The Evil Rectangle in the Palm of Your Hand

Summary

The article discusses the author's decision to minimize smartphone use, emphasizing the negative impact of social media apps on mental health and daily life.

Abstract

The author of the article, who only acquired a smartphone in 2018, expresses a critical view of the necessity and benefits of smartphones, particularly highlighting the detrimental effects of social media. Despite owning a smartphone for practical reasons, the author limits its use by avoiding social media apps, keeping the phone on silent, and not installing games or other distractions. The article suggests that a fulfilling and successful life is possible without constant smartphone use, drawing attention to the addictive nature of social media and questioning why society has not yet taken steps to restrict its use, similar to past public health measures like smoking bans.

Opinions

Smartphones are not a necessity for a successful life, as evidenced by the author's own limited use and the achievements of Jared A. Brock, who thrived without one.
Social media apps are seen as the "true evil" due to their addictive design and negative impact on mental health, akin to the known health risks of smoking.
The author believes that society should consider restrictions on social media apps on phones, likening the potential benefits of such a move to the positive impact of smoking bans in public places.
The article suggests that the convenience of smartphones can be replaced with traditional items like a pocket diary, notebook, MP3 player, and watch, to avoid the pitfalls of constant connectivity.
The author values privacy and control over their time, as indicated by the preference for scheduled calls and the decision to turn off voicemail.

Humans do NOT need smartphones

I didn’t get a smartphone until 2018.

I put off getting one for as long as possible. I only got it because I started volunteering for my local council’s footpaths team. I thought it would be useful to take photos of broken stiles and make notes of blocked paths.

Sometimes I feel like getting rid of it. That’s what Jared A. Brock did way back in 2011: Why I Do Not Own a Cell Phone.

He’s written several books, travelled the world, and has earned loads of money on Medium. So you don’t need a smartphone to lead a successful life.

I still have mine, but I use it as little as possible:

I don’t have any social media apps on it.

No games or distractions.

I also usually have it on silent mode.

I have voice mail turned off.

If anyone wants to contact me, it’s a text message or email only, and even then my phone won’t beep to alert me. I only do calls if they’re arranged in advance.

The main things I use my phone for are:

Calendar.

Notes app.

Workout apps.

Podcasts.

Clock.

Camera.

But I could replace all these things with:

Pocket diary.

Notebook.

MP3 player.

Book of exercises.

Watch.

Camera.

Sure, it might seem less convenient to have individual items for each of those functions. But it would free me from the world of the smartphone.

But for now, I am glad I am avoiding the biggest trap:

Social media apps.

These are the true evil. They serve as a constant distraction from real life. You do NOT need a notification every time somebody shares a random thought or silly photo.

They are addictive, and this is intentional. The social media companies know the harm their apps are causing to people’s mental health. Just as tobacco companies have long known that smoking ruins your lungs.

How long before social media apps are banned from phones? How many fatal car crashes will it take? And all because people can’t stop looking at a rectangle in their hand.

The Evil Rectangle in the Palm of Your Hand

Humans do NOT need smartphones

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