TECHNOLOGY
Tool or Tyrant?
When technology first arrived it was a time saver and a help. Photocopiers, word processors and the first mobile phones all added to productivity.
Since the smart phone was introduced, what once was a solution has become part of the problem.
THE GOAL
Put technology back in its proper place - as a bonus not a focus.
The aim is not to reject progress but to restore balance.
Phone Addiction
Smartphones and related technologies keep users hooked. The result is widespread phone addiction, with mounting evidence that this habit contributes to mental stress, reduced attention spans, and social disharmony. Further, a sense of inadequacy is built through social media, creating “lack” - lack of possessions, lack of status, lack of likes (Fakebook) - which fuels anxiety and worse.
Surveillance Everywhere
Beyond smartphones, surveillance now permeates every corner of life. Smart TVs, cars, payment systems, workplace tools, CCTV, facial recognition, number-plate readers, biometrics, and data mining all combine to track where people go, what they see, what they buy, and even how they earn. New age verification laws in the UK, proposed digital ID cards, and digital currencies will tighten this net further. The cumulative result is loss of privacy, trust and self-censorship.
Collective Purchase Power
Of the six core solutions, the most effective one to use against technology corporations is collective purchase power. Stop feeding the beast through boycotts and buycotts. Withhold money until demands are met. Start small - no new hardware for a day. Then a week. If ignored, extend to a month.
Nobody suffers from delaying buying a new smartphone for a short period of time for long term gain. The numbers prove it: Apple made $124.3 billion in Q4 2024. If 20% of customers held back, nearly $25 billion would vanish. Boards notice when the money stops.
A recent example of this was Tesla.
SPECIFIC TECH SOLUTIONS
Breaking Habits
Change begins with the individual. Bring back 'real life'. Break the phone habit by switching off notifications, deleting addictive apps, banning phones (or changing behaviour) at meals, meetings, and gyms, and replacing scrolling with reading, walking, or conversation. Reclaim time by starting and ending the day screen-free.
Minimise Surveillance
Minimise surveillance by using privacy tools, such as a hard drive, encryption, and auditing permissions. Reduce reliance on GPS, minimise platforms like WhatsApp, and strengthen personal skills to resist systems built for constant monitoring.