Hi comrades,
As the title suggests, how do you manage your time spent online? I personally don’t use any social media aside from Lemmygrad, but I’m still struggling with being online too much, even if it’s lurking here or on other websites. I try to focus on offline things, such as books mostly that I download. My biggest problem is the refresh feature, even smaller sites such as this one just become an issue because of refreshing for new posts or discussions.
As a Linux user, I can say I tried to make my desktop as offline-focused as possible. I don’t use any “cloud” services etc., though I still find myself dealing with this. Perhaps it’s the interface.
I do like the Small Web movement, especially protocols like Gemini or Gopher. From what I see, they’re filled to the brim with conservatives and anarchists, sadly. I do lurk on YouTube via Invidious, which is probably the biggest time-waste, though there’s much valuable niche content on there. Sometimes at least.
Speaking of this, I sometimes take breaks from politics to not get overwhelmed. To get updates, I usually use RSS and the Hexbear News Megathread. For the most part, it’s enough. Though FOMO (fear of missing out) hits here too, as what if I’m not up to date with something important globally.
What’s your experience with this, comrades?
I play video games sometimes too much but overall am not on too much. I think the key to it is having many things going on in person and it distracts you.
I’ve heard setting your device to monotone/ black and white can make you less inclined to spend large sums on time using it but I can’t personally speak to that
I use that on my phone and I can say it works rather nice for me personally. Though the biggest improvement is disabling notifications altogether.
If you get rid of all notifications does that not make you more likely to actually open your phone and see if there’s notifications? I feel like that’s kind of how Lemmygrad is for me, I check more often because I might have gotten a reply or something.
I disabled notifications years ago. It’s a massive improvement. It also helps to log out after every session, because you delay your ability to get back online. You don’t realise how invasive these devices are made to be until you turn off notifications, etc.
I go on LG when I make a drink or grab a snack, etc, (and sometimes stay on for too long). Otherwise, I hide my phone. It still takes discipline; and I’m not always disciplined. But it works for me. I don’t feel tempted to check other social media ‘just to check’, but that’s because hardly anyone says anything worth reading on other social media. The problem with LG is that you lot do write things worth reading, so there is that temptation!
Still, phone on ‘silent’ and hidden behind me and I’m less tempted than I would be. (Even on loud the only noise my phone makes is for calls; yes, I often miss important messages; no idc lol.)
I generally have my phone on silent, but I might have to try turning off notifications in general.
I do it individually app-by-app if necessary. It’s a challenge, though. Every app/OS update could undo all your hard work!
I don’t know if I can turn texts, but i did turn off things i get useless notifications from. Do I need to know when a podcast i haven’t listened to in a while has a new episode? No.