Reason 3: Rediscovering Purpose

The Teleological Impact of Smartphones

Introduction

The final reason why embracing offline moments is essential is that smart technologies can rob us of our teleological nature—the inherent human drive to have a purpose and aim in life. As people, we thrive when we set goals and strive to achieve our desires, whether they are long-term outcomes or simple daily checklists. Viktor Frankl, in Man's Search for Meaning, emphasizes this by stating, "Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'." As technology continues to evolve, it significantly impacts our sense of purpose and reliability. Artificial intelligence is poised to replace many occupations and challenge our ability to discern between the factual and the fabricated. Moreover, information overload distracts us from our goals and aspirations, making it harder to find meaning and direction. It is, therefore, crucial to recover our teleology and reject the new online default marketed to us as the panacea of human potential.

Take my experience from this past Saturday as an example. While driving back from the Fairplay area with my wife, we hit a rough patch on the side of the road, causing our tire to go completely flat. This was a rental car, and when I checked the back, I found no jack or spare tire, leaving us with no option but to call for a tow truck. Finding cellphone coverage was a challenge amidst the mountain’s winding roads, but we eventually managed to arrange for a tow truck to take us home. As is often the case with tow companies, they were busy with multiple jobs, and it took about 90 minutes for help to arrive. During this waiting period, we faced a choice: succumb to the modern default of pulling out our phones and mindlessly scrolling through social media or games, or embrace the moment offline.

With limited cell coverage and no smartphone in sight, we chose the latter. No temptation was carried in our pockets after all. We spent the time talking about our situation, discussing future plans, and playing a lighthearted game of "I spy with my little eye." My wife won (if there is such a thing). This unexpected downtime reminded me of how many people have forgotten what boredom looks like and how essential it is for creativity and purpose. Smartphones, with their constant stream of information, often overload our minds, leaving little space to process our lives and develop a sense of meaning. This experience highlighted the importance of embracing offline moments, allowing us to reconnect with ourselves and the world around us.

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The Silent Thief: How Smartphones Erode Boredom Tolerance and Present Moment Engagement

One of the most profound impacts pocketable smart devices have had on our lives is the erosion of our ability to tolerate boredom. Stuck in a long line at the grocery store? We instinctively reach for our phones. Sitting through a tedious meeting? It's time to check our social media feeds or emails for “productivity.” Finding ourselves momentarily unoccupied during a dinner? We sneak a glance at Instagram or TikTok for entertainment. We've replaced every idle moment with input from the web, as though we're afraid to be alone with our thoughts. Yet, it is through the processing of our thoughts that we can refine our purpose and lifestyle design.

Research supports this observation, highlighting how mobile technology has become an indispensable companion to many, often at the expense of our teleological drive. A 2021 study by The Behavioural Science Institute in The Netherlands found that participants were more likely to use their smartphones during work when they felt fatigued or bored¹, with boredom increasing the likelihood of smartphone interaction by 1.43 times. While fatigue also led to higher smartphone use, it did not affect the duration of use. This frequent smartphone use reduces the time available for mind wandering, creative thinking, and processing—activities necessary for generating ideas and solutions. Marcus Raichle and colleagues introduced the concept of the brain's "default mode," which activates when we are not focused on external tasks. This offline activity is crucial for connecting disparate ideas, solving persistent problems, and engaging in autobiographical planning², all of which are essential for practical teleological thinking. Whether it's choosing a career path, saving money for a trip, or learning a new skill, teleological thinking helps us set and achieve personal goals. Moreover, Neuroscientist Jerome L. Singer's studies on daydreaming highlight that mind-wandering during these moments fosters creative and constructive thought processes, essential for personal and professional development.

In addition to eroding our ability to tolerate boredom, smartphones also rob us of the chance to fully engage with those around us. Whether it’s a family dinner or a conversation with a friend, the lure of the smartphone often interrupts meaningful exchanges, leading to superficial connections. Research by Adrian F. Ward and colleagues (2017) supports the idea that smartphones can detract from our cognitive capacity even when they are not in use.³ Their study found that the mere presence of a smartphone reduces available cognitive resources, impairing performance on tasks that require attention and working memory. This phenomenon, termed "brain drain," suggests that our constant connection to smartphones occupies cognitive resources, leaving fewer available for other tasks. This pervasive distraction hampers our ability to listen actively and engage empathetically, essential components of building and maintaining strong relationships. Furthermore, the constant influx of notifications and updates creates a fragmented attention span, making it challenging to concentrate on complex tasks or fully immerse ourselves in experiences. This state of distraction not only impacts our productivity but also diminishes our overall life satisfaction and sense of fulfillment, ultimately hampering our teleological drive.

