Why Offline?

Chapter 1... Maybe...

Introduction

Everyone needs offline. It's our natural state, the default mode of human existence. Before the digital deluge of the 21st century, most of us weren't tethered to screens for the majority of our waking hours.¹ Television, cinemas, and other digital sources of entertainment while present didn’t dominate our attention and time like smart devices have come to do in the last decade. We used to exist in between work, home, and our favorite third place (church, coffee shop, etc.). Despite the presence of early adopters, who primarily lived in regions where technology was subsidized, the widespread screen addiction prevalent today was anything but the norm. Then came what Jonathan Haidt aptly terms, in The Anxious Generation, the "Great Rewiring" – a transformative era from 2010 to 2015 that reshaped the fabric of human interaction.² Screens graduated from their living room presence to our pockets. iPads, laptops, and wearables became central to our everyday lives. Heightened by the lockdowns of 2020, smart devices created connection, opportunity, and dependency. It was the logical progression of what tech giants like Apple and Google initiated with the release of their touch-enabled devices around 2008. Suddenly, the world and our daily activities were thrust into a frenzy of connectivity, seduced by the promise of convenience and limitless access to information.

I, like many of you, grew up watching and participating in the unfolding of constant connectivity. Young enough to remember the tones of dial-up, I recall my father’s frustration at navigating the first websites. They were magical with a touch of comic sans, large clickable icons, and a hyperlink bonanza. Useful, not pretty. The internet of that time was more utilitarian than the curated experiences we encounter today. While some of the information and helpful websites remain, the internet has changed and we must ask whether we should allow it to be our new default or return to our natural state. As the years traverse, I encounter myself drawing closer to a humane balance between the online and offline states. In this chapter, I will outline three reasons why offline is fundamental to our human rhythm.

Today, I will go over reason 1. Future reasons coming up soon….

Photo by Kate Stone Matheson on Unsplash

Reason 1: Biology

As society enthusiastically embraced the era of constant connectivity in the 2010s, it unwittingly disregarded the toll it would take on our well-being. For every convenience afforded by this digital revolution, there emerged a corresponding consequence. Sleep, physical activity, and vision emerged as particularly vulnerable areas, progressively plagued by issues since the advent of portable technology. These three biological conditions are not the only ones to have been affected as a result of the widespread adoption of smart devices. However, their decline has been thoroughly documented in anecdotal and research environments.

Among those who grappled with the challenge of adequate sleep was René Breuel, pastor of Hopera Church in Rome, whose account echoes the experiences of many. In an article published in Evangelical Focus³, he candidly recounts his journey of succumbing to the digital default, where emails, texts, and online engagement took precedence over the natural offline state. Yet, amidst this digital whirlwind, Breuel found himself grappling with compromised sleep and diminished quality of life. He described it as his “season of insomnia.” Despite attempting common remedies such as adjusting his diet, caffeine consumption, and sleep environment, the root cause became apparent – his smartphone. As he paralleled the morning routine of nearly 64% of people surveyed in a 2012 Qualcomm poll⁴, he aptly stated that his “phone would be the first object [his] hand would touch and [his] eyes would see.” With a newfound awareness, Breuel reshaped his daily routine, prioritizing offline activities like reading physical books and embracing religious practices without distractions.

However, Breuel's story merely scratches the surface of a much larger issue plaguing society's sleep health. Research, such as the University of California San Francisco sleep study, underscores the profound impact of smartphone usage on rest patterns.⁵ Their findings revealed a troubling correlation between increased screen time and shorter sleep duration and quality. As participants recorded their 30-day sleep scenarios, the researchers collected their average use time of smartphones. Those who used their smartphones more recalled a lower quality of sleep. While previous generations contended with their own sleep challenges, the widespread adoption of technology, particularly among adolescents, has exacerbated sleep disturbances in the last decade.

At the crux of the matter lies the impact of blue light emitted by smartphones⁶, which interferes with the body's production of melatonin, a hormone crucial for regulating sleep cycles. A comprehensive review of blue light by researchers from Switzerland found that exposure to this type of illumination positively affects alertness, reaction times, and cognitive performance during waking hours.⁷ However, its detrimental effects become pronounced as the day progresses, leading to reduced melatonin levels that disrupt sleep patterns, affecting both the duration and quality of rest. Moreover, the presence of smartphones in the sleeping environment promotes screen time and disturbances from notifications, posing a particular challenge to children's sleep quality.

