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File: 1645557243707.jpg (55.88 KB, 640x500, EF8plMoWwAAPjxC.jpg)

No. 1065316

This is a thread for all kinds of internet addiction, this includes addiction to social media or other websites (lolcow included). Discuss how to stop coming back for more, and how internet addiction is affecting our lives/solutions to this.

No. 1065321

There is a digital detox thread already.

No. 1065323

>>1065321
That's different to literally being addicted anon. Anyone normal could detox but being addicted takes a different kind of person.

No. 1065326

>>1065321
Addiction is stronger and more dangerous than just "detoxing", there's dependency and brain chemicals involved. It's not just "lol stop scrolling through your feed and touch grass" it literally ruins your life. Stop being so bitter and ignorant and let anons participate.

No. 1065328

>>1065316
My addiction is very strong and I keep coming back to websites to lose valuable time. I feel like it's ruining my life and I can't quit or detox. I really need to move on but I do the same thing at the same websites everyfucking day to the point that I only sleep, eat, shit, and browse. It's not the same.

No. 1065336

The fast paced bunker threads made nonnies addicted KEK

No. 1065339

>>1065336
To be honest yes it did

No. 1065340

I hate being addicted to lolcow so much. I know a lot of people here make fun of it, but look at how many people have made fun of other addictions before. It might be silly but it really hits when you f5 this website every couple seconds to see if someone has posted anything new. I've been here for so many years and can't leave.

No. 1065344

>>1065340
same nonnie I also feel like this site has affected my life a lot and that a lot of negative things from here have slipped into my subconscious

No. 1065352

>>1065344
Same. Now it's doing more harm than good but I keep coming back

No. 1065363

deleted arguably the most toxic form of social media (twitter) and I never realized how reliant I was on it until I slid down the slope I've been on the past month

I need to find better coping mechs to deal with my emotions. What I was using before was helping, in a way where it limited me from hurting myself further. By further plunging into the mindless and redundant hell I'd self made. There's this hollow vacancy not only in social media absence but in the absence of the other apps I used to preoccupy myself besides. And then I think about all the time I could've spent doing something better. How driven i used to be, how far I've sunk. twitter was basically my vent diary at the end of it all, a digital haven free from the physical touch of people. I'm still hesitant to write fully in a physical vent diary knowing people have found my shit and leafed through it then proceeded to pile verbal abuse on me over what was supposed be for me only.

No. 1065367

>>1065363
>And then I think about all the time I could've spent doing something better. How driven i used to be, how far I've sunk.
That hits very close to home too.

No. 1065381

>>1065340
>>1065344
>>1065352
Can relate to all of you. It's not that everyone here is toxic, some of you are quite nice, but we are a place with a lot of tension. We bask in another's misery and loneliness. It's a conditional thing, an intangible air about it. We're at the end of it all an alternative form of social media. Bunker fever made me realize I should leave this place for good. I was once strong enough to leave a whole month and only come back to lurk the celebricows thread, I don't pride myself for coming back in a fuller capacity than that. I succumbed.

>>1065367
Pre pandemic nona was actually doing things, she had a social life, she could focus, she was to some degree happy, trying to recover and move on with her life and future. Now, hopelessness permeates me. Even when I do things I can't feel any pride in them. I have cried nearly every day for the past week. It's finally beginning to hit me and there's no way to stop the dominos. It's curling in on me. To think you had something, only for it to either strangle you, or for you to watch it die before your eyes. When you hit rock bottom people say there's no choice but to ascend, I dare to challenge them with the assertion: there's nine levels of hell.

No. 1065416

my only problems are with lc and youtube. when things are going ok I barely spend any time online, but something awful always happens and then I lose weeks to refreshing lc and listening to youtube. I hate visiting lc the most, because while I like this place there is barely ever any actual interesting conversation. I just like to shitpost about small things that went wrong and joke about it to feel better about all the bad things going on.

for youtube, it’s very easy to put on videos in the background to ‘motivate’ myself to get things done. the problem is that I stop thinking real thoughts and it’s just about what’s playing and what will play next. then I put off doing anything that requires focus for the next mindless video. even when I pry myself from the cycle my attention span is still shortened and I’m not present or perceiving the real world if that makes sense..

No. 1065443

I waste the most time watching Youtube videos, mostly true crime stuff or trials. I actually wondered if this is a way for me to get rid of pent up aggression or something

No. 1065500

>>1065416
>my only problems are with lc and youtube
>I lose weeks to refreshing lc and listening to youtube
omfg are you me? I'm the same way

No. 1065529

I tried infighting so I’d get piled on as a way to feel unwanted here. It worked for a couple of days. But it’s wearing off and I find myself typing lolcow. Addiction is rough. But NO. I WANT OFF FOREVAAA.

No. 1065544

>>1065529
That's so retarded, love you nonners ♥

No. 1065547

>>1065544
Me too nonner. ♥ But it’s time for me to stop loving this place so hard.

No. 1065568

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My addiction is shameless. This isn't wasted time, it's time spent doing whatever I wanna doooo.

No. 1065569

How do I stop browsing lolcow? Please, I seriously need help, I always come back for my fix and it's ruinning my life.