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Skill Development and Smartphones

We are all aware of how technology can enhance our learning opportunities and facilitate our ability to digest complex topics. Learning a new language, skill, or piece of information is now possible with just a tap on our screens. While it is true that many are acquiring skills that were unimaginable in previous eras due to internet access, a set of essential skills can be hampered by our constant reliance on smart devices. This is especially true for those in the early stages of human development. While adults may have had the opportunity to develop their critical thinking skills, children and teenagers often have not. The instant access to answers via search engines reduces the necessity for critical thinking and problem-solving among younger generations. According to a study by Fabio and Suriano (2023), problematic smartphone use can impair tweens' ability to engage in complex critical thinking.⁴ The study revealed that high smartphone users performed significantly worse in evaluating the credibility of sources compared to their low-usage peers. This indicates that frequent smartphone use can undermine one's ability to think deeply and critically, as reliance on quick, superficial information becomes habitual.

The issue is not limited to young users; adults can also be misled by the latest AI developments. Siladitya Ray of Forbes highlights significant concerns with Google's AI tool, Gemini, about the reliability of generated information.⁵ “Several Google users, including journalists, have shared multiple examples of the AI summary, called ‘AI Overview,’ citing dubious sources, such as Reddit posts written as jokes, or failing to understand that articles on The Onion aren’t factual.” Furthermore, users pointed out that the AI summary copied text from blogs and presented blatantly incorrect information, such as not recognizing any African countries starting with the letter K and erroneously stating that pythons are mammals. These errors highlight the broader problem of AI "hallucinations,"⁶ where the AI generates false information without any indication. This situation underscores the crucial need for developing strong critical thinking skills to effectively navigate and verify the information provided by digital tools.

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Another skill that could be hampered by the constant use of smart devices is empathy. Recent research highlights a concerning trend regarding the impact of smartphones on empathy, particularly among young users. A study by Lachmann et al. (2018) with researchers from Ulm University and other institutions reveals that problematic smartphone use is associated with lower empathy levels and reduced life satisfaction.⁷ The study found that individuals with higher scores on smartphone addiction scales also showed higher levels of personal distress, a component of empathy linked to neuroticism and negative emotionality in social situations. This distress can impede effective social interactions and emotional connections, contributing to a decline in empathetic abilities.

The implications of these findings are significant. Empathy, defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, is crucial for healthy interpersonal relationships and social cohesion. The constant engagement with smartphones, which often leads to superficial online interactions, may detract from the quality of real-life connections. As a result, individuals, especially younger ones, may struggle to develop deep, empathetic relationships, which are essential for emotional well-being and social functioning. Our re-engagement with offline activities is therefore necessary and important to build qualities that can only be developed through real-life interactions instead of delegating them to AI or computer processing.

Conclusion

This concludes "Chapter 1." We have explored three compelling reasons why technology and smart devices can undermine our humanity and why embracing offline moments is essential. We began with the biological reasons, then delved into the psychological aspects, and finally addressed the teleological reasons. These broad categories highlight the critical need to reconnect with the physical world and engage with life beyond screens. While there are undoubtedly more reasons to advocate for offline living, these three encapsulate the core issues effectively.

In Chapter 2, we will examine how devices interact with our intentions and shape our realities in an offline world. As I have learned throughout this journey, the devices themselves are not the primary culprits; rather, they amplify our decision-making and lifestyle choices. When I switched to a dumbphone (Light Phone 2), I didn’t magically become a digital minimalist. It took years of changing habits and choosing offline to truly transform my online-focused lifestyle. Our exploration will focus on how to harness technology thoughtfully, ensuring it supports rather than detracts from a balanced, intentional life.

1. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsos.201915

2. https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.98.2.676

3. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/epdf/10.1086/691462

4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10136902/

5. https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/02/28/google-ceo-says-gemini-ais-unacceptable-responses-offended-users-and-showed-bias/?sh=6578b0671103

https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/05/24/googles-ai-overview-appears-to-produce-misleading-answers/

6. https://mitsloanedtech.mit.edu/ai/basics/addressing-ai-hallucinations-and-bias/

7. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00398/full