste in 2019 . That is the author clarifies nearly 6000 Eiffel Towers. This gave me a huge shock!
The book ends with a list of helpful resources for a number of things ranging from timekeeping, content blocking, and mental health to body image, meditation and mood tracking. I fully intend to go through this list multiple times in the near future.
This book is a huge eye-opener, I can surely say it has saved a lot of my own screen time providing me with genuine information, reasons and easy ways to monitor and manage our time we spend gazing at our screens.
I would like to recommend this to everyone seeking ways to limit their screen times and really want to create a better peace of mind for themselves. Also, it's highly recommended to each individual, it's important for your own-self and for your better future🙌
Thank you so much🌻
AUTHOR-- Becca Caddy
GENRE-- Non-Fiction
PAGES-- 332
PRICE-- 499/-
FORMAT-- Paperback
MY REVIEW:-⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
First of all, the book cover is really pretty and title is eye-catchy❤ How many times have you opened Instagram, watched one reel or post or story, got stucked and emerged after years and years to a completely different era?How often do you get distracted by the notifications on your phone? How often do you pause your work and take the liberty to watch an episode of a web series instead? How often do you indulge in YouTube videos, one after another after another? Because I seem to do it at least once everyday! To be honest to ourselves, none of us are unaware about how much time we pass staring at our screens, doing this or that, pressing pause to our other important work that needs to be get done. Becca Caddy, a tech journalist by profession, has distilled and compiled numerous studies from the disciplines of psychology, sociology, anthropology, ethics and economics to talk about how technology affects our lives both in positive and negative ways.The book emphasizes on a lot of tech - especially social media websites - are designed in a way to attract attention for long time. The more time we spend of Facebook/Instagram/YouTube scrolling through endless posts and videos, the more data they have on us to sell to advertisers, or the more chance they have to show advertisements and sponsored content to us.
As the saying goes, if you're not paying for the product, you're the product. It's scary isn't it?? And on social media websites, we are the products. The social media websites are designed in a way to literally mess with our brains to keep us scrolling. She then goes on to list out helpful practices to manage our time better, and not get stucked with cesspool of notifications. Facebook or You Tube algorithms are more likely to show us posts and videos that are similar to the ones we previously liked. This creates a bias in our minds that what we think is also the popular opinion, when in fact it may be far from true. Such algorithms can also mess with our mental health by creating feelings of FOMO in us. If everyone on my Facebook timeline is talking about one series or book, I am very likely to watch that series or read that book regardless of the fact whether I actually like it or not. The book ends on a more thought provoking note, with a conversation on tech waste and privacy. She makes some relevant points about how privacy is something we tend to overlook when using tech and this allows data mining firms to misuse our data to sell more things to us. Let's be honest: most of us click on 'accept' without actually reading - much less understanding - the terms and conditions.
When we talk about tech waste, the author draws a disturbing image. According to the UN Global e-waste monitor 2020 report we generated 53.6 million metric tonnes of tech waste in 2019 . That is the author clarifies nearly 6000 Eiffel Towers. This gave me a huge shock!
The book ends with a list of helpful resources for a number of things ranging from timekeeping, content blocking, and mental health to body image, meditation and mood tracking. I fully intend to go through this list multiple times in the near future.
This book is a huge eye-opener, I can surely say it has saved a lot of my own screen time providing me with genuine information, reasons and easy ways to monitor and manage our time we spend gazing at our screens.
I would like to recommend this to everyone seeking ways to limit their screen times and really want to create a better peace of mind for themselves. Also, it's highly recommended to each individual, it's important for your own-self and for your better future🙌
Thank you so much🌻
May 20, 2021
𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 : 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗶𝘂𝗺 by @beccacaddy
Rating : 5/5
📲 Technology and gadgets are now indispensable in our daily lives. In the past few years carrying a miniature computer (a smartphone) in a pocket has become commonplace. Technology helps advance the human race forward and makes doing mundane things more efficient and repeatable. Technology has helped create the information revolution.
