You know you're in a bad way when you have to tell your technology to remind you to not use the technology

I'm addicted to my phone. Everyone in my family is too. Everyone I know is addicted to their phones. Grim times.

That app he tried to sell us @6:44 was like a black mirror moment lol. 'Phone apps shrink hippocampus? Don't worry, there's an app to fix it. Introducing HippoCamera'!

It's fascinating, because when I tried to block out much of my smartphone addicting capabilities, and being off for weeks, it made my friends and family worried and anxious and even demand I revert back. Peer pressure can play a hand in this.

I accidentally stopped using social media after breaking up, because I don't want to see anyone's stories. Turns out I feel happier and less overwhelmed. I'm gonna continue doing that.

I quit social media a few years ago. I watch only 2 or 3 KZfaq channels which are important to me, meditate daily, don't use phone when it's not needed. It improved my life drastically. Please do give it a try.

Mornings are better when I do not touch the phone, and get outside for a walk or work in the garden. Watching the sky change colour as the sun rises. Walking with my dog and noticing the gardens and the burds. I am connected to the surroundings and it feels good

In 2019 i did a full year or dopamine detox no screens. Only screen was the one at my office doing only work related stuff, no browsing for new or any dopamine releasing habbit. It is a completly different life, first of all, life slows down by a LOT and you finally have time to clean those drawers.

I am preparing for a competitive exam and this is what I realized: every time you use smartphone after study session it becomes noticeably harder to focus back on studying even after long hours of abstinence, or in other words your day is gone. On the other hand if you just study with decisiveness of not touching smartphones you actually don’t feel like you’re missing out a lot and time flies faster.

Honestly whats scary is I dont think most of us even feel the afteraffects of our smartphone addictions . Personally ever since the covid lockdown ive spent way more time on my phone than I used to and i can genuinely feel myself mentally declining because of it . I find it difficult to even pickup a book much less read it from start to finish . The thought of watching a tv series or longer duration forms of entertainment exhausts me. I often have to reread sentences because i have trouble comprehending them the first time. Overall I find it harder to process inputs into clear coherent thoughrs and it frustrates me.

I disabled notifications on almost all of my apps (direct messages, calendar, bills to pay and my gym membership app are the only things enbaled). I have only 2 social media accounts, only passively comsuming both. I switch my phone off at 22:00 and leave it in another room for night. I often go on retreats where phones are completely off for days, or on only for half hour. I still feel like I waste a lot of time mindlessly scrolling... It's ridiculous how much effort it takes to not end up being a phone addict.

In Plato's Phaedrus, Socrates bemoaned the development of writing. He feared that, as people came to rely on the written word as a substitute for the knowledge they used to carry inside their heads, they would, in the words of one of the dialogue's characters, "cease to exercise their memory and become forgetful"

I'm a teacher and every year we take all our schools 8th graders, about 110 students, to the alps for a one week skiing trip. On this trip, smartphones and all wifi capable devices are forbidden to bring. Naturally this creates quite the uproar from many students when we tell them, but especially from the parents. Some have even forced their children to smuggle their phones on the trip because they feel the need to always be able to call them. Now the interesting thing is the change in behaviour we can see in our students on this trip. At home, we have smartphone zones in our school where the students are allowed to use them. It's not uncommon to see groups of Up to a dozen students sit next to each other completely silent, all looking at their phones. But on our trip, they become much more social and even behave more child like again. They play stupid games, laugh a lot and are generally very happy. The physical exercise also helps, I think. There were numerous students who told me that the thought of getting back to their phones stressed them. The constant messaging, scrolling and posting is actually nothing they do enjoy, but a chore. It really makes me sad to see these happy children being trapped by technology. As soon as they are back home, they are glued to their phones again and it would take more strength and determination than any 14 years old can muster to break out on their own.

I'm just watching this on my smartphone at 1am in bed.

Screen time is an unbelievable restriction that if you said back in the year 2000 that we would have to limit the time we spend on the phone nobody would have believed you.

Yes. I am kinda surprised that this isn't being talked about more and out there in the public. When I go around and see, especially younger folks, everyone is glued to their fucking mobile phones. People walking the streets, no eye contact, blank stares, unable to do anything without their devices in hand, socially awkward parents giving small kids phones just to be able to do some scrolling of their own. Deeply worrying. I think that in a couple of years, a decade maybe, this is going to seriously backfire and we will find ourselves in deep trouble as a society if this is not addressed. Great video, thank you it. I believe more needs to be done about this.

