In a world that’s become more “connected”, we seem to be becoming ever more disconnected. Everywhere we go, it’s obvious how technologically driven everything has become – there are people with their heads down, tapping away on their mobile phones or playing games to pass the time, whether it be in the lift on the way out of their apartments, at a cafe, on public transport, or even at the movies or a music concert.
Highlighting the way technology is “driving” our lives without us even thinking about it, is a photograph released in the media recently in Dubai of four young men taking a selfie while driving at over 200 kilometres per hour on the city’s open roads.
Before the advent of technology, we would have talked to one another, read an actual book (over an e-book), or simply taken in the sights, sounds and smells around us.
Now, we’re living in an age of digital disruption and our way of life is evolving as a result of innovation and technological change. Mobile phones are no longer just phone-call-making machines; instead, they’re tablet devices that allow us to complete a multitude of tasks, and this development has made us accessible 24/7 and, in some cases, unable to switch off at all. Compared to the rest of the world, the UAE is one of the most connected countries. Data released this past month showed that the number of mobile-phone subscribers in the UAE went up by 14.77 per cent in the first quarter of this year to 18.88 million: this in a country with a total population of just over 9 million. Telecommunications provider Etisalat had 11.4 million subscribers during that period, up from 8.90 million at the same time last year, while du had 7.48 million.
In addition, the Global Information Technology Report 2015 has shown that the effect of information and communication technology on UAE residents' social lives is the second highest in the world. According to the report, released by the World Economic Forum, there are more Facebook users in the UAE compared to the global average, and 60 per cent of the region's online population accesses Facebook on a daily basis.
While being connected is a necessary part of modern life, and with government services in the UAE going the paperless way and requiring interaction via a website or requesting payments be made online, the experts are warning us to keep our usage in check.
“Do not abuse technology … talk to your friends and family without the use of technology; a face-to-face conversation can be therapeutic,” says Habibul Haque Khondker, a professor of sustainability sciences and humanities at Zayed University. “Do not use any technology or connectivity when you exercise; concentrate or think of your life,” he adds.
Khondker believes the main challenge posed by technology is our ability to keep pace with today’s world. “We need to adjust to the diversity of a new world of relaxation. In the end, let us not forget that technology is only a means and not an end in itself.”
While he’s not convinced people are unable to switch off, it has been suggested that device over-usage can disrupt our sleeping patterns, adversely affect our relationships and even reduce our attention spans.
A United Kingdom-based psychiatrist, who spoke to The Telegraph recently, said he believes technology is driving young children to become borderline autistic, unable to read others' emotions and less sympathetic.
“Children spend more time engaging with machines and with virtual reality, where they don’t have to face the consequences of real life,” Dr Iain McGilchrist was quoted as saying.
In addition, there is some concern being expressed by physiotherapists and chiropractors, who are seeing an increase in patients with posture issues.
“I am seeing a very worrying trend regarding children and teenagers with back and neck problems,” says Abu Dhabi-based chiropractor Steve Marsland. “Most of these issues are related to poor posture and sedentary lifestyle.”
Marsland, who works at the Canadian Medical Center, says most of those he sees are doing “very little exercise” and are sitting down all day. “I found out recently that many schools do most of their teaching via iPads, which frankly I was horrified by. I am by no means anti-technology but it needs to be understood we are really becoming too reliant on it, and moving away from what our bodies need, which is exercise and general movement, proper social interactions and play for children and proper home-cooked nourishing food.”
A recent study conducted by industry regulator Ofcom in the UK showed that Britons now spend twice the amount of time on the internet than a decade ago. It showed that adults are surfing the web for an average of 20 hours and 30 minutes a week, with the biggest growth coming from tablets and smartphones.
The proportion of people who regularly watch TV or films online has risen from one in 10 in 2007 to more than one in four today – or 27 per cent. Four out of 10 people between 16 and 24 years regularly watch films and TV programmes online rather than on a conventional television channel.
Only 17 per cent of young adults named the family TV as the one device they would miss the most if it were taken away, according to Ofcom’s media use and attitudes report. The majority said they would miss their mobile phones the most.
