Humans Are Prone To Misuse
These days, almost everyone you see is operating a mobile phone, or a smartphone, to be apt. It's become a daily, necessary part of our lives. It provides us access to loads of information, both the ones we need and ones we don't. We can also access lots of entertainment on our smartphone. There are those whose smartphones is their livelihood. Either they are content creators or they sell their digital skills online using their smartphones or laptops.
But we humans are disposed to misusing even things that are meant for our well-being. That's why many people today are misusing their phones. They are engaged in endless scrolling, viewing information that adds no real value to their lives. They go from one joke or skit to another on their Facebook feed, and when something educative shows up they just swipe them away.
The Connection That Many Smartphone Users Do Not Recognize
Excessive smartphone usage has turned many people, especially young people, into addicts, dopamine addicts. They always want one more moment of scrolling and laughing. And when their mental health detoriates, they won't know what the cause is.
The problem is that many people do not know that there's a connection between excessive smartphone or social media usage and a dilapidating mental health. Plus the blue light from the screens messes with their sleep cycles, their minds, the bright light wears out their eye sight.
I saw a post on hive about a scientific research that confirmed that taking a break from social media, just for a week, reduced depression, stress, and mood problems. There are many other research works that confirm this.
The Only Solution I See
I think it's only enlightenment that can save us. Young people who are glued all day to their phones need to be lectured on the dangers of doing such. Plus parents need to oversee and regulate how their young kids use smart devices.
I know sometimes it feels like you can't do without your smartphone for a day. But think: continuous usage of it is harmful, and there are other useful things you can do to occupy your time. You can read an interesting book. You can visit and converse with friends. ETC.
The rise of mental health problems we see today is connected to this. Maybe the government can find a way to check this problem, by making laws and policies.
Side Thoughts & Conclusion
I'm thinking of creating a social media that combines both fun and educative information in what shows up on your feed. And it would only have an amount of time you can use it a day or week. Like 2-3 a day, and after that it logs you out and you can't use it again until the next day. Or it while it locks you out it will still send you notifications of very important information and allow you to check it out.
Mental health recovery is a battle humans need to win and it begins by disciplining ourselves in how we interract with smart devices. We are a long way off from the mark...but we can achieve it.
Thanks for reading.
All images generated with Meta AI.