I’m 33, I LIVE on KZfaq.. It literally plays in my background while at work. Even sometimes in the car. I catch myself sucked in even when I’m around my kids. I notice when my kids have to say daddy 3 or 4 times. It crushed me and I’ve now made a big effort to cut phone time. Not gonna lie, it’s hard. And I don’t even do social media much anymore

You don't need a dumb phone. You need a quiet phone. Completely disable notifications for anything that you can (and will) check regularly (email, news, social media). Silence as many of the remaining notifications and communication channels as possible (group chats, messages/DMs from anyone outside your closest family/friends). The only audible/perceptible notifications should be those that *actually* require immediate attention. Like a family member calling about something urgent. Make it difficult for people to distract you (mute all messages) but provide a way for them to get in touch with you when needed (audible ring signal if someone tries calling twice within 5min).

This video was absolutely brilliant, thank you for covering this insanely important issue. I’m a UX designer working in app dev in the charity sector, and have been absolutely horrified at some of the dark patterns the most popular social networks and games will use to force engagement. Problematic smartphone usage and psychological torture have a lot in common. There needs to be HEAVY legislation for this.

Been worried that this was happening. Thanks for the confirmation.

The problem is not the Smart Phone nor the weak human nature, but corporations who hire behavioral psychologists to game the hell out of us.

As I was watching this, I absent mindedly minimized YT, open B/R, and started checking on sports updates. I then jumped to e-mail before realizing I wasn’t retaining much, and forced myself to close things down and watch/listen.

A secondhand alarm clock was a dollar, I don't need a phone by the bed anymore. Wrist watch with no wifi cost two dollars and it is a blessing. No messages when I check the time. Small changes that matter a lot. Three bucks for a much calmer head and better life. Less depression too. Very thankful.

I actually thankful for Simon Sinek's advice. "Be bored. Let your mind wanders. That's how creative ideas comes..." Thanks 👍 for this videos.

I used to have amazing memory, my grandma used to tell that to everyone as she was my English teacher, that I could remember all of her classes. Now I have to check if I closed my front door after locking it 10 seconds ago

I removed all the social media on my phone years ago. Now, I don't feel the need.

The irony of watching this on your phone

Thank you for this video. Most of these things, I had already heard, but your video was a very powerful reminder. I’ve been putting my phone in a separate room, leaving it at home when I walk out the street to get food or groceries (I live in Taipei), and just living more present. I started to even notice how having my phone in my pocket would bring intruding thoughts of expecting messages, calls, etc. I’m in the middle of something. 感謝你 🙏

Its easy to forget we are only 15 years into this experiment. This study needs a lot more attention.

I have people in my life who are struggling in certain ways and I’m convinced it’s because of their phone addiction. This is truly a silent epidemic.

Loved it! Great video and advices.. Thanks for it

i got banned from tiktok and replaced it with KZfaq shorts 😢

I'm 50, I used to enjoy reading magazines so much, now I don't understand how anyone has the time to read them. Doom scrolling is dangerous, you wind up reading so much crap you wouldn't if you had to buy magazine or even pick up a free one. So much of it is designed to just to get your attention and communicates nothing. I like Smart phones. They've made my life better. I don't miss losing contact with people who move away, having to carry a camera around and only being able to meet new people in bars. But its alarming how easy it is to completely waste your time on one.

As someone with severe ADHD who avoided almost all internet trends, I actually feel way more competitive ever since everyone has developed ADHD symptoms. I don't even need meds as I went from being the most distracted hyperactive person around, to being someone who can focus better than the average person. Thanks internet!

Thanks for this wonderful episode and advices

Thank you for all the information. Love your channel. Guilty of multitasking. Cheers!

Children should not have smart phones....They are poison

Smartphone addiction, and tech addiction in general, is so insidious. It's like food addiction: you can't just stop consuming it because it's essential to existing in society, making it very difficult to regulate once you develop an addiction to it

very informative....Thanks Cold Fusion

YUP!! First vid, new sub.. Going to ‘social media fast’ a little more often. I could see this happening and this video explains so much! Thank you.

Worst problem is social media. I have a smartphone and I use it for work mostly but I don’t have social media on the phone. The only time I use it is if I need something.

Fascinating. I've been aware of this but nowhere near how aware I am now. Brilliant story, thanks again Coldfusion 👍

It's a good thing I caught this video. I learnt ALOT today. Excellent piece, and now I know I have been definitely using my smartphone too much, especially on social media.

My grandparents lived in the same house for 50 years. A couple of years ago my little brother (who was in his early 20's) got lost on the way driving there because he blindly followed Google Maps to a completely wrong address. I was shocked to realise that he had no real navigational skills, he didn't notice he was going the wrong way or that he wasn't near any familiar landmarks. As a kid, I guess he always had his head down looking at some device when our parents drove us to see our grandparents, and as an adult he always had a device telling him where to go.

I didn't even need smartphones for my addiction 😎 I was already addicted to my PC and online games in 2001

Thankyou for this video, it's put a light on something we always knew but ignored

This was helpful. Thank You.

