#ELBookClub September 2021 pick
In the world of social media, Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, by Cal Newport, was such a refreshing book to listen to. I have such mixed emotions on social media. While on the one hand, I love how it makes connecting with people across the globe easier, I also loathe the way it seems to make connecting with the people right in front of you all the more difficult. Just like everything in life, moderation and quality are key for any good thing to remain useful and life-giving.
But what is perhaps most key, is ruthlessly reducing time online.
His philosophy underpinning the method to digital decluttering is the same as decluttering basically everything else in your life – too much leads to chaos, and to discontentment when we continuously search for the unattainable “more”. Minimalism in other areas of life bring joy and simplicity, so why do we choose to be maximalists in this digital world? Cal urges us to move from a frazzled maximalist to a digital minimalist.
Frazzled surely describes it. With all there is to view on social media, it feels as though we are always missing out on something – whether it’s not seeing all the new tik tok trends, the newest insta influencers outfit, the idea that everyone else has more is doing more, and is looking better while they are doing it. We see perfection in a square box and can’t help but feel frazzled that we will never catch up. Rather than cycling through this endeavor leaving us craving more to be satisfied, solitude is what we need instead. Cultivation of solitude in our day and age seems almost impossible, and strange to the outside world. I mean, if we don’t share it to stories, did it even happen? But how will the world know about the super awesome thing that we did/bought/saw?
Did you know that the iPhone was launched to combine iPod technology and enhance phone calls into one device? That was really all Steve Jobs had in mind.
Social media hasn’t been around that long. I mean, Facebook came out when I was a freshman in college, and Instagram and Pinterest didn’t appear until after we were married. But man has it changed the landscape of how we interact with other people. You see, the problem is that social media uses intermittent positive reinforcement – it’s far more enticing to get unpredictable feedback because you never really know when it’s coming. So you keep on using the app in hope that this time, it leads to more likes, more follows, and all the social approval we’re seeking. Sound familiar? Kinda like a slot machine. Which is why the use of social media leads to gambling behaviors. But the thing is that they are using our drive for social approval to line their pockets. Your time = their money. And while the social media companies continue making money from your use, you’re left with the sugar high of convenience that ends in a crash. There are several studies showing the correlation of social media and depression, especially in teens and young adults.
Well then. Perhaps that’s why Cal suggests cutting back. Perhaps that’s why he suggests that taking the view of the Amish and Mennonites would be wise: Be in the world not of it. Less can be more.
You see, due to social media and the internet we are so much more connected than ever before. Which isn’t altogether a bad thing. But what’s missing is true communication and conversation with the people we care about. Conversation is more nuanced whereas connection is more about logistics. Cal suggests we need to move to conversation centric communication focusing on smaller amounts of high-quality offerings over higher amounts of low quality offerings. Social media isn’t all bad. Just like everything, moderation is key. And not forgoing the beauty of real life conversation for a meta verse of connection.
