Day 3 of 45
0 days read · no streaks, just days
Day 3 of 45 · 0 days read · no streaks, just days
Phase 1 · Awareness
Day 3: Free will vs dopamine
“Are we using it because we want to or is it because of dopamine hits; that's something that one needs to think about.”
Some phone use is chosen and some is pulled. Today's job is to sort the two.
Economists Allcott, Gentzkow and Song estimated that self-control problems drive about 31% of social media use. A tool that let people set binding limits cut daily use by about 22 minutes, so people themselves wanted to use less than they did. "Dopamine" is shorthand here; the point is the gap between what you intend and what you do.
If you need support
If phone or social media use is seriously affecting your sleep, studies, work or relationships, or you feel low or unsafe, please talk to a professional.
- Tele-MANAS: 14416 or 1-800-891-4416, free, 24×7.
- NIMHANS Service for Healthy Use of Technology (SHUT clinic), NIMHANS Centre for Well Being, BTM Layout, Bengaluru: 080-26685948, nimhans.wellbeing@gmail.com.
- In an emergency, call 112.