14 Comments
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Crixcyon's avatar

Cell phones are convenient for making calls or texting. Beyond that, they become a digital prison, a complete spy device and a data collector of which you cannot imagine. I do my computing on a desktop where I have much more control using Linux and a few other anti-snoop things.

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Preston's avatar

As soon as I get a better computer I’ll be doing so as well. I’m trying to ween myself off of my phone as much as possible.

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Kathy Enriquez-Nguyen's avatar

I was the same but since turning off all notifications from socials and deleting some has been awesome. If I have a work app, I never push notifications. Only thing I have is texting and my weather app. Everything else can fuck right off until I decide to check it.

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Preston's avatar

Basically, yeah! I mean I have sports notifications, and those go wild on certain days haha but it’s just score updates. Otherwise, I really don’t need to see something instantly. Communication apps I do like to see immediately like text like you said, but other than that I’m good just letting things come to me as they may.

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Kathy Enriquez-Nguyen's avatar

Exactly!! It feels so much better. Like sure you have certain nag at the back of your mind (like this app) but im like nope, take the step back. Once I close my laptop I can check when I want. For now just focus on the video game im playing haha

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Preston's avatar

This is the way.

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Preston's avatar

I can learn much from you, Jedi master.

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Kathy Enriquez-Nguyen's avatar

Yes you do my young padawan XD

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Preston's avatar

This is one (of many reasons) I need a new Lap top and a tablet. That will be when I can truly break free of certain notifications. I think I’ll always have Substack on my phone. But putting Twitter on just my tablet for sports only? The dream.

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Kathy Enriquez-Nguyen's avatar

It's worth investing in imo. We utilize it in a way that just enriches our lives more haha. Like I'm most active on Substack during the day cuz of my laptop haha. And some group chats on Signal. My tablet is for reading and playing D&D haha. My phone is texting and taking photos (really trying to dial back other activites on there).

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Pamela Cummins's avatar

Twice, I forgot to take my phone when I was meeting my family at a restaurant. The anxiety was high about not having a way to communicate with them while waiting for them. And the ‘what ifs’ if something happened to my car.

I don’t have the Substack app on my phone, instead I use my desktop and occasionally my tablet.

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Preston's avatar

The anxiety is real! And once I have a better laptop I’ll be switching to doing a lot more of my communication on there in general. A tablet will also be a good switch as well. My friend said you’re just switching screens and while that is true, it’s also switching behavior. There’s “space” with those options. I have Substack on my phone because I do like to read articles on my phone and it’s convenient for talking to people somewhat immediately, and sharing articles as well.

Thank you for reading and your thoughts!

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Pamela Cummins's avatar

A bigger screen is a good switch! I use my tablet for reading eBooks.

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Preston's avatar

That’s definitely gonna be the move. I don’t necessarily annoy reading articles on laptops and obviously books are the preferred, but that’s not a choice for online articles haha

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