Opinion: Less time on the cell phone has added value

Contents

The information landscape has changed completely in just a few decades. For most of history, it was difficult or even impossible to access information. This was partly due to education, which was denied to the majority of people, and partly due to a lack of technical possibilities.

Nowadays, on the other hand, we suffer from an excess of information that is impossible to process in its sheer mass. One major factor is the cell phone, which we always carry with us during the day and which is only a few centimeters away from us at night. Our cell phones bombard us daily with notifications about emails and WhatsApp messages, most of which are irrelevant.

An opinion by Tom Leon Zacharek

Through photography and a passion for writing, I found my way into studying journalism in 2022. Initially as a working student at c't Fotografie, I have been working as a trainee at c't since July 2024.

Distraction is the biggest problem

Our constant companion distracts us from the things we should actually be concentrating on. We scroll through Instagram or TikTok while working from home, read the news while watching TV or check our work emails while eating out with our partner.

Tools that limit screen time or certain apps can help you regulate your own cell phone usage. In our personal experience, however, these functions are of little help as they are far too easy to circumvent. Self-reflection and rigorously uninstalling apps or even using a phone that can't do certain things is a much more effective solution.

Raise the barrier to consumption

To be able to enjoy the important things in life more and prevent digital burnout, you need to consciously disconnect from your smartphone or limit its capabilities. Because the lower the barrier to using your cell phone or not accessing certain things, the harder it becomes to avoid distraction.

So why not just be able to be called. That way you can be reached in an emergency, but you won't be distracted. This can be achieved by using a device with few functions. Simple cell phones are still available, so-called dumb phones, which only allow limited access to the Internet.

The more conservative alternative is to uninstall distracting apps. These mainly include Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, but also emails and news sites. You can protect yourself from instinctive consumption if you have to install the app first.

More personal responsibility

The only way to escape the flood of information is to make a conscious decision against it. More and more companies are demanding our data and – much worse – our time. We have to actively counteract this; otherwise we will miss out on things we would have done if our cell phones hadn't been so interesting. For example, going for a walk instead of sitting on the sofa and looking through reels or consciously enjoying your food and not just consuming it on the side while going through your emails and chat messages.

For me personally, this means having a cell phone with me during the week for work and swapping it for my camera over the weekend. Then you have to leave the apartment and suddenly, you walk through the world with a much more open view of your surroundings. Perhaps you also notice that a certain amount of tension falls away when you don't have to be constantly available.

(tlz)