No. 1065572

File: 1645571283332.jpg (28.4 KB, 498x370, FFt_ZIuUUAAvLVf.jpg)

>>1065569
Pretend that ot never came back, we are still in the bunker and you're in a coma and your family misses you

No. 1065580

I don’t know how to stay off of twitter. Even when I do, I find somewhere else to mindlessly scroll through a feed. I waste the same amount of time and it’s just more mundane if anything. I put a time limit on twitter of 1.5 hours per day and I just keep ignoring it… I have 0 self control and I hate feeling like I’m a slave to this stupid phone.

I feel like an empty shell. If I’m doing something and have a YouTube video playing, I’ll often stop and hunch over my phone and stare into it like a zombie. Once that video finishes, there’s almost this frantic search of what to put on next, even though I KNOW I’m putting on absolute nonsense just for the sake of having my phone on. I need to be either looking at it or hearing it.

I’ve thought about trying to go cold turkey, but it’s near impossible because everyone expects you to have your phone on 24/7. Also, I’ve noticed when I deleted apps like twitter, my dumb ass will keep trying to open it, like I’ll go click on whatever app is in its place now and be momentarily confused when whatever opens up isn’t this trash bird app.

No. 1065583

>>1065363
>twitter was basically my vent diary at the end of it all, a digital haven free from the physical touch of people. I'm still hesitant to write fully in a physical vent diary
I did this same thing and deleted twitter, now I'm trying to write things on a private wordpress blog. Also had someone go through my diary once and will never keep a physical one again.

>>1065569
It's hard but simple; stop coming back here. Whatever benefits this site has, you know the negatives outweigh them. What value does lolcow (entertainment, feeling less lonely) does it bring to your life? How can you get that elsewhere, or accept you won't have it anymore? Work through the emotional aspect, then break from the physical habit by using a site blocker and structure time so you won't be tempted to come here. Limit yourself to specific threads, maybe choose max 3 to follow, and only allow yourself to check them every so often (daily, once a week, etc.)

No. 1065592

>>1065583
>use site blocker
>limit yourself to certain threads
Thing is I've done that before and it never works. I'm stuck here. I don't even know if I love this place anymore, the bunker saga left me worn out.

No. 1065599

I want to leave lolcow because I spend too much time here but at the same time I have nowhere else to go. I guess I could slowly spend less and less time on the internet and work on my art instead. I just have online fomo sometimes.

No. 1065607

>>1065592
>I'm stuck here.
If you believe this you guarantee you will keep coming here. You didn't say whether you've tried restricting yourself to only come here certain days a week. How do you plan on replacing the time you spent here?

No. 1065642

>>1065607
I don't know anon… I really don't know how to stop… I have a skewed concept of time

No. 1065858

>>1065642
if skewed sense of time is an issue, try setting regular alarms like every hour or half hour. Maybe try to schedule activities for discrete time increments. You could try using a physical kitchen timer.

No. 1065979

So much of this thread is exactly what I’ve been going through since 2020. I’m sick of it. I went to the mental hospital and detoxed in late 2020 and spending a little over a week without my phone despite being in a really low point in my life was still so fucking helpful. I finally got a chance to be painfully self reflective for the first time and socialize. But then I slipped right back into it soon after and it’s only gotten worse. I’m glued to my phone almost the entire time I’m awake and when I’m not looking at my phone I’m either listening to YouTube/a podcast or thinking about checking my phone. It’s never anything important either. It’s just wasting time so I don’t have to face my brain. I know I’m wasting good years and I’m not as active as I used to be so I’ve gained weight but I can’t motivate myself to do anything more right now. I wake up anxious and almost immediately have to check my phone or put something on to listen to so that I can sleep a little longer. It’s so unhealthy and I fucking hate it.

No. 1066399

>>1065326
Why are you calling me bitter for simply saying a relevant thread exists? There is a lot of good advice, check it out.
>>837722
Something that helped me personally is getting the app Freedom. I currently have internet blocked from 22 to 10, for a calmer evening and morning.

No. 1066423

>>1066399
Because people who post "there's already a thread!!!" always want these threads to be taken down. Chill.

No. 1066532

At what point would you say you have an internet addiction as opposed to just have bad habits?

No. 1066546

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>>1066532
Same symptoms as any behavorial addiction. Basically, you can't stop and it ruins your life. If you're a neet it could be even worse.

https://www.verywellmind.com/addictive-behaviors-4157291

No. 1066555

>>1066546
>>1066532
Here's more on the matter

"Behavioral addictions (sometimes called process addictions) describe behaviors that become compulsive and problematic. The telltale sign of addiction is the continuation of a behavior after it has had negative impacts on a person. These impacts might show up in their work, their relationships, or even in their physical or mental health. Part of the reason that people continue behaviors even after they become problematic is explained by the brain chemical dopamine. The release of dopamine is largely responsible for the “high” that people experience when they use drugs, and is also in response to specific behaviors."

https://www.choosingtherapy.com/behavioral-addictions/

No. 1066557

>>1065583
ayrt about twitter the other thing I considered doing and had started doing since I usually put them in a sealed envelope was writing letters, but I'm afraid of someone opening them as well. at the moment almost all my diaries and letters are in my room, on the off chance I actually leave one out I'm afraid someone will snoop. I wish I could just channel my thoughts into writing a fictional or semi fictional novel about how fed up I am, but nobody will want to read it. my brain at this point is so fried idk if I can fathom a novel

No. 1066563

>>1066532
>>1066546
>>1066555
Posting more

Signs and symptoms of Internet addiction might include:
>excessive Internet use (i.e. spending a majority of time online)
>staying online for longer than intended
>lying about the extent of one’s Internet use
>unsuccessful attempts to limit Internet use
>neglecting relationships with others due to Internet use
>experiencing disruptions in work or academic pursuits as a result of Internet use
>experiencing guilt, shame, or frustration about one’s Internet use
>continuing to spend the majority of time online despite negative effects on physical or mental health
>Psychological withdrawal symptoms have also been reported by people with compulsive Internet use. For example, feeling very on-edge, hostile, or anxious when unable to access a computer.

