The Sneaky Reason You Feel Behind Every Day
TL/DR:
You have a tech loop, the cycle of sites and apps you check on autopilot, and most people don't know how big theirs is until they look.
Scrolling time has gone up 45-90 minutes per day since 2019, even though we're more aware of the downsides.
App defaults are designed to hijack your attention, which pulls you into unintentional rabbit holes.
Awareness is half the battle.
Once you see your loop without judgment, small tweaks help your tech serve you instead of the other way around.
The Whole Shebang:
How aware are you of your “tech loop”?
Are you aware you even HAVE a “tech loop”?
In honor of Digital Wellness Day (May first this year), I wanted to revisit this concept and share it with you, because I think it’s a really useful framework in thinking about technology.
I first wrote about this concept when I first heard about it way back in 2019, when I was attending a session at my kids’ school about technology and kids, lead by Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet, the co-founder of MyDigitalTat2., a non-profit that helps young people navigate online complexities and think critically about the benefits and drawbacks of their digital interactions so that they can make healthy choices and be in control of their technology.
(In full disclosure, I’ve been on the board of this org for a few years now; that’s how much this talk affected me and how impressed with the work I was.)
Look, as I’m sure you know, A LOT has happened in the world of technology since 2019.
AI, I’m looking at you!
And also, you know, a global pandemic that brought in the era of remote work.
And I wasn’t super surprised to find that, since 2019, despite the fact that we’re more aware of the drawbacks of scrolling, we’re doing it more. In fact, studies show we’re scrolling between 45-90 minutes a day MORE than just 7 years ago.
In any case, way back in 2019 as I listened to Gloria speak, I had an “aha” moment where I thought to myself:
“Adults and kids are dealing with the same issues around technology. I work with adults, Gloria works with kids, but it’s the same stuff!”
And I’m not knocking technology! I use it; I love it.
Technology is amazing in so many ways, but the default settings of many (if not all) of our favorite apps and sites and are meant to hijack our attention, and this often leads us down unintentional internet rabbit-holes.
Sometimes I feel like it controls me more than I control it.
And I feel pretty safe in saying I’m not alone in that.
I’m on a mission to help people use their time in a way that’s consistent with the own goals and values. And helping folks figure out how best to use our technology instead of letting it use us, is part of that.
When I start a coaching engagement, I ask my clients to do a little time tracking, so we can answer a few questions (where they’re spending more time than they though/want; where they’re spending less time; when they’re most stressed; what’s surprising about where their time is actually going, etc.).
Everyone has some surprises.
One client of mine, a tech exec, found that he was spending 4 hours a day(!) on Youtube and Reddit, in 2 minute chunks.
He’d thought it was “bad”. But had no idea it was “that bad”.
Now, the “bad” is in quotes because I’m not here to judge. If it was his intention to spend his time in that way, more power to him.
But it wasn’t.
It was his unintentional, automatic tech loop.
And once he had the awareness, he was able to make some meaningful changes, pretty darn quickly I might add!
I believe we’re still in the nascent stages of learning how to harness the power of all this technology in our lives to help us lead better lives (and not just to do more work!)
But I don’t think we’re there yet.
For instance, I’m willing to bet that you are not 100% happy with the way you use technology. (And if you are, can you tell me your secrets? Pretty please!)
But there’s hope, and that’s why I want to share this article with you!
Awareness is half the battle, and so I’d encourage you to read the article below with yourself (not just your kids, if you have them) in mind.
And then after you read the article, resist the urge to judge of yourself and instead just notice your own tech loop and think about where you might make a few tweaks so that your technology, and time, serves you better.
Learning from our “Tech Loop”
By the MyDigitalTat2 Team
We will never forget the day one of our high school interns began drawing a circle on the board and said, “Let me tell you about my loop.” In her words, a tech loop is “the cycle of sites, apps, and platforms that we check regularly, often, and religiously.” She taught us that we all have a highly personalized “tech loop” that we live and practice every day.
We are most effective as digital mentors when we help children and teens develop their critical thinking skills to understand and manage their own loops. Rather than dismissing screen time as superficial, take time to talk with them about what they are doing online and how they feel about their use. By scaffolding these conversations, we help teens reflect on what parts of their digital use are truly meaningful, and which take up too much time. This prepares them to make better-informed decisions on their own, even as technology continues to change.
Encourage your kids to ask themselves:
What did you notice about your loop?
What are you constantly checking?
What is always on in the background?
Do you check more after a post?
What are your feelings? (help them name it)
Are you ever free of your loop?
A conscious awareness of our loops can foster a deeper understanding of ourselves and each other. Helping kids understand the “why” of their digital loops is the most effective digital filter. It guides them to consciously and mindfully engage with technology in a way that reflects their own choices and values.
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