Photo by Japheth Mast on Unsplash

2020 Vision

The impact of smartphones on our population's biological well-being extends beyond just sleep—it reaches into the essence of our vision. I can vividly recall a moment in my math class when the front of the classroom blurred before my eyes, leaving me squinting in frustration as I struggled to decipher my professor's writing on the board. It was a perplexing experience, especially considering I was seated in the third row from the front. This visual challenge wasn't an isolated incident; rather, it was a symptom of a larger issue that had been quietly developing since my move to the United States.

Growing up in Nicaragua, my childhood was characterized by the human default, outdoor adventures, and face-to-face interactions with friends. Unlike the screen-centric lifestyle that awaited me in the 2010s United States, I spent more time playing outside and walking to friends' houses than I did in front of any kind of screen. The limited access to technology in my home country meant that my entertainment sources leaned heavily toward offline activities. However, my transition to life in North America introduced me to a world where screens dominated both education and leisure.

Over the course of three years, I watched as my vision steadily declined—a decline that coincided with my increasing exposure to screens. While the United States offered a wealth of opportunities, including access to parks and other amenities, the design of education at the community college I attended played a significant role in my vision issues. Online homework assignments, research, and discussion on forums chained me to electronic devices even further.⁸ Moreover, during my downtime, instead of embracing the great outdoors, I found myself drawn to the allure of foreign shows, made easily accessible by the magic of WiFi. Late-night binge-watching sessions became a regular occurrence, as I immersed myself in a world of entertainment that was previously out of reach. Yet, with each passing hour spent in front of a screen, my vision suffered. The transition from the dial-up connections of my past to the high-speed internet of the present may have opened up new avenues of connectivity, but it also cast a shadow over the health of my eyes.

My personal experience highlights a growing concern supported by emerging research. While experts debate the long-term effects of smartphones on ocular health⁹, numerous studies have linked screen usage to eye strain, irritation, and blurred vision. Optometrists and ophthalmologists often recommend the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, shift your gaze to an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.¹⁰ While screens themselves may not directly cause conditions like myopia and asthenopia, they do contribute to their accelerated development.¹¹ As the age at which children adopt smartphones approaches under 10¹², it's crucial to consider guidelines or even regulations that limit screen time during formative years. Jonathan Haidt's suggestion of delaying smartphone introduction until age 16 or encouraging more paper-based activities across all ages could help mitigate this concerning biological impact¹³.

While we do not possess the power to curb the rapid adoption of screen-based activities or immersive experiences in the current zeitgeist, recognizing our responsibility is vital in managing screen-related eye issues. As more people turn to screens for work, education, and daily tasks like ordering food or commuting, we must recognize that our world operated in the human default of offline for millennia. The widespread presence of screens presents a challenge and an invitation to the new default which continues to exacerbate potential health consequences.

Photo by Chander R on Unsplash

Physical Activity

A final biological concern that emerges as a result of the new default is the decline in physical activity. It's unsurprising that our current activity levels fall below those of our ancestors. The transition away from foraging for food, decreased reliance on physical labor for income, and the prevalent use of cars as the primary mode of transportation have all contributed to a reduction in opportunities for physical activity. Across all age groups, there's a notable shift from in-person social interactions to online engagements.¹⁴ This trend is particularly evident among adolescents, who were once known for their outdoor pursuits and face-to-face interactions at malls, plazas, and parks. However, this period of life has evolved into an era dominated by massively multiplayer online games and social media interactions.¹⁵ Reflecting on my own adolescence, I recall how many countries, such as Nicaragua, were limited in their technological accessibility due to cost constraints and limited availability. Only those with outsized means or a true desire for technological adoption had unfettered access to the internet before 2008. However, today, technological access has become widespread globally. In 2021, approximately 60% of the world's population had internet access, a stark increase from the mere 8% reported in 2001.¹⁶ This surge in internet accessibility is a global phenomenon, with only two regions, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, showing slower progress compared to the rest of the world.¹⁷

As research continues to explore the impact of smartphones on our physical activity, a mounting body of evidence highlights negative implications. A study conducted in Brazil sheds light on significant gender disparities in smartphone usage and sedentary behavior among adolescents.¹⁸ The findings revealed that girls tend to demonstrate higher levels of both smartphone use and sedentary time compared to boys, on both weekdays and weekends. Furthermore, a long-term investigation from the United Kingdom into a child’s daily activities underscores concerning trends. It shows a notable decline of 29.4% in outdoor time and 14.7% in socializing outside of the home with online screen based activities occupying 22.7% of the child’s time.¹⁹ This decline is particularly alarming as it suggests a shift away from offline activities and social interactions, which are crucial for physical and mental well-being.