“In general I think it is safe to say students are addicted to social media,” says Craig Protzel, associate professor of interactive media studies at New York University, Abu Dhabi. “It is fully integrated into their university life with all messaging, planning and announcements, both social and academic, running through digital tools.”
Protzel, who teaches an introduction to multimedia course and a core communication and technology course, has decided to test his students’ dependence this term by asking them not to use any form of technology for 12 hours straight.
“Too much use and we run the risk of losing ourselves in technology, too little and we run the risk of being disconnected from everyone around us,” he says. Given that the statistics support the notion that we are all tied to our devices and that our dependence will continue to grow, Protzel asks does it matter, and if so, how can we manage it?
According to him, the documented Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) syndrome associated with technology runs high among his students.
“No one wants to be left out of the loop. This leads to social pressure to continually check devices and stay current on the day-to-day chatter. Among colleagues and friends we often discuss tactics for maintaining a healthy digital diet.”
It’s not all doom and gloom, though; some experts say interactive devices also have benefits so long as they are used in moderation.
Recruitment and human-resource professionals say a working knowledge of technology and an ability to process data is becoming more and more attractive to employers.
“One of the leading employability skills for youth in the 21st century is how they process large amounts of data in terms of decision-making and problem-solving,” says Radhika Punshi from The Talent Enterprise, based in Dubai. “Employers are no longer looking for theoretical knowledge; it’s more about how youth can leverage and apply technology to real world problems.”
From a personal point of view, Punshi, whose career is people-based, says she believes there is a continuing trend for “busyness” and that connectivity exacerbates that.
“Whether we like it or not, the fact remains that technology is going to play an increasingly larger and more crucial role for the younger generation, and we need to get on the bandwagon to maximise its potential.”
With many of us acknowledging just how out of hand our usage is becoming, entrepreneurs and hoteliers across the globe have begun to offer “digital detox” retreats where guests are encouraged to “disconnect to reconnect” and “unplug and recharge” through technology-free packages that sometimes include a life coach to assist in restoring calm and balance in one’s life.
If that’s not enough, there is even a digital-detox bath product that claims to be a powerful agent capable of aiding in the environmental detoxification process by drawing out the electronic-based radiation and toxins.
-----------------------------------------
Melinda Healy, 36
Journalist, lives in Abu Dhabi
Uses her phone regularly, and because of her job, needs to be up-to-date with what’s happening around her. Constantly scans news sites and Twitter, and is active on Facebook and Instagram. Mel lives alone, and aside from her mobile phone, she spends time on the computer and watches TV.
Mel’s diary
I didn’t realise how dependent on my phone I was until I was forced to put it aside and be completely “present” for a day. My mobile phone is my connection to the rest of the world and my family in Australia. My phone is the first thing I look at when I wake up (mainly to see what all my Aussie friends and family have been up to – the UAE is six hours behind) and the last thing I look at before I go to bed.
It’s quite liberating to put the phone away and plan the day without it. The first thing I do is get all the books and magazines out that I’ve had to the side for weeks but haven’t picked up.
After some time spent flicking through them, I decide to head out and find a cafe, somewhere by the water, where I can relax.
As soon as I sit down by the Corniche with a newspaper for company, my first tendency is to pull my phone out and scroll through social media, news sites or take a picture for Instagram, but I realise I can’t because I’ve left my phone at home. After getting over the initial feeling that something’s missing, I pass the time by people-watching – observing other people’s body language and what they’re doing. It’s quite enjoyable.
Because I live alone, one of the things this exercise really showed me is how much I use my phone for company – it’s the same with the TV or my computer. It’s not doing me any good when it comes to my neck, wrists and shoulders, especially as I sit at a computer for work five days a week, for up to eight hours at a time.
I decide to go for a walk in the afternoon, and by this time I’m fully into this whole no-phone thing. It’s nice to be so disconnected – you stop thinking about what everyone else is doing and what you’re missing out on. I guess that’s the thing about being connected all the time – that feeling of missing something big on the news front, and for a journalist, that’s exacerbated by a constant need to be informed.
