#digital-wellbeing

#digital-wellbeing

Have you ever fallen into a black hole on your phone? It might have started innocently enough, maybe a notification or text message. Yet, five hours later, you're swiping through videos as the day fades. Those hours can feel like seconds, leading us to miss out on life. Yet, excessive social media and habitual doomscrolling are becoming increasingly common problems, particularly for young people and young adults.

Back in 2011, Apple's iPhone ads plastered billboards with glossy images of people traveling, celebrating milestones. The message was seductive: This device is your ticket to belonging and intimacy. And in many ways, those ads weren't wrong. Smartphones made it easier to FaceTime across continents and capture memories-but they also planted a subtle belief: that closeness itself lived inside the device.

Managing online activities responsibly helps maintain focus, reduces stress, and encourages a healthier balance between digital and offline experiences. Mindful habits and conscious choices can make digital engagement feel purposeful rather than overwhelming. Developing a structured approach to time spent online also supports wellbeing by preventing digital overload and maintaining clarity of thought. Understanding Digital Boundaries Online platforms provide diverse experiences, from social networking to entertainment.

Smartphones aren't just for calls and texts anymore; they're how most Americans handle just about everything. As of 2023, over 91% of people in the U.S. own one, according to the Pew Research Center, and the average person now spends over four hours a day glued to their phone screen, according to a 2025 eMarketer study. In this article, Spokeo breaks down screen time: How much time people spend on their phones?

Monitoring your phone to check whenever it lights up seems innocent enough -- a minor habit, utterly devoid of consequence. But is this seemingly harmless gesture actually working against you, subtly undermining your privacy, focus, and even your phone's longevity? Placing your phone face down is a small change that can have surprising ripple effects on your digital well-being and device health.

Focus Friend centers around an adorable animated bean who loves to knit and decorate his room. When the user sets a timer in the app, the bean is able to knit in peace-as long as no other apps are opened. Once the time is complete, he produces knitted goods (such as socks) that can be used to purchase quaint little decorations. If he's interrupted, though, his knitting is ruined and he becomes visibly sad.

The prompt encourages users to focus and stay in the moment, suggesting they put Pinterest down during school hours as a positive move.