Digital Minimisation

"best case scenario it's a waste of time, worst-case scenario it's evil. And let's be real, it's definitely both" - [r/digitalminimisation]

The issues I find with social media are vast, I think any one of us could speak at length of our personal distastes. A rant that ends typically in a defeated

"I just wish I could quit."

I was born in the early 2000s, sometime after social media began to exist, but just before the birth of modern social media as we see it today. I had a portion of my childhood exist before apple released its first smartphones – heck before smartphones period, and certainly before they were mainstreamed. The turn of this technological moment was notably when I entered into secondary school.

When writing this I'm going to try my best to be courteous of the human experience. Ultimately Social Media has a purpose, we might have lost sight of this in favour of 'other' experiences, but the anxiety or FOMO of going "off the grid" is valid and understood. I myself both 'relapse' and felt at the beginning that this way of life is so foreign and so antithetical to how I navigated the world for so long that it would be impossible. I have plenty of excuses equal in size to reasons…

I do however believe anyone is capable of this change, and will find the grass is very much greener on the other-side.

1 - Consolidation

It doesn't take Sun Tzu to tell you that you need to know your enemy. Simply laying out apps and saying "I'm going to quit this" is both naive and futile. These apps have a purpose and a place in our hearts. Your data is valuable and when moving away from apps I think it deserves the respect and acknowledgement of its purpose. Making sure our data remains in our hands, and importantly the connections this app gives us is not lost forever.

Typically we have many apps that perform the same functions, for me this was Snapchat and Instagram. in my head Snapchat was the lesser medium, and Instagram could serve its' same purpose and more. So I made sure my data (my photos) were all downloaded from Snapchat. Then Before deleting the account, I went person by person making sure I had alternative means to communicate with them. One by One removing each person until I was prepared to delete.

Of course that approach is extreme and requires one to accept the need for these lesser social medias is actually not there at all, simply uninstalling the app is a valid short-term approach. Allow the mind to move on without the immediate and habitual release of opening it. However, our absence doesn't mean much. Friends will still attempt to reach us here, addictive mechanisms will persist, and upon our inevitable return we can easily slip back into these habits. Ultimately we have just added a few initial clicks to our addiction.

This is also a continuous step – as time goes on we should analyse how we feel after taking steps, think where to go next. Outline What apps we want to quit, what functions specifically we like, and what is keeping us plugged in - positively or negatively. But to begin it's a good start to just simply limit the number of social media with have accounts with or are active on.

2 - to Kill an Addiction

Above all else, the biggest threat comes in the form of short form content. As of writing I've kept myself away from short-form content traps like Reels, TikTok, shorts for about a year. Admittedly with a few relapses. But in comparison to my past usage it's night and day.

Apps like TikTok are very one dimensional as laid out above, it is wholly a short form content delivery system, with some vague social elements. But Instagram or YouTube on the other hand contain external and I'd argue positive functions. Instagram for example is a near-universal messaging system – like the late Facebook, which ironically provides the upcoming solution in house. I will not be talking about Facebook* as I was born in the current century. Instagram or meta-services also provide a handy way of sharing updates about our lives with friends and family which I don't think can wholly be looked over. See part 1.

The art is to find the balance, which I think Hazel Thayer provides a great perspective, When using our phones apps exhibit a 'closed-garden' nature. If I'm scrolling on app, then app is doing the most to keep my attention. The motion of closing the app is highly discouraged, and companies like Meta invest highly in addiction psychology and algorithms to keep you in their app. Contrast this with the use of the same apps on their website, be you sat at your laptop or computer. The same content is there, and heck you could spend hours doom scrolling on that device... But it's a bit awful, isn't it. You're also one click away from being productive. This is what she means by 'open-garden.'

Rather than being slouched over a phone, your posture is upright. The work your procrastinating is right in front of you, and your brain is readier to engage. Importantly more so when your attention is liberated.

So not only can we remove social media from our phones. Even Snapchat has a web-app, we can subsidise our scroll to the computer. We can go one step further.

Apps like Beeper, Provide a universal messaging service, that can incorporate Facebook, Instagram, and more into one app. It removes the short form content from our phones. We will still receive messages from these apps, still be able to contact people. But the truly addictive parts are separated.

