Intelligence Squared Is Your Phone Controlling Your Life? With Kaitlyn Regehr (Part One)
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May 20, 2025 
Kaitlyn Regehr, an Associate Professor of Digital Humanities at UCL and author of 'Smartphone Nation,' dives deep into our complex relationship with smartphones. She tackles the pervasive issue of screen addiction and shares strategies to foster digital literacy. The conversation uncovers how algorithms manipulate our online behavior and highlights the urgent need for critical thinking in a world dominated by digital distractions. Regehr offers practical advice for cultivating healthy tech habits for both adults and children.
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Attention Economy Fuels Social Media
- Social media platforms operate on an attention economy, treating users' time and attention as the product sold to advertisers.
- This economy promotes content that hooks emotions and holds attention longer, often amplifying hate, harm, and disinformation.
Reduce Phone Addiction Visually
- Turn your phone screen to grayscale to reduce its addictive visual appeal.
- Limit and customize your notifications to control distractions and digital temptations.
Actively Shape Your Algorithm
- Perform a "walkthrough method" by reviewing your social media feed with someone to identify harmful or unhelpful content.
- Actively train your algorithm by seeking content you want and quickly skipping undesirable content to shape your feed.