📲 With technological advances, devices have evolved to be so powerful and smart that it feels like having a super-computer on one’s hands. Humans now have an insatiable appetite for information at their fingertips. When technology makes this happen, the natural tendency is for this to become an expectation. When was the last time you printed a map or wrote a snail mail letter? If you did, then you belong to the elite endangered cadre of humans who are vanishing rapidly. Welcome to the information age! Before we frame our problem, we would like to ponder briefly over how our lives have changed with gadgets, compared to the pre-digital era.
📲 Screen Time by Becca Caddy is a very relevant and useful book in this current time. I relished the approach of this book. It swoops into lots of really fascinating topics in a rightful way without curtailing the science and statistics behind it. Battling with the exhaustion of virtual meetings and the struggles of increased screen time due to lockdown, this book is precisely what we wish to read in this unprecedented tough time.
📲 Lots of research represented in this book is extensively based on a Facebook-centric study but it is very easy to associate with other platforms. Research of this book is accurate and acceptable. This book also focuses on the feasible methods of cybersecurity and privacy moves. This is a slow absorption of tech support. Change doesn't happen overnight - it's all about incremental gains.
📲 A must-read for everyone.
🚫 Important message: Please try to keep yourself away from news channels/ fake news as much as possible at this time. Be in regular contact with your friends and family.
Rating : 5/5
📲 Technology and gadgets are now indispensable in our daily lives. In the past few years carrying a miniature computer (a smartphone) in a pocket has become commonplace. Technology helps advance the human race forward and makes doing mundane things more efficient and repeatable. Technology has helped create the information revolution.
📲 With technological advances, devices have evolved to be so powerful and smart that it feels like having a super-computer on one’s hands. Humans now have an insatiable appetite for information at their fingertips. When technology makes this happen, the natural tendency is for this to become an expectation. When was the last time you printed a map or wrote a snail mail letter? If you did, then you belong to the elite endangered cadre of humans who are vanishing rapidly. Welcome to the information age! Before we frame our problem, we would like to ponder briefly over how our lives have changed with gadgets, compared to the pre-digital era.
📲 Screen Time by Becca Caddy is a very relevant and useful book in this current time. I relished the approach of this book. It swoops into lots of really fascinating topics in a rightful way without curtailing the science and statistics behind it. Battling with the exhaustion of virtual meetings and the struggles of increased screen time due to lockdown, this book is precisely what we wish to read in this unprecedented tough time.
📲 Lots of research represented in this book is extensively based on a Facebook-centric study but it is very easy to associate with other platforms. Research of this book is accurate and acceptable. This book also focuses on the feasible methods of cybersecurity and privacy moves. This is a slow absorption of tech support. Change doesn't happen overnight - it's all about incremental gains.
📲 A must-read for everyone.
🚫 Important message: Please try to keep yourself away from news channels/ fake news as much as possible at this time. Be in regular contact with your friends and family.
August 31, 2021
Earlier this year, I began a book subscription business. Readers and would be readers signed up when they found me online, through my social media presence.
And with that, I no longer teeter on the edge of the phone addiction abyss, I have plunged in precipitously ! Into a vortex of tweets, reels and posts.
The hydra headed monster of social media has devoured me, blood, bone and soul.
I measure my life in likes.
And so I sought out Screen Time by Becca Caddy, much like a drowning body flails around for a raft. And found in it a compendium of common sense. Lots of stuff I knew already, but I guess having it in one place, helps.
Takeways
When I reach for my phone every few minutes ( and I do) I am seeking the dopamine rush of connection. Getting the goodies of validation and social approbation through the likes on my 'Best Books in Afghanistan' reel or my '5 Negotiation Must Reads'. This isn't a very practical form of approbation as I can currently certify to.
Finding a few likes very time is satisfying, not finding them will make me more frenetic , as I am programmed to hunt harder and more often for my dopamine fix.
Tips to reduce Screen Time
1. Put my phone in a different space to where I work
2. Limit screen time to 30 minutes daily.
3. Social media , unlike a book or movie, has not end signal- so set a timer to limit my use, to signal an end time
4. Balance online with offline activities.
5. Look for quality interactions with fewer people - the Dunbar number of 150 friends applies online too says Caddy.
6. Don't be a voyeur( which I tend to be ) Passive scrolling will make you feel lonely & disconnected.
There's loads of other advice too- like working on a POMODORO schedule, backing up your data, and not following influencers who make you angry or insecure etc etc
Nothing revolutionary, but worth a skim read.