At some point I knew I was addicted and also weaken my attention span, that was like 2 years ago, at first I try to correct my concentration by removing tiktoks, reels from my life, and always watching longer videos, also decided to spend more time avoiding my phone, like going to the gym, and learning Japanese so I can memorize more and more each day, currently I haven't escape the reels addiction, every time I reinstall the app I can waste hours on it and then be disappointed about it, so it's a fight about deleting and installing the app over and over again but I feel like everytime it takes more time to feel like I need to use social media, also my dog has been the biggest help, as we try to reach the 15km walking each day

I gotta be honest. If this was 1999, I could EASILY ditch my phone. I'd just hang out with friends, or call 'em on the landline. Nowadays, I only have very few people in my life, most of them not close enough to hang out, and too busy to call. Getting rid of stuff like texting would just result in me not communicating with anyone anymore but my wife. It's not just the phone, it's how our lives changed in the last decades. Phone addiction is just a symptom and a catalyst.

Very valuable research. Lots to be proud of.

Good job!

Feels like phones will become the leaded gasoline of our generation.

I worked for a huge Internet corporation. A "payroll" digital nomad. After 20+ years I missed my old Nokia. Those days it was all about emails, Skype, Messenger, and IQ. A decade ago we had to use Smart Phones to keep communication on real time. It was great at the beginning, now I hate it. I do have a routine now; I told my boss I need it. I just use the phone when working. When I am off duty, I carry a Nokia 110 4G. And this I can tell you, I LIVE.

Thanks, I've learned something new from this. Your channel adds value every-time. Please keep making good content.

This was an awesome presentation, the only thing it was missing is "projection" from other's when they have no control of what these devices do to them & their relationships with others.

From using google maps for the last decade, I can’t find my way down a hallway.

Our brain is being rewired to be focused on analyzing, categorizing, and short term problem solving skills, over prioritizing them in the place of Imagination, abstract problem solving skills, and novelty altogether.

I have always plugged in my iPhone out in the shop when home. I work at home so this gives me a long day with no distractions. Before I work in the morning I check emails etc, but phone goes into cold storage for the rest of the day. I know it would destroy my ability to focus so never gave it the chance! I recommend this to everyone.

great always as episode meng

Smartphones have definitely f***'d my brain. Having ADHD only makes matters worse. I used to genuinely enjoy learning, even though focus has been a lifelong issue. At this point in my life the thought breeds anxiety because while focusing is hard enough on it's own, memory has become an entire issue all its own.

Truly upsetting knowing how easily we become bored now. The stimulation we require is causing major depression. It’s generational trauma that older generations cannot understand and just chalk up to “being addicted to technology”

WOW !!! Thank you......

Thank you for this! I was able to gain new insights even though this is a topic im generally aware of! 🙌

This is why I love working in a job field where I can't have a smartwatch, phone, or anything other than a computer. It truly does make a difference to look up when you are walking around in the world and see events with your eyes instead of a camera pushing data through your screen.

It's sad to see parents would just hand their smart phone or ipad to kids to keep them quiet or not watch over them.

Thank you ColdFusion for this amazing video

I got text neck a few years ago and couldn't look down at my phone anymore without a lot of pain. I started to only have the phone with me, listen to music on it and take pictures of nature and cats, but that's it, no social media, no texting, because that makes me assume the position that hurts my neck. It's been a blessing in disguise, I'm used to it now. Going for a walk, riding a train, it's a different experience. I'm more present, I pay more attention, I notice more, it's nice. I started using less and less social media too and I try to not multi-task too much, just focus on one thing at a time. What I find interesting is the fact that people don't retain information from reading from screens, which I did notice in myself before, but that when I read from my e-reader I seem to get the same feel as a book. I wonder why this is, or am I maybe wrong and will I forget every book I read on it (I hope not!)?

Let's not forget that 8 ADHD adults out of 10 are undiagnosed and completely unaware of their condition and these individuals are particularly subject to the dopamine leverage of social networks, online gaming and youtube

I started putting my phone down 2 years ago and only use a tablet. Shockingly, I don’t even care if I get a text or not when I used to before. I got tired of seeing an entire room of people staring at their phones not interacting with each other because scrolling notifications is more important. My phone now stays out of my pocket away from me the entire day and only carry it if someone calls me or I absolutely have to use the internet. It was the most boring thing I’ve ever been addicted to. I’m glad I can now call myself a survivor 😆

Amazing and Insightful

Excellent video 💯👏

It’s primarily a social media issue. If you shut off your social media notifications it will change your life. Need to retrain yourself to seek the information rather than it being dumped on you all the time.

The irony of this video... Watching on a smartphone, addict.

