How has the internet changed our brains? There’s been plenty of finger pointing and talk about the adverse effects of social media, but how have we become rewired since the internet sat us down? Are we addicted? Or is that an utterly absurd statement since we need the internet like we need electricity?
According to recent research, excessive internet use may negatively effect our attention span and short-term memory. This behavior, like “digital multitasking”, is also associated with “higher risks for depression and anxiety, and can make us feel isolated and/or overwhelmed”.
Unfortunately, this isn’t anything we haven’t heard before. However, I’d argue that social media, or news outlets, or Google algorithms have been blamed for the division in politics and people, instead, it sounds like it’s the whole damn internet that we need to consider.
Nicolas Carr author of The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains observed, the more distracted you are, “the less able you are to experience empathy.”
And this is definitely happening before our eyes. Yuval Noah Harari, author of 21 Lessons for the 21st Century wrote, “Humans were always far better at inventing tools than using them wisely.”
Here’s to trying to use it more wisely.
My Internet Habits
If I was to grade myself, I’d give myself a B, depending on how I’m using the internet. It’s hard to grade oneself, and what’s the rubric? I think your grade should also depend on your journey, like maybe you used to use Twitter too much, but now you’re only on it an hour, or if you’re job requires it, like it feels subjective. But I’ll go first…
Searching
Many years ago, I watched a clip on people’s internet searching habits. The younger generation usually clicked on the first (few) links, while older folks, did a bit more scrolling and looking around, which, now that I think about it, probably stems from our library days. (Microfiche!)
Obviously the latter is better; after all, when we’re looking for information, faster is not usually better. In fact, this is how false news has taken off, because it’s about being first, not accurate. I was shocked to hear that most news comes from Twitter.
I also heard that Google was messing with their algorithms, and when I did a little sleuthing regarding veganism, I was unhappy to see this was true. As a result, I stopped using Google as my main search engine. I still use it for image searches because it is superior, but generally speaking, at home, I use DuckDuckGo.
Security
Somewhat recently, who can keep track of time these days, I started using a VPN, and I really like the added security. My husband told me that hackers are very much here in Thailand, too. I also discovered that your mobile device constantly sheds information, but don’t ask me how that works, so I use a VPN for both my desktop and phone.
But other than that, I rely on the fact that I have an Operating System (OS) that a small population uses. Hackers and viruses are interested in where the majority lies, Windows, not Linux. I also made the switch from Google Chrome to Brave for my browser. I love the built-in ad blocker and that they respect my privacy.
Nevertheless, I’m not bulletproof. I feel like with security, I could always be better.
Social Media
As a writer, I was told Twitter was a perfect fit. When Instagram arrived, it seemed like another perfect place to make new friends and share photos from my expat life. Pinterest is good for bloggers. And shouldn’t you have your own Facebook page?
I’ve tried them all, except I refuse to get on TikTok because it’s a security nightmare, and no, thanks, I don’t need another distraction. Nowadays, I only use Facebook since it’s how I’ve managed to stay in touch with old high school, college, expat friends, and family. (But a recent scroll through was riddled with more ads than I’ve ever seen. UGH.)
For me, I’m happier away from social. Even when I tried to craft them to only include writers or publications on Twitter, or positive people and cute animals on Instagram, I was still faced with content (the ads on IG are insane and not interested in your political grandstanding) that lowered my IQ.
However, YouTube is my Achilles heel. It’s like the old days, cable television with a zillion channels. But I’m pretty good. I mean, I have my limit as to how much time I can and want to waste. I’m also probably considered lame compared to the younger generation. It’s just the sheer volume that allows you to hook into something and stay hooked.
I keep my history locked, so YT can’t make suggestions based on it.
Entertainment
Another surprise that I learned about while doing research for this post is how many people gamble online. It’s considered common, yo. Common. But I’ve never gambled online, and not surprisingly, it’s unregulated.
I also don’t play games. Yes, shocking. I’ve never Wordled or Candy Crushed on my phone. I’ve watched people play games – they had no idea, I just looked over at these people, watching them like I was visiting Planet Earth [I am, can’t wait to go back to my own planetary system].
Of course, when I’m traveling or having to wait, I TOTALLY get why these activities are golden, but there’s something about killing time that I find abhorring. I’d much rather experience good ‘ol fashioned boredom.
Phone Use
Google Maps, Grab delivery and transportation, Google Translate, the weather, banking, and air quality apps are all useful. I use Messenger, What’s App, and Line for texting. The latter is for work and it’s ubiquitous in Thailand. Although, I hate it.
I mainly use Google on my phone, so I find it interesting to see what’s trending in searches and what Discover has to offer. This is like looking at YT’s trending videos, I’m curious to see what’s popular, viral, and newsworthy, but without going down the rabbit hole.
As you can imagine on YT, it’s the lowest common denominator stuff, but this is how I find out what music is popular and movies that are coming out. But by scanning headlines in Google, for example, rather than news channels, you still can see what’s happened without crying buckets over the state of humanity. Click at your own risk.
In short, my phone is a tool. Sometimes I even make/answer phone calls.
In the classroom/at work
I’m lucky that my job doesn’t require me to be on the computer the entire time. I interact with my students, create activities centered around the curriculum, or just do fun stuff like science and art projects. Of course, there’s an element of data entry and reports, etc, but for the most part, I try to stay away from too much technology in the classroom.
It’s a battle though. My school wants to introduce tablets, and I voted no. Out of all the teachers, I use the TV the least, and it’s not because I’m anti-technology, it’s because I believe kids these days get enough screen time, school should be a break. We have ICT class and they get to play games during lunch one time a week, and that’s good enough in my opinion.
What are your internet habits?
Life, the Universe, and Lani 
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