Moreover, this trend raises concerns about the broader societal impact. If even those with ample free time are increasingly reliant on digital engagement, it's reasonable to assume that individuals who must earn a living in today's digital-centric world are even more affected. This underscores the urgent need to reassess our relationship with technology and prioritize activities that promote the offline default in our lives. In 1998, the American College of Sports Medicine introduced the activity pyramid, a promising approach to counteract this trend and integrate the restorative power of exercise into our daily routines. With recommendations to improve one’s flexibility, strength, and everyday routines, the pyramid promotes the reduction of sedentary behaviors and a call to embrace more movement in our lives. In 2012, Tim Beatley developed a similar triangular approach with the concept of the Nature Pyramid. Both structures invite people to reconnect with the offline default and increase their levels of engagement with the natural world.²⁰

The Nature Pyramid, at its base, recommends spending 20 minutes outside three times a week, akin to a leisurely walk in a park, which enhances cognition, memory, and well-being. Moving up, allocating at least five hours each month to semi-wild nature, such as state parks, can prevent depression and boost happiness. Finally, reaching the apex involves spending three days off-the-grid in the wildest nature annually, akin to camping or cabin stays, which can reset thinking, alleviate burnout, and enhance creativity. This structured approach to nature exposure offers various mental and physical health benefits, encouraging individuals to integrate nature into their lifestyles.

Reason 1 Conclusion

In conclusion, the biological impacts of the digital default era are diverse, spanning areas such as sleep, vision, physical activity, and more. As society embraced constant connectivity, we inadvertently sacrificed essential elements of well-being. René Breuel's battle with sleep disturbances worsened by smartphone use, alongside personal experiences like my own vision decline from prolonged screen exposure, underscore the toll of digital engagement on our biology, backed by research highlighting its detrimental effects. Furthermore, the pervasive nature of digital engagement raises broader societal concerns, particularly regarding physical activity. With individuals increasingly drawn to online pursuits, opportunities for physical exercise dwindle, impacting both personal health and societal well-being.

Addressing these challenges requires a holistic lifestyle approach. While short-term solutions like digital detoxes offer temporary relief, integrating long-term interventions such as the activity and nature pyramids, the 20-20-20 rule, and leaving phones out of the bedroom can establish sustainable offline patterns in our lives. As we delve into two more reasons why embracing the offline is crucial, it becomes evident that fostering a balanced relationship with technology is essential for our overall well-being.

Reason 2: Psychology

Coming soon….

1. https://www.statista.com/statistics/273018/number-of-internet-users-worldwide/; https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2015/06/26/americans-internet-access-2000-2015/; https://kariukiedwin.medium.com/the-accidental-rise-of-whatsapp-how-two-rejects-created-a-100-billion-company-9b35008b7e83

2. The Anxious Generation, Jonthan Haidt.

3. https://evangelicalfocus.com/culture-making/8263/my-phone-was-ruining-my-sleep

4. https://www.qualcomm.com/content/dam/qcomm-martech/dm-assets/documents/TimeMobilityPollResults.pdf

5. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0165331

6. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/02/how-smartphones-are-ruining-our-sleep/385792/

7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9424753/

8. If you ever took an offline class that required forum participation online, you probably can empathize with me and know how terrible those are. Also, most people are not really contributing to the conversation, they just post to fulfill the requirement. Rant over.

9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10057686/; https://phmd.pl/resources/html/article/details?id=204267&language=en; https://apm.amegroups.org/article/view/88460/html; https://www.jmir.org/2020/12/e21923/; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7755532/

10. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/are-computer-glasses-worth-it; https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/computer-usage

11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10057686/

12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9664330/

13. Haidt, Ibid

14. https://www.bls.gov/charts/american-time-use/activity-by-age.htm

15. https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/research/the-evidence

16. https://ourworldindata.org/internet

17. Ibid.

18. https://rbafs.org.br/RBAFS/article/view/13977

19. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1468-4446.12369; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36517961/

20. https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a36547849/how-much-time-should-i-spend-outside/; https://eastermichael.medium.com/the-20-3-5-nature-rule-prescribes-exactly-how-much-time-you-should-spend-in-nature-d40d7fa9654; https://thedietitianresource.com/where-on-the-physical-activity-pyramid-do-sedentary-activities-belong/