I would add stuff like not bathing, not eating, not sleeping, or even not going to the bathroom in extreme cases.

https://www.addictionresource.net/behavioral-addictions/internet/

No. 1066571

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>>1066563
One last post

What Causes Behavioral Addictions?
"Like substance addictions, behavioral addictions can be traced back to a number of contributing factors, including childhood experiences, one’s environment, and interpersonal factors."
"Several types of behavioral addictions, including internet addiction, have been associated with changes in neurotransmitter activity—that is, changes in brain chemicals that can reinforce compulsive behaviors. Some behavioral addictions have also been associated with:"

>a history of trauma

>sexual abuse
>lack of social support
>a family history of drug or alcohol addiction or mental illness

Causes Of Internet Addiction Disorder
"Increased use of mobile technologies and the Internet for everyday activities is not by itself a cause for Internet addiction."
"Although this is an ongoing subject of research, researchers currently believe Internet addiction could be influenced by genetic, biological, and interpersonal factors. For instance:"

>abnormalities in neurochemical processes

>history of mental illness or a personality disorder
>personal or family history of addiction
>Internet access and availability
>One theory underlying Internet addiction, the quality of real life theory, suggests that people who experience difficulties in their offline lives may turn to the Internet to escape or avoid reality.

https://www.addictionresource.net/behavioral-addictions/
https://www.addictionresource.net/behavioral-addictions/internet/

No. 1067125

Thank you anons for the resources and suggestions. I seriously need to get off this website once and for all. I've been able to quit in the past for months at a time, so I bet I can get away forever now. Best wishes to everyone else struggling. Let's all move on to live in the real world.

No. 1067831

Being addicted sucks. Wish me luck, I hope I don't come back here in the next 4 days

No. 1070313

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If there's a Russian cyber attack and the internet gets shut down, how are you going to fill the time?

No. 1070315

>>1070313
I have a book of sudoku puzzles

No. 1070320

>>1070313
Crochet, draw, paint or read. Watch movies and listen to music as well, if my TV and cd/dvd player both work in this scenario.

No. 1070321

>>1070313
Not sure I can say I'm addicted (yet? anymore?) but as long as I'm home I can just write in my diary, read the manga I have, do some housework more often, play the many video games I have because I'm only into single player games, etc. Whenever I'm bored at work because I've completed my tasks or because I'm waiting for calls I go online on my phone, so I don't know how I'd spend my time. Usually I browse twitter or read fics when there's nothing to do.

No. 1070325

>>1070313
gardening and studying.

No. 1070336

>>1070320
Samefag, but if we can still use our computers My dumbass assumed this question meant no computers at all, then I would probably play Sims. Also just going outside in general and talking to friends/family. There's tons to do with no internet.

No. 1447577

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Resurrecting this thread because I need motivation. I have been thinking and I feel like I am literally just addicted to sitting in front of my computer.
I'm not addicted to my phone because I'm too retarded to type on the tiny screen. I don't have social media.

I think I am just so used to spending my life in front of the computer, since the late 90s when I became addicted to playing games on it. Then I became addicted to the internet because it was such an exciting and comforting form of escapism from the real world. But now the internet sucks and makes me miserable.

This place is one of the last few places I get any enjoyment from but not enough to justify how much time I spend here. It's just habit.
I have hobbies but I have less energy and motivation to spend time on them anymore. If I didn't need my computer for work I would be tempted to just get rid of it and go cold turkey. I need to get a life nonas.

No. 1447587

>>1447577
>late 90s
I genuinely find it hard to believe some people were alive in the late 90s. That’s crazy. Like the dark side of the moon.
I think socialising will fill the gaps that going low tech will create. It would help you a lot.

No. 1447604

>>1447587
Are you serious? They're not that old and this is coming from someone who was born at that time.
>>1447577
I can relate to this very much though, the internet feels smaller, I click through the same few tabs and don't do any actual surfing anymore. I can't remember what it was like to actually go and find something on the internet without Google but I miss it all the same because it had to be better than this. I still think my time on lc is better spent here than on most other rotten sites (Reddit's front page is the worst, shits all over my ADD) but I take these feelings as a sign it's time to find another hobby where I create something rather than consume it.

No. 1447702

>>1447577
have you considered smashing your computer with something like a baseball bat or large hammer

No. 1447709

>>1447577
theres browser extensions like coldturkey or forest where you can add sites to your blocklist/allowlist and set a timer to block yourself out of those sites

No. 1447720

>>1447577
Go on a little trip somewhere without internet or cell reception. Camp in a national forest or rent a cabin in the woods or go to an island. Just for like three days. I'm always shocked at how boring the internet is after I lose access to it for a short period,; inevitably not much happens while I was gone and meanwhile I was having fun touching grass or whatever.
When you come back from your trip have a few alternative mundane activities planned and don't sit at your computer (move the chair somewhere else so you literally can't sit).

