I've been thinking a lot lately about the implications of internet usage on our lives, work and the struggle to find a balance between our intense desire to socialize, belong and the nefarious effect of connected devices abuse. Social media platforms are designed to trick our brains in wanting to always come back for more, to get our dopamine fix. I was a bit overwhelmed by all this without knowing where to start, until Deep Work by Cal Newport magically uploaded as an audiobook on my phone, thanks to my local public library's awesome digital collection.
The books deal with the onslaught of attention-grabbing tools that the internet age has spawned which leave us unprepared to deal with it, like a deer in the headlights, our default pattern being to accept them at face value because everybody else is doing it.
Social media tools can be incredible at helping us build connections with family, friends or an audience if used appropriately, but they shouldn't be accepted without questioning their validity for each and every one of their possibles uses.
Newport recommends a simple test: quit social media for a month, without fanfare or public announcement. See if you miss after thirty days or if anyone noticed that you were gone. If the answer is no, that's a good reason to permanently leave. You can always come back later if it becomes relevant to you again.
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