That said, I do feel like one of my arms is missing, and by the time I head to bed, I’m already thinking about the catching up I’ll have to do in the morning. Crazy, isn’t it?
Maryam Ak, 19
Full-time student, lives in Abu Dhabi
Maryam keeps her phone in her hand or her pocket for most of the day. She uses it for four or five hours a day, mainly to check text messages from university, her friends’ updates on social media and to keep up with the news. She also spends time watching YouTube videos, but rarely makes or receives calls. Maryam got her first mobile phone at 15, when she was a high-school student.
Maryam’s diary
I usually put my phone on the nightstand next to my bed, but on Thursday night I switched it off and put a novel on the nightstand instead.
When I woke up the next morning, I felt more peaceful in a sense, because I didn’t feel the need reach for my phone; instead, I woke up and took time to stretch. I spent some time reading the novel I had next to my bed, before deciding after a while it was time to get up.
Reading isn’t a new thing for me, but I usually don’t do it in the morning, because I’m usually on social media or checking messages. The morning went by fast. I spent it exercising, sitting and chatting with my family and helping to prepare lunch.
After lunch, I began to feel fidgety without my phone. I started thinking about what my online friends could be doing now and what new articles TheVerge.com may have put up.
I decided to pass the time by getting out my journal and writing whatever came to mind.
Later in the afternoon, I decided to go window-shopping with my sister and friends. I genuinely hate window-shopping, but I thought I might give it a try since I was feeling a bit bored.
I turned in about 11pm, which is earlier than usual for a Friday, because I didn’t have my phone to keep me up late. It was nice to not be distracted and sleep with my mind rested.
I spent Saturday mostly studying for my midterm exams. The day went by normally. I have to say that usually when I’m eating a late breakfast/brunch on my own, I keep my phone in my hand and scroll down through Tumblr. But I noticed that when I didn’t have my phone while eating, I chewed my food more mindfully – I had time to not think of anything and really focus on whatever I was doing.
By Saturday night, I had given up, and I reached for my phone, but to my surprise it turns out that I didn’t really miss any interaction or any update that I cared about, and I thought: “What was the fidgety feeling for?”
To be honest, I was excited about the digital detox – I thought it would be cleansing and peaceful, and it was to some extent, but it was harder than I imagined and it made me realise how dependent I am on my phone.
Ashley Lane, 27
Journalist, lives in Abu Dhabi
Ashley typically uses her phone up to four hours a day, mainly for things such as WhatsApp messaging, checking and posting to social media sites such as Instagram, surfing the internet and making calls. In addition to this, she uses a computer at work, and occasionally for personal use when at home. Ashley got her first mobile phone in 2001, just after 9/11, because she was living near New York and her parents insisted she have one.
Ashley’s diary
When it was first suggested to me that I couldn’t turn off social media for a weekend, I laughed. My phone, embarrassingly enough, becomes a real habit while my husband and I are at home. During the digital detox period, I spent quite a bit of time being proactive around the house. That’s not to say I don’t normally partake in household chores (my husband and I have divvied these up so no one person is doing more than the other), but I found I was going above and beyond what I normally would do.
From sorting out boxes of stuff in our cabinets to properly cleaning surfaces I would normally just overlook and even organising my wardrobe, I couldn’t believe what I wound up accomplishing during the first day.
My husband and I had planned to run errands that weekend. We were out of the house a lot earlier than normal and managed to get a fair bit done in a short amount of time. This meant we were home earlier, which gave us more time to relax. I even managed to catch up on one of the many books that had been sitting on my bedside table for ages. Perhaps one of the most surprising outcomes from my detox was that my husband said he found himself completing more tasks, too. He said because I’m normally constantly on my phone, he too would spend time on his tablet or laptop, which for me was alarming. By me turning off my phone for the weekend, we equally seemed to gain more time back in our lives.
Because I try not to use my phone that much while I’m out – be it while meeting a friend for lunch or running errands with my husband – I can’t say I noticed anything new or different about the world around me.
We also have a rule of no phones while eating – mainly because it’s rude – so I didn’t appreciate my food any more than I normally do either, but it was a very positive self-awareness exercise. I learnt a lot.