No. 1447750

>>1447702
nta but I fantasise about this regularly and would do it if I didn’t need it for college…

No. 1447764

I'm 23 and sometimes cry over how I wasted my 18-22 youth/uni period being addicted to the internet and having barely any memories besides scrolling all day. And I'm still not making any significant effort to stop and change my life.

No. 1447778

>>1447764
>crying about not living your life to the fullest during a specific 4-year-period
This is the regular narrow-mindedness that comes with being barely past childhood and thinking that 4 years matters in the grand scheme.
>I’m doing nothing to change this for the future
This is your own brand of moron, though.

No. 1447804

>>1447764
It's okay, anon. I'm 25 and only stopped "wasting" my time in favour of living in the real world (going to events, volunteering, connecting with new people, etc.) this year and it's still extremely fulfilling. However, had I started at your age I fear I wouldn't have been ready. The mindset and motivation I needed came in the twilight of my 24th year and that's fine. Some of us are just slower to socialize.

Only venture out into the real world when you feel ready, or else you will upset yourself and remain a hermit for even longer. In the meantime, constantly work on your self-esteem, mental health, self-improvement, finding fun in your personal projects, etc.
Also, good news: people are less insane and extreme in person than online.

No. 1447894

>>1447764
I'm 25 and I only started to get my shit together when I was 23. You will get there eventually but don't expect it to just magically happen like I did.

No. 1448541

>>1447702
ayrt and yes, yes I have. so far this is the best solution i've been able to come up with

No. 1448542

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>>1447587
nona is this how you see me

No. 1448543

>>1447604
>the internet feels smaller
this is a good way to describe it. yep, it now feels so restrictive and circular. like everything always brings you back to the same places, the same topics.
>create rather than consume
exactly how I feel too. I feel very aware that I am just consuming garbage most of the time. I used to actually learn things online, eg. craft projects that I would actually then go and create. but I don't get the same inspired feeling anymore. I really think it's designed to be this way. I've started making a list of the things I used to spend time doing (and enjoyed doing) so it might inspire me a bit…

No. 1448978

File: 1671236764752.jpg (25.8 KB, 360x240, dust.jpg)

>>1448542
I was born in '91, this is how she'd see me. And I've been addicted to the internet since about age 9-10. Save yourselves, nonnies. Don't waste your life life I have.

No. 1451539

File: 1671382014585.gif (1.73 MB, 1500x700, Gifcompo.gif)

>>1448978
ayrt. kek '89 baby here and got addicted around the same age. however, i don't necessarily feel like i've wasted my life… I do understand why you feel that way though. But it's never too late to start living life differently! I'm not sure if I would have been any more or less happy without the computer, it's impossible to say. I got a lot out of it, including making money form my hobby job and still managed to achieve other things in my life, despite spending so much of it in front of this screen. It's just reached a point where I feel trapped and hindered by it.

Also 30 is still young, we're not even half way through life. Despite what that other anon thinks.

However, I certainly do not recommend spending ages 10-30 in front of a computer. Especially not in this day in age. At least we got to experience the internet when it was cool.

No. 1451566

>>1447587
Why? You must be born in 2004 at latest if you're old enough to post here. Is it that hard to believe people were alive just a handful of years at most before you were born? I'm not convinced you're 18+.

No. 1451568

>>1447587
Just how young are you?
I was born in the 80s btw. You mind must be exploding right now.

No. 1452063

>>1447587
Born in the 80s. You need to log off.

No. 1515532

File: 1678039536976.jpeg (10.72 KB, 326x154, images (2).jpeg)

I want to start trying an internet-free day maybe every weekend since I have to use the internet on work days. what are some ideas of how to fill my time and avoid giving into temptation?

so far i've got
>going for a walk, maybe go to a museum or something
>bake or make something
>watch a film
>play an instrument
>read books and magazines
>bath + beauty care
>listen to music (and boogie)
>play with my cat
>clean, tidy, chores, organise things
>puzzles and crosswords
>video games (maybe, but not pc ones)

I'm also going to switch my sim into my dumphone so I'm not distracted and use my old mp3 player to listen to music instead. I'm hoping if I can go a whole day on a regular basis I can build my attention span and give more energy to hobbies and creative things.

anyone else want to join me or got any activity ideas?

No. 1515658

File: 1678048034111.jpg (89.79 KB, 827x873, E_XsDI2WUAMIhil.jpg)

My anti-internet addiction-strategy consists of three components: Firstly, I need something else to default to that isn't my phone. My phone is something easy to default to because I can carry it everywhere and I can use it in pretty much any situation. So those are the requirements: easy to carry (almost) everywhere and socially acceptable to use (almost) anywhere. For me that's my e-reader or a book but you can probably think of other things. In the few situations when it isn't acceptable to read a book, I probably have other things I can do or people to talk to.

The second thing is having a list with alternatives on hand: basically a list of activities I can do instead of browsing the internet (be it on phone or laptop.) A general list of activities/hobbies, not a to-do list. For me that's stuff like sewing, journalling, garden-related stuff, going outdoors with the dogs but you can pretty much put anything you like on it. I keep a list in my phone but you can also put a physical list in your phone case, on your wall, on your fridge idk anywhere you think you might need it. For me it's important to have it easily on hand because I WILL forget in a mindless default-to-phone moment.