And with that, I no longer teeter on the edge of the phone addiction abyss, I have plunged in precipitously ! Into a vortex of tweets, reels and posts.
The hydra headed monster of social media has devoured me, blood, bone and soul.
I measure my life in likes.
And so I sought out Screen Time by Becca Caddy, much like a drowning body flails around for a raft. And found in it a compendium of common sense. Lots of stuff I knew already, but I guess having it in one place, helps.
Takeways
When I reach for my phone every few minutes ( and I do) I am seeking the dopamine rush of connection. Getting the goodies of validation and social approbation through the likes on my 'Best Books in Afghanistan' reel or my '5 Negotiation Must Reads'. This isn't a very practical form of approbation as I can currently certify to.
Finding a few likes very time is satisfying, not finding them will make me more frenetic , as I am programmed to hunt harder and more often for my dopamine fix.
Tips to reduce Screen Time
1. Put my phone in a different space to where I work
2. Limit screen time to 30 minutes daily.
3. Social media , unlike a book or movie, has not end signal- so set a timer to limit my use, to signal an end time
4. Balance online with offline activities.
5. Look for quality interactions with fewer people - the Dunbar number of 150 friends applies online too says Caddy.
6. Don't be a voyeur( which I tend to be ) Passive scrolling will make you feel lonely & disconnected.
There's loads of other advice too- like working on a POMODORO schedule, backing up your data, and not following influencers who make you angry or insecure etc etc
Nothing revolutionary, but worth a skim read.
March 29, 2021
With the advent of smartphones and the availability of cheap data, we have begun spending more and more time online. Have you found yourself promise just to open Instagram for a few minutes but ended up using it for hours together, or are you guys normal?
Technology is a double-edged sword. It can be a boon or bane, solely depending on the way we are using it and the purpose for which we are using it. Becca Caddy has done a plenty of research and she wrote the book in such a way that it is relatable to everyone. She emphasizes the algorithm used by apps that invade the privacy and security of the user, the way social media apps makes the users glued to their phones. She also describes the ill-effects of not having a healthier balance with one's devices and the impact it causes on one's concentration, body image, focus and mental health. The author has included the checklist at end of each chapter that highlights the major takeaways from that particular chapter.
Moreover, this book doesn't ask you to uninstall all the social media apps instead it helps to analyze the methods that works for you in maintaining a healthier balance with your devices. 'Screen Time' is insightful as well as thought provoking. I would highly recommend this book to everyone and if you're the one who's looking forward to read a good non fiction book, pick this one without any second thought.
Thank you Harper Collins for providing the review copy.
Technology is a double-edged sword. It can be a boon or bane, solely depending on the way we are using it and the purpose for which we are using it. Becca Caddy has done a plenty of research and she wrote the book in such a way that it is relatable to everyone. She emphasizes the algorithm used by apps that invade the privacy and security of the user, the way social media apps makes the users glued to their phones. She also describes the ill-effects of not having a healthier balance with one's devices and the impact it causes on one's concentration, body image, focus and mental health. The author has included the checklist at end of each chapter that highlights the major takeaways from that particular chapter.
Moreover, this book doesn't ask you to uninstall all the social media apps instead it helps to analyze the methods that works for you in maintaining a healthier balance with your devices. 'Screen Time' is insightful as well as thought provoking. I would highly recommend this book to everyone and if you're the one who's looking forward to read a good non fiction book, pick this one without any second thought.
Thank you Harper Collins for providing the review copy.
May 18, 2021
"Screen Time" by Becca Cardy is a very informative read that talks about the effect of technology on our day to day lives and some methods that can be adopted to reduce the screen time.
Phones, laptops and other technologies have become an integral part of our lives nowadays and it's really evident that all of us have become addicted to these technologies. It is essential to keep track of our time while using these technologies and by doing that we can reduce our screen time. Even though it's impossible to cut down the screen time exactly to zero, it's really important to reduce screen time as much as we can. Most people use these technologies out of boredom. But according to the author, a certain amount of boredom can be useful and instead of relying on technologies, boredom can be utilized in an effective way.
