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How to use Social Media for Well-being

Letter #79 • October 17th, 2023

→ Read on the web​

Hey there,

In today’s edition of Digital Wellness, you will find:

• An article on what exactly is Internet Addiction Disorder, with examples of persuasive and addictive design patterns found in everyday life
• A framework to make social media an asset for our well-being
• Insight into what led Dr. Gloria Mark, leading researcher on multitasking and attention, into her field
• and more useful links for a mindful use of your tech!

Enjoy the read, and I’ll see you in two weeks!

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- Clo

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🌻 Bloom from the blog

​What Designers can do about Internet Addiction​

In 1996, Dr Kimberly Young was one of the first scientists to warn against the addictiveness of computer use. That’s right, 25 years ago. Fast-forward to today, dark patterns are still rampant, and by forcing us to spend more time inside and online, the pandemic has accelerated the harmful effects of these mechanisms. Let’s take a look at Internet addiction, persuasive & addictive patterns, and what designers can do to avoid them.

→ Read more​

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🌳 Rooted reads

​How Social Media Can Add to Your Well-Being (Not Detract From It)​

This in-depth article from Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center investigates what it means to flourish on social media, and what steps can help us get there. Executive coach and researcher Maya Gudka infers three fields of flourishing from positive psychology frameworks:

• Social capital and social support: our ability to build meaningful and supportive relationships online, leading to actual friendships
• Identity: the way our self-expression contributes to crafting our identity and shaping the way we present ourselves
• Mastery: our capacity to acquire new skills, leading to a feeling of accomplishment, and benefiting our self-worth

The author then lists five levers to reach those outcomes, from social comparison to the effects of image-based social platforms. This article is without a doubt one of the most well-researched, well-sourced, and exhaustive pieces I’ve read this year. I recommend it for a high-quality, detailed view of how to leverage social media for a positive self-transformation.

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​What lunchtime taught me about multitasking​

Attention researcher Gloria Mark, whose work you’ve read several times in this newsletter, has just started her own! She has been studying our attention span and the way multitasking and information overload increases our stress levels for 20 years.

In her very first issue, Dr. Mark explains how she first became interested in the topic of attention, screens, and multitasking. After living and working in Germany, where she used to get a proper lunch break with time away from her screen and a 20-minute walk around campus, she decided to relocate to the US. She noticed that her behaviour changed dramatically: no more lunch break, eating a sandwich in front of her computer, like all of her colleagues.

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There has been days where I've had a similar experience. If you relate too, and want to share your journey, let me know.

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🌿 Featured vines

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🪴 Bolstering branches

Whenever you are ready, I would love to help you improve your tech-life balance. Discover the science behind 30 healthy digital habits with the Tech Bliss ebook: 121 pages of guided experiments, distilled scientific research, and actionable advice.

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€12.00 Tech Bliss workbook Get it now!

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See you in two weeks!

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