The third thing is blocking myself from the internet. On my phone I have de-installed google chrome and I use firefox instead because it lets you use an extention called LeechBlock that blocks websites, as far as I know you can't do that on phone Chrome. Same extention I use in the Chrome browser on my laptop. That way, even if I accidently mindlessly end up trying to browse, I get blocked from it. Technically I can turn those off but just reading it is usually enough to keep me from browsing. I deleted my social media apps and games, if I want to browse social media I have to do it in-browser during a timeframe I allow myself to browse the internet. I do alot myself some time to mindlessly browse every day.

For me this works as long as I stick to it, but I can't deny I have my periods of weakness and don't give a fuck.

No. 1515677

File: 1678051207550.jpg (183.8 KB, 610x450, 1403963161066.jpg)

I'm late 20s, been using the internet full time since I got my first laptop at 15. I've been trying to quit the internet on and off since before covid. My methods were included unplugging and boxing up my desktop, arranging my computer in a way where it was physically uncomfortable to use, putting a website blocker on lolcow, plain old self control. None of it worked for me.
I live with my parents in my hometown and it makes it tough because I have very little else to do. I have a few hobbies like drawing and writing and I've fallen into the trap of feeling like I need my environment to be "perfect" in order to be creative. I also have a lot of anxiety over the state of my room, it's messy but nothing disgusting, but I have so much stuff that it makes me feel overwhelmed? I mention it because it feels like the daily progression of my addiction is
>try to do something productive
>get overwhelmed by physical sensation (noise, environment)
>go on internet and scroll
>feel relief
I hate it because I know I'm using the internet to feel numb. Literally the comforting thing about my addiction is that I'll scroll lolcow or recently kf and I can shut my mind off completely. Literally my better days on the internet involve watching a youtube essay that I can at least learn something from, or a TV where I can engage with the story. I don't do either of those things most of the time because typing in an url other than my chosen numbing websites feels like work. I'm in a very weird rut. I am taking steps to improve/radically change my life outside the internet, but in the meantime it just feels impossible to break out of this cycle. I fear that if I don't stop my internet use cold turkey, and get used to living my life that way BEFORE I make my big life-changing move, I'm going to get overwhelmed by the change and end up turning back to scrolling forums to cope. My newest scheme is to not even sign up for internet service in my new apartment, and stay off the internet at least long enough to detox fully(6 months?). I'm hoping if I can get enough real world activities to fill my day(other than work) I won't have any desire to use the internet ever again.

No. 1515722

>>1515677
>I hate it because I know I'm using the internet to feel numb
this is it for me too. and it wasn’t until I started trying to limit my internet use that I realised how many negative emotions I was trying to numb. so… much… dread.

I remember life without the internet (i’m in my mid 30s), even though I started to become addicted quite young. I was not happy and I worried a lot, I just watched a lot of TV, played video games and listened to music to take my mind off it. I also had hobbies that I managed to spend time on and create things. But the thing about the internet is it’s filled with so many things that make you feel even worse and constant new and unplanned distractions. And I don’t even use social media or read news shit - mostly just LC and hobby forums - but there is still a collective feeling of doom online. and everything is corporate and homogenous now, not to mention insanely controlled and manipulated. this is what i choose to spend the overwhelming majority of my time being subjected to?

so for now i’m just trying to find, or rediscover other slightly healthier things I use to numb my emotions and take it from there. i’d rather be slightly too obsessed with knitting or learning an instrument as a distraction technique. when it comes to mindless entertainment, I can use TV, video games, puzzles, magazines. but I'm starting slow.

good luck to you with your new life changes nonna!

No. 1515725

I just plan on getting more and more angry about how much time I waste online. Worked for other bad habits, I even quit cigarettes by being angry about how they give me nothing and waste my time and money.
It helps that smartphones are literally getting worse every year, the cameras are the only thing improving.

No. 1516062

Spending too much time on the discourse and scrolling on tiktok/instgram are two things I am working on reducing extensively. This might be a bit contradictory to what has been expressed so far but I would rather spend hours and hours playing video games rather than ritualistically flipping between different websites and doomscrolling.

I grew up on tumblr so it feels like that's all I did. Even when I started using reddit a bit more I end up going to controversial and political subreddits. The tiktok algorithm pushes content that annoys me. When my friends bring up stuff I can't talk openly and freely talk with them about I go to the small terfy communities.

No. 1520641

>>1516062
>would rather spend hours and hours playing video games
I never thought I would be using more video game playing and TV watching as a healthier way to spend my time but here we are. It's crazy how even those two things - which used to be the main culprits for what was rotting our brains and killing our attention span - are no longer enough to keep us entertained. i find it hard to focus on TV or a film for a long period without wanting to pause and google or check something online, and the same even with video games sometimes.

No. 1520668

I had a certain moid imageboard withdrawl, it's like a nicotine addiction, toxic and disgusting. It adds nothing supportive of compassionate to my troubles. So I have to stop visiting from scratch.

No. 1520669

>>1515725
Nicotine addiction is a hard one to beat, give yourself some credit!

No. 1520747

I deleted Tumblr because it has bad vibes lol. Everyone there is either sad and pathetic or tries to stir shit. It's like a squat home for crackheads.