So we can cut-off TikTok no-sweat, we can use an intermediary like beeper and the websites to our benefit for Facebook/Instagram. I know many of you will also have the YouTube app on your phone. I love YouTube! Delete the app. Again we can simply use web-browsers or heck even smart-TV's I don't know what your use and life is like. But if you remove all these social medias - sources of short form content, You will find yourself scrolling shorts. On your phone, simply access YouTube with the web-browser instead. I will touch on this later.

This keeps a balance, our phones do act often as a limb, I wouldn't ask you to cut off your hand. But Maybe drop the cigarette.

3 - Notifications

Before I go to touch on previous topics more, I would like to bring your attention to another way we get drawn into our phones. Notifications, The well versed among you will know how to go into your settings and see how many, and where these originate from. My own daily average is about 40. Which is mostly dominated by calendars/reminders as I personally find that a nice way to structure my life.

I do not think it is wholly a valid metric either, but that being said, I do encourage one to review this, when we get a notification it makes us check our phone or watch. Often times these notifications are so pointless. But for that moment our attention is drawn away from our present state. Who knows where that will take us.

Moreover, often websites will have their own settings for control of notifications, engagement mechanisms like comments on Reddit for example, bring you back and keep you engaged. Especially with Reddit there is an option to turn off the algorithm and suggested posts... I find this often leads you down the rabbit-hole of politics and hate-filled, fear-mongering comment sections.

Another item Which I'll hastily append here is to get on top of your emails/sms marketing messages. There are websites that go about doing this for you, though I can't comment on their efficacy and I would not encourage you to pay for such a service. What has worked well for me historically is to archive my emails continuously. Then my inbox is always clean. I can then go on to unsubscribe to any marketing emails as they come, and repeat.

4 - You Have the Amazon App

One other thing that truly bewilders me, is not just the addictive social media's we believe deserve so much of our attention that we carry them everywhere. But some pointless apps. Not only is that an entire website that you can visit, on your phone or laptop's web browser. It is also sending off notifications of deals and other rubbish.

Like social media's these apps are using your better nature against you. Is that deal really a deal? Do you even need another decorative bowl? Not only do I think this then substitutes a scroll, the addiction we're trying to kick; It feeds another addiction, consumerism. Aptly I also think there are better ways to be a conscious consumer even online. Though I do propose, shopping in-person is a better experience, I won't ignore the benefits. That being said delete the app.

I will then take this one step further and say remove the damn delivery apps. You don't need Deliveroo or Just-eat on your phone. I mean worst-case scenario you can download it again in dire straits. But once again – Web-browser. I make it a conscious habit to always deliver food from my computer. It stop me from ordering or thinking about ordering food when I really ought not.

Which I think begins to again touch on the root of all of these apps. "If a product is free, then you are the product" Though more obvious with the likes of an amazon or just eat, ultimately these apps exist on your phone to make someone else rich. In return maybe you get a short-term enjoyment.

5 - Web-Browsers Are Awesome:

So I've spoken on reverting to using a web-browser prior. But that doesn't mean that all these features suddenly vanish. For iPhone, I've been using Orion browser, very similar to safari. It allows for native installation of web-extensions like unhooked or sponsor-block. This works for YouTube, to hide shorts and other features of your choice.

Likewise I use Consent-o-matic, I don't care about cookies. Orion provides native ad-blocking. Combined this provides a much cleaner interface. I implore you to explore your own options. Similar extensions exist for Instagram, Reddit, Facebook. Though I do implore you to keep to the phone/desktop distinction previously laid out.

Using a web-browser under these conditions really does change your experience. Be mindful when using extensions to, there is importance to understanding what you're doing and what settings are enabled.

Imagine internet with no adverts, no/minimal pay-walls, no accept these cookies, no pop-ups, etc. Just simply click and read what you intend. It's the most achievable part of all this. But so Rewarding nonetheless.

6 - Etc.

I've periodically refereed to the action of doing ones own research, but I do wholly suggest this, what works for me may not work for you, and others may have better advice. Be cautious of those apps/devices that will offer you services to minimise on your behalf. Spending less of your time on your devices, and spending less money on devices is the entire point. In this series I will do my best not to suggest self-hosting. However, self-hosting (running ones own server), is very close to my heart and has gone a long way to cut costs for me. If you are somewhat technically minded though – don't be scared take the dive.

With that being said. There are some things that in general I think have been helpful for me personally.

