A Life-Controlling Trend?
Recently I have been thinking more about screen and phone usage. This has been triggered by some lack of sleep and wondering if I have been spending too much time looking at a screen.
It is so easy to start a search and then 45 minutes later realise that I have gone into the depths of a rabbit hole; wasting time and energy and nowhere near the initial search. So frustrating, yet I do it time and time again.
Then there are the times when I start playing an online game and spend far too much time. It grabs me. The availability of box sets on Netflix and Prime are so very tempting; not just one episode at a time but a multitude. Pure escapism!
Of course the nature of our online work adds hours of screen time to my day.
What can we do in this day and age to curb this very disturbing trend?
Is it actually life-controlling? Addictive?
An Ironic Google Search
This morning I wanted to find out what was actually being written about this topic. I discovered a plethora of google entries; yes, I googled the subject on my phone.
This is the AI entry:
Cell phones are addictive due to a combination of factors, including the way they tap into our brain’s reward system, the constant availability of content, and the design of social media platforms. Essentially, cell phones are designed to be rewarding, and our brains are wired to crave those rewards, leading to compulsive use.
Tapping into the brain’s reward system! Those of us in the world of recovery and addiction have heard this over and over again; gambling, porn, food etc.
The combination of dopamine release, the habit forming nature of phone use, the way social media is designed, constant connectivity, and escapism all lead towards an unhealthy and dare I write, unholy, life-controlling issue.
There is always the desire for more, the craving becomes more intense, nothing satisfies, there is the triggering of a stress response releasing more and more cortisol into our bodies, with the resulting anxiety leading to some very unhealthy consequences.
How to Respond and What the Bible Says
I/we do need to respond. One response is to set boundaries on phone/screen usage. I think it is unrealistic to totally switch off in this society but limitations can definitely help. Times to shut down completely may be necessary. Being outside in nature, wondering at God’s creation, looking up and seeing the world definitely leads to less anxiety and stress.
Philippians 4: 6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
By setting boundaries on screen usage life takes on more clarity and setting boundaries and being self-disciplined is definitely a Biblical principle.
Galatians 5: 22-23
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Sitting or walking with someone without a phone or screen provokes a deeper human connection and I do wonder if we have lost the art of simply being with someone or others without distraction. When a screen is in the way am I/are we being loving, affectionate, delighting and honouring as the following verse states?:
Romans 12:10
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other.
Then there is the struggle of immediate gratification, “I’ll just google it,” or “that series is on Netflix, I can binge that as an escape this evening!”
Here an article writer, Sean McMahon wrote this in 2023:
Applying this wisdom to the context of addiction, we realize that seeking immediate pleasure through such means fails to honour the seasons of growth, relationships, and self-discovery. By practicing patience and embracing life’s natural rhythms, men can find lasting fulfilment rather than momentary pleasure…
In the realm of addiction, choosing wisdom over indulgence involves recognizing the inherent dignity of oneself and others. It entails a commitment to personal growth, emotional well-being, and building genuine connections, all of which stand in stark contrast to the shallow pleasures of instant gratification…
The battle against the allure of instant gratification is not a new struggle; it’s an age-old conflict between our immediate desires and our deeper, more profound longings. The wisdom found in the Book of Ecclesiastes serves as a guiding light, offering insights that are as relevant today as they were in ancient times. By reflecting on Ecclesiastes, men and women can gain the strength to overcome the destructive cycle of instant gratification, embracing patience, self-control, and a pursuit of higher values.
https://medium.com/@mcmahon770/overcoming-instant-gratification-biblical-wisdom-from-ecclesiastes-to-combat-temptation-db33c3042015
Sean is writing here about instant gratification and using the book of Ecclesiastes to find insight into this struggle. he is deeply concerned about the instant gratification of things like porn and other sexual desires. However, his thoughts can be transferred to any kind of instant gratification.
Distraction from Present Moment
Phones and screens can distract us from the reality of the present moment. I am extremely distractable and I know this well. My husband, John and I can be sitting in the living room. I pick up my phone and start searching various things, landing on something non important to read, John says something to me and I become deeply frustrated as I am being pulled away from something so trivial…there is so much wrong with this scenario. John, a real present moment, has taken a lower ranking to something so trivial on my phone. It happens so easily; triviality trumping present moment reality. Wow, just hearing myself as I write this is humbling. I need to stop and surrender this to our precious Saviour!
As I write this I am thinking about Mary, the mother of Jesus and the short verse, Luke 2:19:
But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
For Mary to be able to treasure all that she was experiencing, she had to be present and relish each moment.
Then there was the account of Martha and another Mary in Luke 10: 38-42.
Perhaps a modern day picture could look like this; Martha stuck to her phone, busy trying to keep up all the connections and social media, almost frantically; Mary sat in the presence of her Lord, quietly listening. One a mind of peace, the other a buzzing, stressed mind.
A Discontented Mind
I don’t think our phones or social media lead us to a contented mind. What we see, read or hear may or may not be real. What is advertised is so tantalising, always insisting that we desperately need what is being portrayed. I wish I could say that I have never given in to this temptation. This is far from a contented, satisfied or grateful place.
1 Timothy 6:6-8
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of it. And if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
I will dare to say that probably most people in today’s world, especially the technological societies, would do well to ponder their screen usage.
For the Christian, where stillness and quiet is essential to our relationship with God, and being present vital for our relationships, we need to evaluate our use of screens and talk to God, crying out for wisdom. We may need to confess and repent, learn how to be self-controlled, and create some space away from screens. it may feel very uncomfortable at first, as we have become so accustomed to our screens.
I think I too need to evaluate and ponder all of this!!
Sally Childress
Co-Founder Free! Recovery