No. 1520749

>>1520641
>i find it hard to focus on TV or a film for a long period without wanting to pause and google or check something online
Woah I thought it was only me kek. This is exactly what I do now and it bothers me so much. I used to be into watching anime too but now I can't focus on a 25 minute episode because I just feel like opening another tab and googling something. Movies are ever worse of course. I didn't use to be like this at all and I'm certain my brain is fucking fried.

No. 1520753

Just chiming in when I was 20 I went to a party and blackouts whoreish like slept with an incel. I don't blame him for the sloppy sex we had but the after math was so scary. Every time a fried took a picture of me, he would find where it was tagged and he would show up. I privated my social media for a few years but he still found me through mutual. I ended up deactivating all social media and my friends would still tag me @name. Even though it was dead he would find me. My sister tagged me at my grandma's house and he showed up, telling her I was expecting him. 8 years later. Grandma's let him inside and he stormed in "I'm so happy to see you but where have you been" I maced him and got a restraining order and now won't let anyone photograph me in public. I am now 33 and clean of all social media. It sucks to not have anything but meanwhile I finally feel safe. Be careful nonnas
(Sorry for typos I'm drunk)

No. 1520839

>>1520753
fucking hell that's terrifying, that bit about turning up at your grandma's house is unbelievable. i'm glad you are finally free from that stalking.
one of my main reasons for being off social media is because of my abusive ex. I don't want him to know where I live now, just in case. but social media stressed me out anyway so I don't miss it.

No. 1520851

I was inspired by this thread and deleted spotify and youtube for good. I checked my phone and apparently I listen to vids and music 6 hours a day on average (up to 12 hours on weekends). I don't even browse social media like Twitter at all, but my addiction is worrying me. I can't get interested at anything at all and need constant stimuli like people talking at background to do anything at all. Time to change it, cause it's not normal being constantly bombarded by noise all the time.
Also, I'm with other anons who can't even play vidya or watch TV lol. Although when it comes to video games, I think I just grew out of it. Feels weird that I was a vidya addict in my teenage years (when Sims 3 was out I rushed to the shop and played it for two days straight with just a break for toilet), but now I can't be bothered to play at all. Although I don't see anything at all at gaming now and then and maybe I should download some stuff I wanted to okay long time ago and truly immerse myself in the game and taste it like fine wine kek. Cause now my idea of gaming consists of playing Skyrim once a month while listening to youtube vids. I don't even listen to in-game music or look at pretty landscapes, just raid dungeons and look for another cool artifact, this goes on for 40 minutes then I got bored to death and quit the game. Oh well, time to remember my good ol classic shooters and play some F.E.A.R. or Black Mesa. Funny that I came to the point that playing vidya is better for my mental well-being.

No. 1520872

>>1520851
>deleted spotify and youtube for good
nice one nonnie! I got rid of spotify a year ago because it was expensive if you didn't want ads and the algorithm was really starting to unnerve me. it felt like i was just being fed a taste in music instead of the opportunity to organically discover things anymore and it was depressing. I took a screen recording of all my saved songs and just downloaded them to listen to on an old mp3 player. i deleted youtube around that time too and honestly don't have much interest in it since.
>but now I can't be bothered to play at all
i've heard a lot of people say this lately and my theory is it used to be an easy form of escapism, but now - when you compare it to how easy and instantly accessible mindless scrolling is - it's actually a fair amount of effort. turning on the console, setting up, waiting for it to load and then committing to that SINGLE activity for the next hour or so. our brains have been trained to jump from one easy thing to the next and it's getting worse.

I've been thinking that a return to video game and TV addiction might unironically be a good stepping stone. it's still numbing and escapism but at least it's concentrating on one thing at a time and you don't get that rebound effect from the lack of stimuli. then from there, replace games and TV more with reading and hobbies or whatever. I was obsessed with games and TV in the 90s/2000s but didn't feel like my brain was fucked, plus I still managed to spend time on other hobbies and be somewhat productive. It's the internet that has a special kind of attention-robbing mechanism that prevents you doing anything else.

No. 1520874

>>1520749
Shit nonnies, our brains are all fried in the same way. I was never like this before and used to be a huge filmfag and would watch artsy movies and then write my thoughts about them. Now I can’t even watch 20 min without googling shit. The only thing that helps is just letting my phone die and not charging it.

No. 1520879

>>1520872
I just wanted to Samefag and say you’re really onto something here. I also can’t play vidya anymore when I used to spend 12 hours RPing on WoW and basically just practicing creative writing all day… I’m so boring and fucked up now, I feel like I made myself retarded.

No. 1520886

>>1520874
>used to be a huge filmfag and would watch artsy movies
same. it's hard to imagine how that was something I used to do. just sit through a 2 hour film fully focused on what was going on and feel totally immersed in the story. but now it's like an itch i get every 15 minutes. and even if it's not to open my laptop, it's to do something else like just get up and play with (annoy) my cat or make some tea. the ability to just sit and focus on something has been damaged.
>>1520879
exactly, I would be so addicted to a game but then the game stopped when i stopped it and that was that. around that time, i used to play instruments every day and sew, knit all kinds of stuff. but when you're on the internet or your phone, nothing really stops, it is still open in another tab for you to flip back to so you can never move on or "end" that task fully. not to mention there are always things to check back to like unlimited replies and updates on whatever you are following.

