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>You know what, I really don't think I spend enough of my life looking at a screen. People already spend most of their time in front of computer screens today

>You know what, I really don't think I spend enough of my life looking at a screen. People already spend most of their time in front of computer screens today so you can say the same thing about the effects of the smartphone revolution. In my childhood, to use the computer and play games, I had to come how from school, and only then I could indulge in this hedonism, meaning I spent most of the day without a computer. But if you look at kids today, most are on their phones most of the time anyway even during school, there's no more separation between computer time and 'other' time. People are always ON now, always connected for the entirety of their waking lives, for better or worse. There's this trend in mental health of limiting social media and technology use, which is good, but I doubt society as a whole would take measures to artificially limit this for everyone the same way we limit consumption tobacco, alcohol.

hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
> but I doubt society as a whole would take measures to artificially limit this for everyone the same way we limit consumption tobacco, alcohol. I disagree. I think there is a real awakening that ubiquitous connectivity, and especially social media use, has a detrimental effect to individuals and society at least on par with tobacco or alcohol. I already see progress being made in 2 areas (not commenting on the wisdom of any individual proposal, as implementation is complex and difficult, just on an emerging consensus that these are problems): 1. limitations on childrens' use of social media and other online services 2. increasing public understanding that the issue isn't so much the tech channel, but the "algorithms" designed to hijack our dopamine pathways and lead us down "personalization" rabbit holes.
- FirmwareBurner 3y ago
  Awakening yes, but hard actions no. Most people are still glued to their phones all day.

hn_throwaway_99 3y ago

> but I doubt society as a whole would take measures to artificially limit this for everyone the same way we limit consumption tobacco, alcohol. I disagree. I think there is a real awakening that ubiquitous connectivity, and especially social media use, has a detrimental effect to individuals and society at least on par with tobacco or alcohol. I already see progress being made in 2 areas (not commenting on the wisdom of any individual proposal, as implementation is complex and difficult, just on an emerging consensus that these are problems): 1. limitations on childrens' use of social media and other online services 2. increasing public understanding that the issue isn't so much the tech channel, but the "algorithms" designed to hijack our dopamine pathways and lead us down "personalization" rabbit holes.

FirmwareBurner 3y ago
Awakening yes, but hard actions no. Most people are still glued to their phones all day.