Technology, with a grain of salt

Originally published in the Ketchikan Daily News, May 2017; written by Lisa Pearson.

How are you reading these words? At your breakfast table, with the newspaper propped in front of you? Or are you seated at your desk, reading off your computer screen? You may even be scrolling through pages on your tablet or smartphone. As more and more of our interactions with words, ideas and other humans involve screens, there is a growing concern about the long-term sociological, psychological, and even physical effects of our digital environment. I had the opportunity to hear Sherry Turkle speak at the Public Library Association’s annual conference last year, where she presented reasons to disengage with social media and smartphones.

In her latest book “Reclaiming Conversation: the power of talk in a digital age”, Turkle addresses the idea that connecting to others through the Internet and texting has begun to affect our ability to empathize, retain knowledge, speak directly with other people, and work together. She even points out that the habit of skimming through digital content can break down our ability to follow the narrative of an entire novel. Essentially, we are forgetting how to read. Her research into the effects of digital technology on human relationships is very troubling, and she presents many examples of people who are lonely despite their online social connections. “Reclaiming Conversation” builds on the ideas she first presented in her 2011 book “Alone Together: why we expect more from technology and less from each other”, and it’s sad to realize that the problem of social isolation has actually gotten worse in the intervening years.

Turkle is not a lone voice in the wilderness, however. We have three new titles that examine the dangers of our digital society. “Irresistible: the rise of addictive technology and the business of keeping us hooked” is by Adam Alter. Alter is a professor of marketing at NYU and he discusses the way that companies use behavioral studies of addiction to design products and advertising campaigns that keep us demanding more, whether it’s binge-watching dramas on Netflix, posting to SnapChat, checking our feed on Facebook, or sharing YouTube videos. He does end the book with suggestions for how this process of gamification can be used in a less addictive, more benign way. At the very least, knowing how we become obsessed with our digital technologies may enable us to break the cycle.

This idea of becoming less dependent on digital society is the focus of “The Power of Off: the mindful way to stay sane in a virtual world” by Nancy Colier. Colier is a psychotherapist who shows us how to really think about the way we are using our technology and social media, to decide if it is having a negative impact on our health and relationships, and how to break free of that compulsion to check your phone and your feeds. This book is very similar to a guide on how to quit smoking, and will be extremely helpful to anyone who has realized that they want to make a change in their life. The biggest difficulty of changing an addictive relationship with technology is that - unlike tobacco, alcohol, or drugs - it is almost impossible to completely eliminate technology from your life. Colier understands that, and gives the reader concrete advice on how to use technology and social media without becoming consumed by it.

If the process of mindfulness is unfamiliar to you, try our new audiobook “Unplug: a simple guide to meditation for busy skeptics and modern soul seekers” by Suze Yalof Schwartz. She begins by explaining what meditation is and answering frequently asked questions people have about meditation. She walks listeners through the technique of simple mindful meditation, and also discusses other ways to meditate, focus, and relax. This is a great resource for anyone who wants to try out meditation for the first time. For those of you who would like to participate in group meditation, we invite you to our weekly Mindfulness Mediation sessions every Tuesday from 12:30-1:00 pm.

Old habits may be hard to break, but these resources at the public library will help you decide if you would like to unplug for a portion of your day, and take a new path towards more self-awareness and stronger relationships with friends and family.