"A trail of forgetten experiences"... Wow! I'm going to be using my phone less now. So scary to think about this! Great video as always ❤️

As an introvert, I never had any social media accounts, other than a Myspace account when they first came out. It filled me with such anxiety that I just couldn't. I definitely feel left out of things I'd rather not be left out of, but overall, I feel I made the best decision for me. I do have a smart phone, and use it for news, texting, and mostly gps, as I have always had the uncanny ability to get lost just by going outside.

this isn't the mukbang i clicked on

To be honest, my phone never made me depressed, on the other hand, rising cost of housing, gas, utility is very much the thing stressing me out. However interpersonal relationships have been completely annihilated by social media apps, people care more for likes and shares than real world experiences

Timely reminder indeed. Cheers Dagogo.

❤Thanks for sharing

Waiting in the lot to start work. Thanks, CF!!👍🏼

Spyware has become so sophisticated nowadays

8:14 lol ofc you'll get nervous, its like getting a call and not being able to pick it up.

I don't see social media, just hundreds of KZfaq videos, well tbh hearing them in the background while I play some video game or do something else, I am indeed burning my brain; should start giving my brain matter some break and buff... Nice video, and thanks for the info.

I thought this was common knowledge.

Everything rewires your brain. Your brain rewires itself in response to literally any stimulus.

Those people who are slow to notice that the light has turned green~~and honking at them does little good.

Great episode and very informative content, I really appreciate it, I try to use my mobile for productivity and convenience. But I am an IT engineer so I definitely use more my computer than the mobile. Regarding social media, mobile apps can be very distracting but if you can control/minimize the time to use the phone for those things it will be very beneficial, some of the things I found important in this day and edge, are e.g. Audio Books, Podcasts, Online Banking and Online Shopping (train/airline tickets, groceries, etc). There are a few more good applications such as AI, GPTs etc. Thanks again and keep it up.

Grateful that you make a comprehensive video about phone addiction. Because of your video, I have deleted facebook from my phone

Smartphones and social media has disconnected us more than any other time in human history

I use my cellphone in moderation. The key word is moderation. Know what videos you can enjoy along with educational purpose for certain time, step outside to go for a walk, play video game with creative and puzzle problem, and read books from the local library.

I have to say it seems the biggest issue here is social media and not so the portal used to access it. My iphone for me is a music studio, photography studio, art studio, camera, radio, tv, and communicator. I also study languages and follow tutorials connected with my hobbies. I use social media little and enjoy the times I purposly leave the thing at home as much as I enjoy being creative on it any place any time I chose. My only addiction is that the alternative would be carrying a cumbersome slr camera, tv, radio, and books around with me.😊

Great video as always, just realized that I wasn't subscribed, but I guess it's easier not notice when before I used to only watch KZfaq through my Smart TV... Subscribed now though! Personally, how I manage my smartphone use is to literally just turn the "data connection" completely off when I don't need it, and only turn it one when I want to see all my notifications, or to read the news when I'm bored. I feel there are many ways to tackle the "smartphone epidemic", but it will all come down to each individual person, and what works best for them. Turning off the data connection for a majority of the time works for me, but it may not be a solution for everyone. Which is why I can understand the perspectives of both those who praised the dumb phone, and those that were desperate to go back to their smartphone.

Bro easily promoted 2 ads, without us to notice it.

I'm thankful I'm addicted to phones! Cause thanks to it I now know French, English, Spanish, Photoshop, Ableton, FL Studio, how to cook, I know the basics of programming, I'm experienced at repairing a little bit of everything, and I'm now learning Japanese and other things I find interesting. Things are only bad for us because we want to, if you didn't use TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, play games on your phone and only spend time searching for stuff that is completely useless, all stuff I don't do, you'll see that smartphones and tech in general can be a great way to actually learn and become a better person overall. The problem isn't in having the tools, the problem is actually knowing how to use them properly.

Im gonna share this like crazy!

Thanks for this wonderful informations. This is exactly what i need right now. Hope your day will always be good. 🎉

I used to say this with friends and family that these smartphone are the reason why we don't have sense of wonder in our lives and yet here I am in this infinite loop of scrolling,from now onwards I'm gonna try avoiding my phone an hour before and after my sleep.

I knew phones were a problem when I started to see people crossing the street staring at their phone, instead of the cars coming towards them.

This is why I have been keeping my phone on silent mode for the past 10 years. I look at it WHEN i want to, i have control over it. Many times i put it on airplane mode. I also blocked every annoying person i see or meet in social media😅. Also set all notifs to off whenerver possible.

wow what a timely concidence watching this after not having a phone for a over a month. this could be really true. i have a keypad phone and been using social media morning and evening whenever im at home. now extending the streak to maybe another month before i got back again to having a smartphone