No. 1520892

>>1520872
>I took a screen recording of all my saved songs and just downloaded them to listen to on an old mp3 player.
I did it too kek. It actually feels better listening to music this way, cause with streaming you just scroll endlessly without immersing yourself in the music and wait for the next catchy song. I love metal, but with streaming its actually worse listening to it. Like, with black you need really immerse yourself in the album to really appreciate it. Good luck doing it if you are endlessly bombarded with next hot album.
>i've heard a lot of people say this lately and my theory is it used to be an easy form of escapism, but now - when you compare it to how easy and instantly accessible mindless scrolling is - it's actually a fair amount of effort. turning on the console, setting up, waiting for it to load and then committing to that SINGLE activity for the next hour or so. our brains have been trained to jump from one easy thing to the next and it's getting worse.

This is very true. With internet, you can just click on something and instantly get a video or a meme to fry your dopamine receptors. Games, on other hand, require some time investment and that instant gratification doesn't come. This is true with my favorite games, like RTS and RPG. For example, I love Crusader Kings. The problem is, you need to learn to play it first, read manuals, read a lot of in-game text and wait some time till you level your kingdom and only then all the fun stuff begins. Why should I do it all to have fun if I can go to YouTube and watch some memes and get my dopamine hit? >>1520879
Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. At the very least, games can be a pretty good and harmless hobby if you don't play them all day long. It can be even positive in some way. I like Morrowind and it really inspired me to draw more and I even learned to draw pretty ok landscape painting cause I loved the game so much I wanted capture it in my art. Same with people who code game mods etc. Vidya can be good rarely, meme consumption is always bad on other hand. You just consoom dopamine tokens endlessly. With vidya at least I can say I appreciate it as an art form and can get inspired to do cool stuff. But again, playing Sims or what have you every day all day is equally bad.

No. 1520894

>>1520872
>I got rid of spotify a year ago because it was expensive if you didn't want ads
If you use it in browser on desktop (as opposed to the app) an appblocker will block ads. Not sure about an appblocker on phone. I know this isn't relevant within the context of this thread but just in case anyone else wasn't aware.

No. 1520925

File: 1678546893748.png (579.71 KB, 786x534, pi.png)

Thinking about the time my laptop broke and I had to reply on my raspberry pi (which I use as a server) for internet for a few months until l replaced it. First, my rpi was in a fixed spot in my room so I wasn't constantly on the internet whilst I was watching TV or eating dinner etc. Second, it was so fucking slow and painful to use that it simply put me off a lot of the time. Due to my very basic setup, the screen was small and I could only listen to audio if I plugged in headphones and even then the quality was awful. So I would only watch a youtube video or clip if I really needed to because otherwise it was a pain to load it and have to plug in my headphones. Third, I really had to think outside the box when it came to workarounds and was constantly problem solving and learning so at least my brain was working. At the time I really needed a decent computer for work though so I gave in and got a new laptop as soon as I could.

However, now my job has provided a separate laptop for work (which is heavily monitored so I can't use it for personal stuff) and I'm seriously considering wiping and selling my laptop so I would just have the pi + work laptop.

I still have my smartphone but am in the process of switching to a dumbphone. My plan is to create a fixed spot for my smartphone (possibly a wall mount so I can't easily pick it up or something similar) and remove all apps except for my banking app and 2FA app (+ anything else that is strictly necessary for now) and have the dumbphone for text and calls.

No. 1522383

>>1520925
Do not do mobile banking especially on a dumb phone.

No. 1543592

>>1522383
the banking is on my iphone which I will keep for that reason. the only other option is online banking (I would have to switch banks) which I don't think is any more/less safe and tries to force you to use a smartphone for authentication anyway.

No. 1578222

File: 1684156224365.jpg (322.42 KB, 1080x2400, Screenshot_20230515_160141_Nia…)

I downloaded Niagara launcher recently. This is how my homescreen looks now. It's a neat little launcher that adds your fav apps on the homescreen and hides apps that you don't want to use. I hided youtube and chrome so that I wouldn't browse imageboards or binge watch youtube now. Day one and it helps a little. Now I don't see useless shit on my phone and when it's away I don't have an urge to browse the internet. I will tell more about my experience next week and than see if it helps me.
Now I only need a mobile browser that lets me block certain sites. I still need a browser on my phone but I don't want browsing lolcow or 4cheens when I'm bored. Any recommendations? I use Chrome at the moment but had experience with Opera and Brave. I'm not sure if Brave can blacklist sites.

No. 1578225

>>1578222
nonna i got surprised cause i saw my native language on your homescreen. pls share the progress soon! i am also trying to quit binge watching youtube and browsing imageboards with chrome. the only thing that helped me recently to stop binge watching tiktok was deleting off my phone entirely but i sort of don't want to do the same with youtube. so i'm extremely curious if there's a similar app for iphone i can use & if it will help me improve!

No. 1578255

>>1578222
So, here is an update. I found a way to block sites. I downloaded Firefox and installed LeechBlock add-on. So far I blocked lolcow, the mines and 4chan, my biggest time sinks. It works just fine. Just a heads up for other Android anons. There is an app called BlockSite which is shilled everywhere. I didn't use it because it wanted me to grant acess on basically everything on my phone. Fuck that. Plus, the reviews stated that it was kinda broken.
>>1578225
I'd like to help you but I know nothing about how IPhones work. I would be interested to hear what other nonas with Iphones have to say. It would be nice to help out other people struggling with phone addiction.

