A specialized iPhone app was used to block internet access, recording any time that the feature was disabled.
In numbers, nearly all the participants — 91 percent — improved on at least one of the three outcomes, while around three-quarters reported better mental health by the end.
The findings even suggest that the intervention had a stronger effect on depression symptoms than antidepressants, and was roughly on par with cognitive behavioral therapy.
What’s driving all this? Ward suggests that the simplest explanation is that the experiment forced participants to spend more time doing fulfilling things in the real world.
… the assumption here is that people know what they find fulfilling. Before the internet people would stare at the tv for 12 hours a day.
I have several very fulfilling hobbies but I don’t have enough money or time (especially time) to do them. Hurray.
Insightful article highlighting tech detox benefits, though lacks broader societal impact analysis.
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Striking results - 91% of participants improved their mental state, and typical improvement was similar to reversing 10 years of age-related decline.
I bet it’s not about the internet, just the social media apps. Why not just uninstall the apps or tell the participants not to use them?
I did something similar to what this article describes a bit back. For me it was turning off my phone, the effect was staggering. Anxiety etc dropped immediately.
For me in particular, it was being constantly available to anyone in my life, but also the doom scrolling, and knowing there’s a vast ocean of infinite content at my fingertips. Sure, I could curate my experience, and block people, but overall the phone is still functioning largely the same as it ever does. I can always turn those features back on. By changing how the device works externally, you’re disconnecting those people from the decade and a half of reinforcement and whatever they have associated with their phones.
To get similar results I was able to just turn off my phone, but that might vary for some. Anyway, it seems reasonable for the experiment at least.
So, what would be the best way to “block the internet” on an Android phone while still being somehow able to use it for communication with the family & friends, navigation and stuff like that?
Download maps, turn off wifi and data, and use SMS for friends and family. Wait, SMS is compromised now? Nevermind.
You use either focus mode or parental control tp restrict all apps except messaging ones and navigation