Even though technologies can be really useful to people, it can be a form of stress too. It plays a significant role on our mental health and according to studies, negative social comparison on social medias can lead to depression too.
Using technologies all the time can lead to reduced sleep duration and reduced sleep quality. The author has also provided information regarding how to protect our device, about privacy policies, about how to keep personal information safe, etc.
Overall it was a very interesting read and therefore I would recommend this to everyone who wants to know more about the effect of technologies in our lives.
Phones, laptops and other technologies have become an integral part of our lives nowadays and it's really evident that all of us have become addicted to these technologies. It is essential to keep track of our time while using these technologies and by doing that we can reduce our screen time. Even though it's impossible to cut down the screen time exactly to zero, it's really important to reduce screen time as much as we can. Most people use these technologies out of boredom. But according to the author, a certain amount of boredom can be useful and instead of relying on technologies, boredom can be utilized in an effective way.
Even though technologies can be really useful to people, it can be a form of stress too. It plays a significant role on our mental health and according to studies, negative social comparison on social medias can lead to depression too.
Using technologies all the time can lead to reduced sleep duration and reduced sleep quality. The author has also provided information regarding how to protect our device, about privacy policies, about how to keep personal information safe, etc.
Overall it was a very interesting read and therefore I would recommend this to everyone who wants to know more about the effect of technologies in our lives.
April 4, 2021
When such gorgeous covers exist why shan't I judge the books by covers? Someone worked hard to bring this beauty to life and moreover I love the contents of this book so much. I follow so many bookstagram pages and avid readers, all of them post great book recommendations plus the dreamy pictures, I can't help but keep on scrolling and reading. My screen time was getting way out of hand, and then Becca Caddy came up with Screen Time.
The author knows her work and is a master of her craft, all the research work is put infront of the readers in a fashion that it will impact them positively. The prose is relatable and topics like work, mental well-being, physical health and body image have been highlighted throughout. Though there is a lot of information, one gets the hang of it quite easily; the easygoing and informative read has suggestions and quick tips that you can start acting upon immediately. The why's and how's; the psychological nuances of our craze with technology and new devices, plus why we feel guilty after scrolling the social media for hours, all of this is in this super engaging book. This is a book that I would recommend to everyone and myself too. I will surely work on bettering myself!
The author knows her work and is a master of her craft, all the research work is put infront of the readers in a fashion that it will impact them positively. The prose is relatable and topics like work, mental well-being, physical health and body image have been highlighted throughout. Though there is a lot of information, one gets the hang of it quite easily; the easygoing and informative read has suggestions and quick tips that you can start acting upon immediately. The why's and how's; the psychological nuances of our craze with technology and new devices, plus why we feel guilty after scrolling the social media for hours, all of this is in this super engaging book. This is a book that I would recommend to everyone and myself too. I will surely work on bettering myself!
June 18, 2021
Screen Time by Becca Cardy is a compilation of numerous research studies that show how technology affects our lives both positively and negatively and various approaches that can be adapted to reduce screen time.
The cover of this book is really pretty, absolutely loved the colors. The title is pretty straightforward.
The language is easy to understand and suitable for beginners. The author has written this book in a sophisticated and well-researched manner. The book is around 300 pages.
The author has included lots of tips in every chapter. Also, every chapter ends with a summary which was really helpful while I was reading the book.
I really liked the first part but the second part was filled with rather generic tips and it started to get boring for me. Some chapters were quite repetitive and unnecessary.
This book is filled with information, resources, and tips If you want to cut down your screen time this is really helpful and must book for you. I have personally started to incorporate some tips into my lifestyle.
The cover of this book is really pretty, absolutely loved the colors. The title is pretty straightforward.
The language is easy to understand and suitable for beginners. The author has written this book in a sophisticated and well-researched manner. The book is around 300 pages.
The author has included lots of tips in every chapter. Also, every chapter ends with a summary which was really helpful while I was reading the book.
I really liked the first part but the second part was filled with rather generic tips and it started to get boring for me. Some chapters were quite repetitive and unnecessary.
