Smartphones are not addicting because of TikTok or Instagram or Clash of Clans. All these apps are addicting because they are on smartphones. They are merely creating content that takes advantage of the nature of smartphones.
If this sounds crazy, that the content matters a lot less than the form, compare TikTok on your phone versus computer: While the content of TikTok is the same, the effect it has on you is a lot different than when on your phone, because the form of phones is very different than that of the computer.
Why is the Form of the Smartphone so addicting?
The form of the smartphone is addicting for one simple and terrible reason: the screen. Unlike our old audio-only phones, or older phones with screens and keyboards, modern smartphones with a touchscreen are direct consumption of the screen, where you simultaneously consume and create content.
With older keyboard phones or computers, we access the device with our hands through a keyboard, and then see the effects of our inputs on the screen. The keyboard is mechanical, linear, simple, a tool. No matter how much or how pretty or flashing the lights on the screen, the user can control it with a mechanical tool. Simply put, the more time the user spends typing, the more in control of the computer they are, or the more time a user spends inputting control into the computer than versus receiving control.
You can think about this in your own life—how do you feel when you are controlling the computer, writing, coding, etc., versus the computer controlling you, reading, watching, etc.? The effects of this mechanical and digital and human love triangle are more electric if the screen is controlling you, or more mechanical if the user is controlling the keyboard.
Mechanical: Recall the feeling of driving a sports car, a muscle car, the feel of the beating engine, the awesome power of a metal beast that is an extension of your willpower, skill, and strength. The sensation of using a tool, the swelling confidence of great purpose and ability…
Electric: Now recall how you feel after scrolling for a while, the confusion, faint despair, unexplainable exhaustion, heightened dissatisfaction. The desire to feel something, anything…
I framed these recalls very differently: “feel during” vs “feel after,” because when you are using mechanical technology, your consciousness is still in you, you are aware of how you feel. Mechanical technology is an extension of hands, feet, teeth, and body.
On the other hand, electrical technology is an extension of our consciousness and when we use it we extend our consciousness into the digital ether, giving up connection to our bodies in exchange for connection to the electric. Basically, our consciousness leaves our bodies.
When we are using electrical technology directly, with a touchscreen or a digital screen, the electrical technology is really using us, because our consciousness is no longer fully within our bodies.
Most of the commonly called “good uses” of electrical technology are really humans controlling it through a mechanical medium or intermediary.
Direct Use of Electric Technology Sucks Our Souls
You are likely reading this on your computer (kudos to you if you print out essays, papers, etc to truly read them). Right now, think about how you feel. Be as general or specific, poetic or analytical, as you want.
Now, stand up, look outside, take a break from your screen, walk around in nature - at least outside - take deep breaths, touch the grass. Now think about how you feel. To get the most distinct results, immerse yourself in nature for 15 minutes or more, swim in the ocean, bathe in a forest, lay down in the grass…
Most likely, when you went outside, you felt “better” “more yourself,” or “your better self.” Your thoughts were clearer, lighter, purer than when you were on electric technology. That is the real you, with your consciousness fully connected to your body.
If this direct consumption of electric technology is so bad, why do we do it so much? Why are smartphones so darn addicting?
Smartphones are so addicting and time-consuming because when we use them, our consciousness leaves our body. Once our consciousness leaves our body, our body loses higher-level control and awareness of things that are quite vital to human functioning: sense of self, purpose, and, most importantly in terms of phone addiction, our sense of time.
Once the smartphone has sucked our soul, the screen’s flashing light easily mesmerizes and hypnotizes our conscious-less bodies. Without an interruption, external or internal, our bodies will spend hours and hours in the phone trance.
Unfortunately, today many people are caught in this zombie-like trance, only breaking to eat, drink, and go to the bathroom. And even then, separation from the screen is not guaranteed.
The modern obsession with mental health, the mental health crisis, is simply a result of people spending time being controlled by electric technology and extending, or losing, their conscious connection to their bodies. Even after we are not on phones or computers or TVs, the effects still linger. The faint feeling of despair, confused thoughts, inability to focus, low energy…
As an important aside, ADHD is just the natural reaction to direct electric technology. If you want to cure ADHD in yourself, or others, drastically increase time spent reading physical books and writing on paper and drastically decrease time spent on any electric technology. You may never be able to fully cure it if you spent a lot of time on electronic screens as a child, but a combination of the above, meditation, and nature will certainly help alleviate symptoms.
Soul-sucking electric technology destroys our minds and bodies.
What do I mean by soul-sucking?
This is where we return to the content, or the apps of the smartphones. The role of content is to attract our conscious awareness into the screen. Once attracted, it’s all downhill as our consciousness now has to somehow be jolted out of the phone and back into our bodies.
Just think about how often you pick up your phone to do something “important” (conscious intention): text a friend, write something down, etc. only to end up (conscious-lessly) doom-scrolling social media. As soon as your consciousness makes that jump and gives up control, you are trapped.
How can we protect ourselves? How can we keep our consciousness in our bodies? How can we stay sane and happy in an electric world? Use technology as a tool?
The answer is terribly simple: get rid of your smartphone.
If you use electric technology directly, without a mechanical interface of control, you will be controlled. Even with a keyboard, you must be very careful to ensure you are typing or coding more than reading or watching. Also, over time, the electric technology wears us down and corrupts the pure mechanical tool relationship, so take breaks to ensure you are consciously doing what you want to be doing. If you have to read something long, print it out.
If you can’t, or won’t, get rid of your smartphone, at least try the Phone Tomb. It’s a home for your phone that creates a natural, organic-wood barrier between your phone and you. Elegantly enforcing conscious phone use and reminding us of the devastating power to control and zombify us that the smartphone possesses.
If you are using electric technology directly with a touchscreen, or reading or watching a screen, you are doomed to scroll.
