This is an editorial opinion by Mark Maraia, a professional development writer and Bitcoin researcher.
I have been studying Bitcoin since 2020 and I see there is a strong and vibrant community on Twitter. In fact, “Bitcoin Twitter” is almost its own “state” that exists online.
I’ve had a Twitter account since 2009, but I’ve never used it to tweet. There are several reasons for this (perhaps the subject of a different article) but, suffice it to say, I have never found it to be a great use of time. Like many Boomers, I see social media as a huge time and productivity drain. I also see it as perhaps the worst addiction of our age.
In a recent episode of the “TFTC” podcast, host Marty Bent and guest Ryan Breslow, CEO of BOLT, tackled the topic of technology addiction and, specifically, Twitter.
Both admit to having a Twitter addiction. It seems from the conversation, when Bent admits his addiction, he doesn’t do much to get rid of his addiction, while Breslow does. In fact, Breslow explains “the hardest personal challenge is managing my time on Twitter.” Breslow used to check it randomly and often every day, which gave him the dopamine that got us all hooked on the technology.
How many can say the same? Probably many of you are reading this.
No Silver Bullets
Since I’m not on Twitter, it’s easy for me to feel excluded. I might have a great idea to contribute but it won’t be heard, unless I become more active on Twitter. My compromise approach is to join Telegram, which is the perfect middle ground for me.
However, as Breslow points out, there is no silver bullet approach. On a daily basis, how do you manage your addiction? It turns out that few of us can resist the allure of being “always available, one button away.” Breslow applies this rule to his posts: He checks his Twitter feed once in a while to see how the posts are doing. Easy to say and hard to do.
I have written about our growing addiction to our devices before the age of smartphones and before Bitcoin. In fact, I wrote about this when there were PDAs (which stands for personal digital assistants), especially the Blackberry, which – in its heyday – was sometimes called “crackberries.” I even wrote a chapter in my second book ironically titled “Open Your PDA!”
I’m kidding again, most people don’t know that there is an on/off switch on the device. And for those of you who are too young to remember, Blackberries were very addictive in the age of email and previous social media or sms.
Well, as anyone who reads this article today can prove, the problem only worsened with Twitter and other social media platforms, but at least 10, or even 100, times worse.
Kick the Addiction
Before I show you a special experiment that you can do in the new year to increase awareness of this addiction, I will ask you this question:
- Do you admit you have a Twitter addiction?
- Has it hindered or interfered with your relationships with co-workers, family members or friends?
- Have you tried to go a day without it?
- Do you check Twitter (or other social media apps) when you wake up?
- Do you keep your phone in your bedroom?
- Do you keep your phone on the nightstand?
- After you post something, do you forcefully review it?
It’s a safe bet that if a family member or friend has ever asked you to stop reading your Twitter feed when you’re with them, you’re probably addicted to or abusing the technology. In fact, I think it’s harder for some of us to give up our addiction to social media than it is to give up our addiction to certain foods, like sugar. In fact, I’d say addiction to these devices is just as damaging to your health as sugar addiction.
Here are some possible “experiments” (from easiest to most challenging) that you can do. today which will be attempted in 2023:
- Turn off notifications for Twitter for a week
- Turn off notifications for Twitter for a week and check your usage data for the past week. Set a benchmark for the number of minutes you spend on the platform each week. Monitor this on the same day every week.
- Make a set number of times each day when you will check the app on your device. Or set a block of time when you check.
- Turn off the device for an hour every day. (This is actually a good way to assess how compulsively you check.)
- Turn off your device for the rest of the day. Track how many times you check and/or turn it back on.
- Turn off devices when meditating or reading spiritual literature. Track how many times you check and/or turn it back on.
- Turn off appliances while eating. Track how many times you check and/or turn it back on.
- Turn off your device while writing an article. Track how many times you check and/or turn it back on.
- Turn off the device while in use, if possible.
- Turn off your devices during the weekend.
- Delete Twitter from your phone for a day.
- Delete Twitter from your phone for a week.
Some of these experiments can be totally unworkable because of the living conditions, but the overall purpose for them is to assess how addicted to the device. The goal of this exercise is to give you control over Twitter or any social media app you already have in your hands. Ideally, if you spend less time on Twitter and more time with friends and family, it will improve your quality of life and productivity. Remember: We want technology to serve us and not make us addicted to the app or the technology.
Try making one or more of the above as your New Year’s resolution 2023. Happy 2023!
This is a guest post by Mark Maraia. The opinions expressed are entirely my own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.