• Modes: Do not disturb, work, etc. modes on your phone. These can be circumstantially useful.
• Black & White: I have the option on my phone to triple click the power button and it'll go black & white. nice feature.
• Shortcuts: again circumstantial, but phone shortcuts can be quite useful. I have a few set-up such as a sleep mode that turns down the white-point, blue-light filter etc. on my phone, and doesn't send notifications until the morning.
• No apps: Hyperbole, but seriously you have too many apps on your phone. Consider and consolidate.
• Further separation of phone and desktop: Separate work and pleasure, ideally your phone will have some positive use-cases. For me this is Music, E-books, RSS. I'll even use YouTube on the browser from time-to-time. The same time, any work is not on my phone. I can leave a note for myself to do something later. But on my phone? Just wholly wrong.

These are just a few suggestions anyway, again others will have better options, I think overall the content of this post contains solid advice that just works, and will work for anyone easily. But there is nuance of course.

7 - This Is an Addiction

These topics I believe need to be taken with the sincerity that this is an addiction. Which means a few things, it's perfectly normal to relapse, feel withdrawals, and for it not to be easy. To Believe you have good reasons to stay – and perhaps you do. My use-case will certainly differ from yours.

It also means you HAVE to want this to, and this is not where I will make arguments for. But I have found the works of Ekhartt Tolle to be wholly relevant, the Power of now, speaks about the importance of being (present.) So what I can say is that, often our phones, social media, keeps us from being present.

But why is that – Tolle speaks on it at length, but mobile phones didn't exist back then, and neither did social media. But his thoughts are timeless. What I can say is addiction often has roots in this lack or fear of being. Our brain needs the distractions. It's no way to live.

But we need to be conscious of typical short-falls of addiction and recovery. We need to find healthy mechanisms, hobbies, interests. We also need to train ourselves to be present to be fully involved with what is in front of us. When boredom creeps in we are most vulnerable to relapse.

This is where these two concepts entwine, if you look-up digital-minimisation there are plenty of valiant people who are doing a lot more than I to remove themselves from this digital world. My background in Engineering, I love technology, and I grew up with social media. I GET IT. The internet was once a much nicer place, less predatory place, and there are obvious benefits. But I do not know how we go back unless we try.

I digress, I will go onto talk about digital-maximisation, much like minimisation this is a personal endeavour, one that will change with time. But ultimately we need to find ways to navigate the world, that keep us connected with what's important, what's important in the outside world, but what's important inside us.

As a final example, I briefly mentioned RSS. When making this journey part of me felt anxious online, the internet can be very -phobic. It made the world a scarier place for me. But my reality was vastly different. Not without problems, but certainly not worth the anxiety I placed on it. An anxiety that bled from my phone into my mind.

But that's the cost of being informed right? I mean "ignorance is bliss" but I also think that every Tom, Dick, and Harry's opinion beamed into my skull (They think I'd be better of dead or in an institution.) Oh and they're bots? who knows... Well that's no way to live at all!

Sufficed to say, nuance goes to die when our News is comment sections and reposts. RSS allows you not only a curated feed, but to actually engage wholly in the news. Especially for me investigative journalism was one of the first things I looked to, and now I have a long curated list of great sources breaking news that is truly invaluable, especially in the misinformation age.

This is the most political I've got in this post, and believe me it's not for a lack of trying. But I wanted this here, both in example. But also because it segues into the crux of the issues, which I hope to write on later.

RSS is just one form, and it's indicative of why it's so important now more than ever to be mindful of our digital world. If I am going to doom scroll on my phone, if I do need that distraction, then I might as-well make it a positive outlet. Above all else, RSS is older than me, (1999) How much has our technology really evolved?

• Sabrina

Thank you for reading this first part in a series. I truly hope I can reach many people here. My aim of this post is to hopefully provide both framework and guidance to navigating a digital world where we the people are in control. It's not my intention to advertise any products/services, though If I have mentioned them, then I have used them and found them practical in my own journey.

This first part is intended to reach the lay-person, this is advice that is both effective and easily attainable. Where I have made assumptions, I recognise not everyone has a desktop/laptop, and solely owns a phone. However, I think still you will find this to your benefit.

Also a massive shout out to any citations I've made Hazel's video was a massive help to me a year ago, and to assist in the writing of this article I consulted the subreddit. All are great resources that are a good place to start

I massively appreciate your time