A collective mission
|
Read time: 5 mins Hi Reader, For two years now I've been writing about digital habits, algorithms and attention. I've given talks, shared articles, and shared examples from around the world. There was always one thing missing - local data. Not a report from Silicon Valley or generic stuff about "young people and screens". I'd love for Jonathan Haidt to come to Manresa for a coffee. Until then, I'll do whats within my reach. I'll listen to people from the local area. People who work, live, and educate here. Today I share a little project that I've been preparing for several months. The Bages/Manresa Digital Wellbeing Survey 2025/6. From the experts Maggie Jackson (journalist and author of Distracted): “The way we live is eroding our capacity for deep, sustained, perceptive attention – the building blocks of intimacy, wisdom, and cultural progress.” Jaron Lanier (specialist in ethical tech, author of 10 Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media: "Social media is biased, not to the Left or the Right, but downward. The ease of using negative emotions for the purposes of addiction and manipulation makes it relatively easier to achieve undignified results.". Liliana Arroyo (Sociologist, University of Barcelona): “Young people may be very quick with the tools, but they don’t understand the workings of the tech companies behind them.” I'm doing this survey because talking about screens is easy. In fact, it's becoming mainstream. Anyone with a podcast-style setup at home can give their opinion without having read anything, to play the content game they're criticizing on camera. The challenge is in doing some research and not have it spoonfed to you. Understand how we use these devices everyday, how it affects our sleep, our concentration, our mood, how we allow it to take up space at work and substitute time with family and friends, and how we're conditioned by algorithms and content "for us". There are research studies from all over the world about this, but hardly anything about this part of the world. It leads us to having debates, setting rules and more with a bit of a blind eye. The idea is to for the survey to act as a local thermometer to assess the local area's relationship with tech and devices. It maps,
Amb les respostes vull elaborar un informe obert de Benestar Digital que pugui servir a families que volen entendre millo rquè passa a casa, a docents, a empreses i equips, i a administracions locals que han de prendre decisions sobre programes, recursos i politiques. The responses will serve to put together an open report about the state of digital wellbeing in the area that can be used by families that want to better understand what's happening at home, teachers at our schools, companies and teams, and public administration that have to make decisions about programs, resources and politics. With all that, the goal is to get 500 participants. A sample big enough to get a decent "photo". I'll use results in my talks and include highlights in these newsletters. It will serve as a little piece to use in everyday chitchat at home, work, classroom or the bar.
Wish me luck. Escape the algorithm Noticia: Australia bans social media for under 16s. (You'll need a free NYT account to read) Some parents say its like a weight off their shoulders for the government to just step in and say, hey, it's banned." Many teenagers who grew up when these apps launched will find a way around it, as it's "just how we communicate." Some say grown-ups misunderstand the generations social media usage. What about you? What's your take? Platforms: Netflix acquires Warner Bros for a ridiculous amount of money. This transaction unites an iconic franchise with leading entertainment service, creating an extraordinary offering for consumers. This will require a newsletter on its own. We'll get there. Video: Rosalía on the #1 Insta "show", "Subway Takes". My own "hot take" is that Subway Takes is a pioneer in the world. New daily, visually appealing videos, that has attracted actors, businesspeople, it was part of new NYC mayor, Zohran's, campaign, and a few days ago, Rosalía (queen of Catalonia). She went on the subway with Kareem for an unfiltered ride about music, creativity, faith, and the strange ways the internet is changing all of us. (I am beyond tempted to try a Manresa version of this show) If you got this far, you're part of 71% of subscribers, so thanks, Reader. If something interested you, click on the related link. It helps me to prepare future newsletters. If this was forwarded to you, think of subscribing here. See you soon. Peace, Has
Whenever you want, I can help with: - A videocall. Let's work on something together. - A talk. It lasts about 50 minutes. Full of messages and tools to rethink your relationship with tech. |
