Constant phone use, especially mindless scrolling, can detract from meaningful human connections, as exemplified by the disconnection felt between a parent and child. The compulsion to engage with negative news feeds can amplify anxiety and diminish the quality of personal relationships. Acknowledging this detrimental cycle is crucial for breaking the habit and regaining control over device use. Phones and their applications fragment our attention, leading to rapid shifts in focus that disrupt deep engagement. To foster healthier relationships and a balanced life, conscious efforts are needed to mitigate screen time and restore the value of direct human interaction.
If you’ve made a resolution to spend less time on your phone this year, help is at hand. The Guardian has launched a new newsletter, Reclaim your brain. Its co-writer and expert coach Catherine Price tells Madeleine Finlay how her own excessive phone use inspired her to investigate the science behind our relationships with our devices, and what we know about how to break the cycle. And Prof Barbara Sahakian of Cambridge University explains why many of us are drawn to looking at bad news on our phones, and what it’s doing to us. Help support our independent journalism at
theguardian.com/sciencepod