This book is filled with information, resources, and tips If you want to cut down your screen time this is really helpful and must book for you. I have personally started to incorporate some tips into my lifestyle.
dnf
May 6, 2024DNF'd @ ~30%
The portion of this book that I read felt relatively generic in discussions surrounding the impact of technology on the daily lives of modern society. Something is refreshing about it being written from the perspective of someone who works within the tech industry, thus admiring technology's uses and not hell-bent on eliminating its use.
But sometimes a thoughtless sentence can rub you the wrong way and damage the remainder of the book.
People with alexithymia struggle with feeling or identifying emotions. This can be a symptom for those with autism. This does not make them unhealthy or a "robot".
Many people will regard this as a petty reason to DNF a book. But as someone who struggles with their neurodivergence and society's perception of it, this careless comment has damaged my feelings towards the overall narrative.
The portion of this book that I read felt relatively generic in discussions surrounding the impact of technology on the daily lives of modern society. Something is refreshing about it being written from the perspective of someone who works within the tech industry, thus admiring technology's uses and not hell-bent on eliminating its use.
But sometimes a thoughtless sentence can rub you the wrong way and damage the remainder of the book.
"You don't need to stop 'catching' emotions - that could turn you into an unfeeling robot person, and that's no way for a healthy person to be either."
People with alexithymia struggle with feeling or identifying emotions. This can be a symptom for those with autism. This does not make them unhealthy or a "robot".
Many people will regard this as a petty reason to DNF a book. But as someone who struggles with their neurodivergence and society's perception of it, this careless comment has damaged my feelings towards the overall narrative.
January 5, 2022
Behind the colourful appealing screens of the phones we carry in the palms of our hands are billion dollar industries, each wanting to get us hooked on tapping and swiping, to a point where we are unable to put down our phones without a sense of dread. According to Caddy, it is so invasive that phone addiction is becoming a disorder that is affecting our ability to work, play or sleep, and even our mental health. Endless searching, liking, and commenting has taken us down an emoji-riddled rabbit hole that is deep, dark and potentially dangerous. In a thoroughly researched sociological study of our growing dependence on “tech”, Caddy goes behind the shiny mesmerising screen to discover manipulation happening on a mass scale. Having exposed population control methods that would have left George Orwell in awe, Caddy then lays out strategies to help us regain control of our lives.
May 31, 2021
This topic could have easily been dry and dusty but the author’s light and witty tone made this so much more enjoyable than I thought. It has given me real food for thought regarding topics like online security and made me feel more confident about making my time spent online work for me, not the other way round.
June 14, 2021
Some of the research was interesting (eg how even having your phone out with a person makes you emotionally engage less) but generally pretty standard research into tech. Pretty long, fairly dull. It’s a good book for beginners of this topic but otherwise it feels pretty basic. Skimmed the end (which I NEVER do)
May 15, 2021
Really enjoyed this book. I am currently studying a computer degree so it's quite interesting. Would of given it 5 stars but felt it didn't need as many chapters because some things had been covered! Good though Would read certain parts again for information
May 31, 2023
Incredibly informative read. Very well written and easily digestible. Doesn't overload you with information and continuously refers back to the same themes to streamline thinking. Didn't set out to read this book but it found me at the right time. Ready to make some changes!
February 10, 2021
Didn't suck me in at all. Got bored halfway through. Maybe just wasn't my style. Alltogether giving it 3 stars, I got some life hacks I can use.
April 19, 2021
Interesting book with plenty of food for thought. Really enjoyed the first half but found the second half rather generic. Loved the talk on comparing refreshing social media newsfeeds with fruit machine gambling- the spinning occurring until we see what the next result is- as well as remembering why we use it and how it’s so easy to lose time on it. Always good to have a reminder of just what info our tech takes from us too!
March 19, 2021
Not the usual, put the phone down and do something else advice. It has changed the way I use and view my devices.
December 29, 2021
Compassionate tech books are a rare thing but I found this one to be just that, as well as insightful. That pull to refresh is based on the premise both physically and psychologically of slot machines totally blew my mind. As the author says, we never stood a chance of not becoming attached to our devices, as the designs are created to trap us. A vital read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 30 reviews