Digital Distractions: Malady, Madness or Nirvana?
Image via Wikipedia
Finally, there is recognition that the Internet is addictive, and that nobody cares.
Three-quarters of online economic users take to the Internet to get their mind off the recession. Nearly 90 percent of 18-to 29-year-olds in that group rely on the Internet to relax, according to a report by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
They — we — watch videos, listen to music, play games, chat with friends or create a post or some kind of online content. Pew defines “online economic users” as anyone who turns to online sources to keep abreast of economic news, cope with their own financial situation, and commiserate with others about matters related to the economic crisis.
Even more interesting is what the report (based on a survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research) does not say but surely implies.
We are a nation of seekers and sowers. We want gossip and information, coupons and directions, photos and videos that enhance the quality of life, if only for 30 seconds. Our connectivity is fast becoming the opium that gets us through the days, the nights, the jobs, the life.
The world doesn’t appear particularly bothered that it is suffering chronic distraction by tweets, texts, IMs, posts, blogs, emails and searches that lead down the rabbit hole in cyber space. It is the new norm. But, there will be consequences.
The attention to drivers texting at their own peril could be a tip off to just how big an issue online distraction is becoming worldwide. As with all addictions, recognizing there is a problem is a necessary first step. I’m just not sure anyone wants to do anything about this one.
A recent New York Times column suggests there is help on the way for those who want it. They are computer software and applications designed to restrict senseless Web explorations, social networking and other time-eaters.
Writer Farhad Manjoo writes about his experiences with RescueTime, Dark Room, LeechBlock and other programs that are designed to keep our Internet habits in check. He describes one app as “the digital equivalent of dieting by locking up the refrigerator and throwing away the key.”
It’s enough to make you want to gorge yourself on blogs.
Post Your Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment
T/S Members
Log in with your True/Slant account.
Although I’m not sure addiction is the right model/image/analogy for what these tools are doing to us, we are all certainly and profoundly distracted. Have you had a chance to see Maggie Jackson’s book Distracted: The Erosion of Attention and the Coming Dark Age . And as if we need more evidence, so far during this short reply, I listened to a voice mail, decided not to read 2 emails that came in, and got distracted searching for the sub-title to Jackson’s book!
[...] Digital Distractions: Malady, Madness or Nirvana? Driven to Media Distraction Social Media: a distraction or an assistant? Attention and Distractions in a Social World Social Media – Distraction or Smart Strategy? [...]