No smartphone
No social media
Use something fun for a change:
7-day challenge begins first Monday of the month
Next one begins (🇬🇧 ⏰)
Hi, I'm Laurence Warner aka Cerulean, a British performing artist.
Back in May 2018, as a techie Fulbright Scholar researching the growing phenomenon of Smartphone Dependence, I realised I needed to tackle my own addiction first, so invited a friend to join me in this challenge.
It was so successful at helping us refine what we - not Big Tech - want to get out of smartphone socialising, that I've continued going cold turkey once a month ever since, sometimes with other young people.
I myself am now searching for the greatest 'modern BURNER' or 'just-smart-enough' phone and vlogging monthly about my experience flipping phones:
2022 - Punkt MP02 Pigeon
though 1st timers are encouraged to dig out their proper olde clamshell.
If you'd you like to join me doing your own digital detox next month, please reach out, and I'd love to support you by offering encouragement and telling your story to inspire others:
If you're not quite ready to take on this challenge, go cheer on those who have, and find out more about how it's helped them acheive a healthier relationship with tech:
And here's some other more high-profile manifestos, aimed at different groups:
| Group | Resource | By | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Young People | 🍿 "The Social Dilemma" | Netflix / CHT | 2020 |
| Grown-ups | 📚 "Digital Minimalism" | Cal Newport | 2019 |
| Techies | 🗣 Humane Tech founding TED talk | Tristran Harris | 2017 |
You can subscribe to this calendar for future FirstWeeks