On Disruption and Distraction - Cal Newport
calnewport.com/on-disruption-and-distraction
What Jamie wrote
Newport reminding the reader about the distraction machine that can be social media.
This relief delivered by our phones is not always about amplifying feelings. It can also be delivered in the form of numbness: drips of endless, meaningless, shiny, shallow distraction that take the edge off your distress. TikTok specializes in this style of deliverance: swipe, swipe, swipe, until you temporarily dislocate from the moment.
In a small view we all use our smartphones to avoid feeling lonely or bored. Neither of those are feelings we enjoy, however they may bring us value. Push us to talk to strangers and do things in the real world that are better for us. If we never feel bored, what do we miss?
In a bigger sense, they may keep us from taking real action in the world that may better express our desires, interests, and goals. There is a George Orwell 1984 reference here that comes to mind.