While my mobile phone is the first thing I pick up in the morning, it is not the last thing put down in the evening – at least not anymore. My husband and I will either talk, read or watch a movie before bed.
Izzi Shaban, 16
Student, lives with her parents in Abu Dhabi
Izzi uses her mobile phone two-and-a-half hours a day during the school week, but says she’s most active on it during the weekend. Izzi got her first phone four years ago, and mostly uses it for WhatsApping with friends, posting pictures to Instagram, playing music, Facebook and taking pictures. She doesn’t use it much for making or receiving phone calls.
Izzi’s diary
Initially when I was given the task of giving my phone up for 12 hours, I jumped at the idea and thought it would be easy, but as the hours passed I slowly started to realise how much I actually use my phone – it gave me a real shock. I’ve always thought I was someone who doesn’t use their phone regularly and deny the accusations that I’m “always on my phone”, but this was a reality check. It reinforced the idea that nowadays mobile phones are a massive part of our lives.
I’m currently doing exams and am on study leave, therefore I’m probably on my phone more than usual because I’m not at school, but I realised I use my phone for more than just WhatsApping my friends; my phone is my music player, my internet, my mark schemes for past papers, and last but not least, my source of procrastination. Without it, I felt almost lost.
The first five or six hours were fine, because I was doing exam revision. I tended not to take as many breaks as I wasn’t getting distracted by “Snapchat from: xxxx”, “WhatsApp: xxxx” or “Xxxx tagged you in a post” on Facebook notifications. I seemed to stick with the revision for longer, but I’m not sure how much actually went in, because I found myself starting to think about everything under the sun except for my work. I would usually distract myself on my phone by scrolling through Instagram, then feel guilty and crack on with my work.
The most difficult part of the whole 12 hours was about 6pm to 7pm, when I had finished my revision and was having a tough time trying to figure out what to do.
I think not speaking to some of my friends for a whole day was starting to get to me – I had so much to tell them. I found when I was bored was the time I most wanted my phone.
I found I did things that I’d been putting off for a while, such as tidying up my desk and putting my clothes away. I know this is going to sound bad, but when we went out to the mall, not that I really talk to people while I’m out, but I almost felt like I was having withdrawal symptoms.
Getting ready without my music was a bit of a strange feeling as well, because it has almost become a bit of a habit, so I felt quite agitated and tried to find another source of music, but none of my other devices had the music I wanted to listen to.
Overall, I feel this experience has allowed me to really see how much my phone actually impacts my life. It’s strange to think that just four years ago I didn’t have a phone, and I wonder to myself how did I end up meeting with friends or what did I do with my spare time?
I’m still a very active person, and on average I would say I don’t usually use my phone as much as other people. Although I have been talking about how I missed my phone, I also think it was a good experience, because I got to know myself better and focused more on me and did things that I had been putting off.
Nicky Kimo, 16
Student, lives in Abu Dhabi
Nicky is busy with her studies, and as a result, usually uses her mobile phone a “few” hours a day outside of study time mainly for social media, taking photographs and watching videos on YouTube. She got her first phone when she was in Grade 3 at school. Nicky lives with her parents and is currently in Grade 8.
Nicky’s diary
Putting my phone down for a day wasn’t too bad – I could survive, but I’d get bored easily when I couldn’t use it in between doing other things.
Although I’m not much of a book person, when I put my phone down for this challenge, I was able to read two books, and I also found more time to concentrate on my studies. That was a good thing, because I have exams at the moment.
Giving my phone a break helped me avoid distractions. I also spent more time playing my piano and hanging out with my dog, something I don’t do when I have my phone to occupy me. The time that I most missed having my phone was when I was taking study breaks, because it was then I realised I had nothing to do. When I have my phone on a normal day and I had put the books down, I would check my newsfeeds on social media to see what’s new, browse the internet or listen to music. Instead, during these times, I found myself roaming the house aimlessly thinking about how bored I was.
My phone is normally the last thing I put down at night before heading to bed, but because I wake up early for school, I don’t use it much in the mornings. Without my phone, I just went to bed, and realised I had survived the day, although at times the boredom was obvious.
mhealy@thenational.ae