Inspired by the discussion “what disturbs me the most about mobile culture…” I wanted to delve deeper into the culture of mobile addiction. Having taught pre and post COVID, I have witnessed how students have become so much more addicted to their phones than they once were. To be able to teach anything, all devices must be removed from the classroom otherwise their phantom limb will appear and the scrolling will begin. However, there was once a time where I could have devices in the classroom and students knew when it was an appropriate time to be on their mobiles and when was an inappropriate time. I don’t want to put this just on the younger generation either. For myself, my family and my friends, I also have seen a huge increase in mobile addiction. I have to catch myself when I’m watching a show on Netflix and then I pick up my phone to start scrolling. It’s disturbing and haunting to me how I feel like sometimes, I have no control. In this post, I’d like to explore practical strategies, including the use of the Opal app and other similar tools, to regain control over our digital habits.
- Opal: As someone deeply invested in mobile learning, I’ve discovered the transformative power of Opal. This app offers a range of features to help users manage their smartphone usage effectively. With Opal, you can set limits on app usage, block distracting apps during crucial study or work hours, and track your screen time habits to gain valuable insights. By integrating Opal into your daily routine, you can reclaim your focus and productivity while still harnessing the benefits of technology. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE this app?
- Forest: If you’re drawn to gamified solutions, Forest might be the perfect fit. This app encourages users to stay focused by planting virtual trees during periods of productivity. If you give in to temptation and exit the app, your tree will wither—a powerful visual reminder of the importance of staying on task.
- Freedom: True to its name, Freedom empowers users to break free from digital distractions. By blocking access to selected websites and apps across all devices, Freedom helps you establish digital-free zones during critical times, such as classes or study sessions.
- Moment: This app tracks your screen time usage, providing detailed reports and analytics to help you identify areas for improvement. Additionally, Moment offers coaching and challenges to support you in achieving a healthier balance between screen time and real-world experiences.
- Flipd: This app allows users to temporarily lock their devices, preventing access to apps and notifications for a set period. Whether you’re gearing up for an exam or engaging in a classroom discussion, Flipd ensures your attention remains undivided.
For myself, I mainly use Opal and I have found a huge change in when and how I use my mobile device. In my mind, I use my mobile much more for good instead of evil now. While I do allow myself moments in the day to scroll, those moments are limited and the app makes it very challenging to ‘doom scroll’ the day away. I wonder if we required students to use these apps in the classroom, what difference would that make? I’m curious to know if anyone has used these apps or similar ones? What is your experience with mobile addiction? What is the solution? Is there really a solution or all we all doomed?
I think this is a very useful and important topic to discuss right now. At the same time, it feels a bit ironic to rely on mobile apps to help us stop using our phones. These tools seem best for people who need extra self-control, but they also highlight how dependent we’ve become on mobile technology in general. Phones are now the gateway to so many daily activities. These include unlocking cars or bikes, ordering food, even accessing hobbies or navigation in nature. In many ways, our phones have become indispensable tools, but the problem comes when we turn to them for entertainment or distraction rather than necessity.
I wonder if part of the solution is intentionally creating spaces or activities that are phone-free, where we practice being present without digital support. Still, it’s not just teenagers who need to work on this. Adults are equally guilty. We’re scrolling during meals, plugged into headphones, or constantly checking notifications. With BC’s new no-cell-phone-in-classrooms policy, teachers may have fewer disruptions during lessons, but outside school we are just as “addicted” as our students. So maybe the real question is: if everyone including teachers, parents, students, is hooked to some degree, what does a realistic solution look like? Maybe the most realistic solution is not expecting students to change on their own, but building a culture, at school and at home, where both adults and young people practice healthier habits and set boundaries together.
I really like how you referred to mobile phones as a “phantom limb” for students, and contrasted how much their usage has increased since pre-COVID, compared to afterwards. The apps that you’ve listed are also great resources when it comes to self-regulating phone usage and limiting distractions, particularly Opal and Flipd. I also thought that Forest was a great concept, as this almost reverses the impact of mobile devices and tricks your mind into remaining focused on the task at hand. Another helpful app for staying on task is Clearspace. It lets you set how long you’d like to use your phone and even includes creative options, like requiring you to complete 10 pushups before gaining access. You can also connect with friends to share and compare screen time, as well as track the number of times apps like TikTok have been opened for yourself and friends on the app. However, this app does require access to your screentime usage information, and some features require a subscription.
https://www.getclearspace.com/
Hi Olivia,
Thank you for the app recommendations! Mobile apps are designed to get your brain hooked through psychology and cognition. Britt Dzioba, who used to work for the Digital Tattoo Project, wrote an article about how apps such as TikTok are intentionally designed to keep you engaged: https://digitaltattoo.ubc.ca/2021/11/19/addictive-by-design-how-tiktok-keeps-you-hooked/
That is why having a mobile app that helps control usage could be useful in managing addiction.
One concern I have is that these apps also need to monetize in order to cover their operating costs. The pessimistic side of me worries that they might resell the data they collect, or suddenly impose an extravagant subscription fee, which would ironically make me dependent on yet another app just to stay less addicted to other mobile apps.
Disclaimer: I used ChatGPT 5 to fix the grammar of the comment above
Hi Olivia,
Strangely enough I feel a sense of relief when my phone dies because I am not tempted by social media. I will definitely be looking into this app to help my social media use lessen.
Jazz
I like how your post shares some analagous tones to some of the metaphors talked about in the intro of this course, where economist Ronald Coase explains how companies are essentially structures that hold ‘market costs’ or ‘transactional costs’, essentially friction that occurs during a financial transaction, to enable greater ease and freedom of choice to the consumer.
It seems like this Opal app is a structure to hold friction of essentially too much digital freedom, to set boundaries that help control impulsivity or ‘doom-scrolling’, thereby freeing up time and attention back to the consumer.