How to Escape Media Consumption This Summer
It's summertime, and the living is easy. Supposedly.
Summer is a season often associated with relaxation and rejuvenation. But it’s also a fitting time to re-evaluate our relationship with the digital world. The internet has a knack for making time seem to vanish into a black hole, leaving us with nothing but a hollow feeling and emptiness within us.
How the Internet Speeds Up Time and Creates Immense Emptiness
Isn’t it curious how we can binge-watch an entire season of a show and still feel like we’ve achieved nothing? The internet, with its endless notifications and clickbait headlines, creates a warped sense of time, making it seem to move faster while we, on the other hand, move slower and are less fulfilled. One moment you're scrolling through memes, and the next, it's midnight, and you’re questioning your life choices. It’s like our brains are trapped in a perpetual state of fast-forward, between notifications and every new piece of content that demands immediate engagement, creating this an illusion of activity leaving our sense of fulfillment stuck in an endless cycle of rewind.
The Importance of the Medium
Marshall McLuhan's concept, "The medium is the message," underscores how the nature of the medium itself influences how we perceive and interact with content. Social media feeds are essentially the digital equivalent of junk food—quick, flashy, and utterly devoid of nutritional value. This design molds our interactions, focusing more on rapid consumption and less on thoughtful reflection. Ever notice how scrolling through your feed feels like running a mental marathon while barely moving your thumbs? That’s no accident. The medium—the phone, the website, or the app—shapes our experience, and understanding this can help us make more conscious choices about our digital consumption.
De-escalation: A Vital Practice
If your summer plans include avoiding existential dread, de-escalation is your new best friend. De-escalation is about slowing down and regaining control over how we interact with media. One effective strategy is to shift from using smartphones to laptops for internet activities. My personal experience with this is akin to discovering a new, thrilling hobby—minus the physical activity, of course. After I removed Facebook from my phone, I realized that using a laptop for such tasks significantly altered my engagement. The larger screen and the more deliberate navigation process reduce the impulse to scroll mindlessly. When I browse Facebook or engage in research on my laptop, I’m less prone to instant gratification and more likely to engage thoughtfully. The absence of notifications and the slower pace encourage me to reflect on the content before reacting, leading to a more meaningful interaction.
Mediums to Avoid Completely
Some platforms are like that one friend who’s always late and brings drama into every conversation. Social media apps like TikTok that focus on sensational news, fleeting trends, or constant updates are prime candidates for your digital detox.These mediums are designed to keep us hooked with fleeting gratification and endless scrolls, often leading to increased stress and dissatisfaction. While avoiding these platforms entirely may not be feasible for some, limiting their use and being mindful of their impact can help mitigate their negative effects.
How to De-escalate
So, how do you actually pull off this digital detox without feeling like you’re missing out on the latest cat video? Here’s a plan:
So as you watch the summer unfolds, why not fill your days with activities that actually matter? Try cracking open a book, picking up a new hobby, or spending quality time with friends. If the idea of braving the heat sounds less appealing, don’t worry—stay inside, stay cool, and find joy in the small things. The goal is to make your summer fulfilling and real, not just another chapter in your digital feed.
I appreciate you and the time you invest in reading this.
Do your best every day, and be kind to all!