From the first second of starting our day to the very last, we are progressively integrating the digital world into our physical. There are many ways to use and enter the digital world, which has evolved alongside the development of the digital, e.g. through mobile phones and laptops. How we engage with(in) it and its impact on us is also important to look at. Many of us, unfortunately, do not have the healthiest relationship with the digital world.
The combination of the two worlds has created many amazing things with positive impacts, e.g. new hobbies, communities and even careers. While using the digital in our daily lives has created many opportunities, we should still be a little bit cautious. I will be discussing a little bit about the positive and negative effects of the digital world in our daily lives.
Digital Information (Overload)
A significant outcome of the digital world is the increasing availability of different types of information. It has become far more easier to educate ourselves and stay up-to-date with world events than a few decades ago. Very niche subjects or even really old information can be put in the digital world in order to still be (relatively easy) found. Important information can also be spread more effectively through the digital world, where it is more accessible in comparison to traditional forms.
‘Too much of anything can be bad for you’ is an old saying that can also be applied to information. The copious amount of information existing in the digital world is way too much for anyone to handle. When one enters the digital world, they can easily be exposed to a lot of information, depending on how, what type and how long they engage with.
On social media (…) there’s so many things to look at and think about, you really have to choose what to fill your brains and eyeballs with every day. So go through your following list and if you’re following something stupid that doesn’t promote your overall health, wellbeing or creativity, unfollow them.
Katya Zamolodchikova
The Digital Time (Dilation)
During our free time, we can turn to the digital world to fill it with different kinds of entertainment, which can vary from watching videos to reading stories online. Whenever we have nothing to do or are in need of some sort of distraction, we can use the digital world to find something. Spending time in the digital space can even be a lifesaver for many who need a break from time in the physical world. While entering the digital world, many tend to stay longer or more present in it than they should. It is very easy to get sucked into the digital world (even for me!), especially with the immense amounts of different types of entertainment available to us. Many social media platforms that provide these services, often use specific algorithms to keep the user engaged. A consequence is that we often have no idea how much time we spent while in the digital world and it even has a negative effect on our attention span.
(Obligatory) Digital Connection
The rise of social media created a new method for people to stay connected, but this time through the digital world. Through this, people could easily talk to and share with each other many things without having to go to them in person. Establishing and maintaining long-distance relationships has become easier, especially regarding online communities on different platforms (e.g. video games or celebrities).
Some (definitely me included) may feel pressured to participate in staying connected through the digital world, which can stem e.g. from friends who want to share things on social media platforms, from within themselves in order to stay up-to-date with the everchanging popular media, or even from future employers to be impressed by your (broad) network.
Rejecting the Digital
During the COVID-pandemic, many had to spend their time online as the only (few) door(s) to the outside world. It was especially during this time that many have (unintentionally) started the habit to engage with the digital more often, that led to them spending a lot of time in the digital world on a daily basis, which in turn had negative effects on them e.g. regarding their mental health.
These negative effects made many choose to change their engagement with the digital. Some limit their screentime, take a (or multiple) breaks from social media, only use it productively, or even delete (most of) their social media accounts. A suddenly limited digital world will take some time adjusting, especially with way less information, entertainment and engagement.
Social media is a rare chance for everybody, everywhere, to contribute something interesting to the global network of information. (…) A lot of people have (also) nothing interesting to say, so they should shut up.
Katya Zamolodchikova
Way less than a Day in the Digital
I’ve said that integrating the digital and physical world does have many positive outcomes and opportunities for many, but this can – unfortunately – also lead to a lot of negative outcomes. What should we do then? I do not think a total rejection of the digital world is a great idea, I rather advocate for decreasing the (daily) amount of unproductive time in the digital world and the frequency of visits. Live your life in the physical world while sometimes retreating to the digital.
Bibliography
- Ciria, A., Mark Miller and Bruno Lara. 2022 “Social Media Platforms: Trading with Prediction Error Minimization for Your Attention” Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202209.0259.v1
- Fiedler, Radha, Jahan Heidari, Tim Birnkraut, and Michael Kellmann. “Digital Media and Mental Health in Adolescent Athletes.” Psychology of Sport and Exercise 67 (2023): 102421–102421. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102421.
- Sonne (2024). ‘A Day in the Life of a Doomscroller.’ On https://digmedia.lucdh.nl/, posted on 18-09-2024. Accessed on 20-09-2024. https://digmedia.lucdh.nl/2024/09/18/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-doomscroller/.
- WOWPresents (2016). ‘UNHhhh Ep 22: “Social Media” w/ Trixie Mattel & Katya Zamolodchikova,’ YouTube video. Uploaded on September 12, 2024. Accessed on 21-09-2024. https://youtu.be/eN9ce0EVD2o?si=wJa3MImPfixFvhWd.
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