No. 1578272

>>1578225
With iPhones you can have downtime or restrict your app use.

No. 1578275

>>1578222
>any recommendations
Read comics or manga I guess
Tempted to recommend reddit but it’s a time drain as well

No. 1578928

>>1578255
I have a modded version of StayFree i got from mobilism that can set timers to block sites and apps. I allow myself 1½ hours each day to use lolcow, other sites like Facebook and Instagram, I give myself 10 minutes. I've disabled comment sections of other social media sites like YouTube, I've also set a pause schedule on my Internet for when it's time to sleep. Another thing is just nuking social media sites slowly. I've left small friend group discords and prefer to directly message them, I'm not in any group chats except my own which is not active.

No. 1581443

>>1451568
You must be around the same age as my mom..

No. 1581452

>>1581443
>young newfag replying to a 5 month old post

No. 1581460


No. 1582323

>>1581452
So? What's wrong with that

No. 2057957

File: 1718925337357.jpg (45.88 KB, 500x500, 632783.jpg)

How did this thread get bumped so high with a last post a year ago I wonder. I get one hour of lolcow computer time a day to manage my internet addiction. I budget more time for this site than any others kek

No. 2057962

>>2057957
>I get one hour of lolcow computer time a day to manage my internet addiction.
God I need to start doing this

No. 2057963

>>2057957
It was that one spaz that keeps bumping threads from years ago.
>I budget more time for this site than any others
You're a trooper and I respect it.

No. 2058517

File: 1718969550854.webm (43.18 KB, 480x1024, i-pxp.webm)

>The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/surgeon-general-calls-congress-require-social-media-warning-111178087
thoughts on this nonnies?

No. 2058519

>>2058517
I’m all for it, warning labels on media and cigarettes make them more fun (I don’t know why this is)

No. 2058525

>>2058517
I find it weird because this would apply to social media just fine but it all depends on how and why you use social media in the first place. It's not the same as cigarettes, which are harmful and addictive not matter how much you smoke.

No. 2058527

>>2058517
Useless. Those apps are designed to be addicting, addicts aren't going to stop because of a warning label.

No. 2058531

>>2058517
I'm ok with it, but also, I wonder how much influence the warnings actually had on people quitting smoking vs a combination of laws restricting the places you could smoke and them becoming so expensive. So I can't help but wonder how much it'd actually help.

No. 2058532

>>2058525
What is a safe amount? One cigarette a week would basically do nothing to detrimental your health. One every day though…
But not asking about cigarettes I’m wondering what you think is a safe amount of social media? Or does it depend more on how you use it and less how much you use it?

No. 2058533

>>2058531
Research suggests it helps make smoking a little less fashionable but what really cuts down on new smokers is making it illegal to advertise cigs/tobacco or even display signage in shops. Like, in Panama they’re literally behind a counter in a drawer at the convenience store and you have to know they’re there and ask for them or you’d never know. That kinda shit actually helps lower the number of smokers.

No. 2058535

>>2058525
i agree, it's weird to treat social media addiction in the same way as cigarette addiction. but i get it's difficult to intervene at this stage, especially considering how much power tech companies hold.

No. 2058539

>>2058517
>cyberbullying
kek

No. 2058609

>>2058517
crop the image to keep just the bold text and you get a great lolcow siye banner

No. 2063657

>>2057957
how do you keep it to just one hour? do you use a timer or blocker or something? or just….. willpower? i want to do this but don't know how to implement it

No. 2066947

I know all the methods, as in material things to do like not checking the phone in the morning and late night, time limits etc, I've tried them and it works but I always relapse when I'm upset. I don't know how to analyse my feelings and use others distractions. Help me noonas

No. 2066954

File: 1719476223613.png (230.37 KB, 1000x1000, emotion wheel.png)

>>2066947
>I don't know how to analyse my feelings
Sometimes, when we aren't used to self-reflection, it can be hard for us to be emotionally aware. Luckily, practice makes perfect. My suggestion is to dedicate some time every night to (physically) write in a diary. Start writing about your thoughts, feelings, and the things that go on in your life and in your mind. Over time, you'll be able to recognize the patterns that are invisible to you now. Every day, keep a record of the "main" emotion you felt that day, and in tandem with the descriptions of what happened you can start to piece together why you feel certain ways.

No. 2066964

>>2066954
The wheel looks so useful, I could make the habit more structured instead of just angry writing those few times. But I know it's generally that I don't want to think/give no fucks to tasks and resort to doomscrolling, how do I tackle that?

No. 2066968

>>2066964
The wheel really helps me identify my own emotions sometimes. I know that I feel "angry," but once I reflect on myself I can realize that I'm just frustrated because I'm irritated.
>I don't want to think/give no fucks to tasks and resort to doomscrolling
I don't have any advice for you nona, just personal antectode. I used to doom scroll on Twitter too, but then I realized that everything I saw was designed to make me angry or depressed. Once I realized that self-harm isn't fun, even if it's done through a bright colourful cellphone, I found it easier to stop. I switched to reading books, because at least with books I could "turn off" my brain for a few minutes while still enjoying my time and feeling productive. Maybe try to find another hobby that you can enjoy that will alleviate the stress.

No. 2066989

>>2066968
>designed to make me angry or depressed
>self-harm isn't fun, even if it's done through a bright colourful cellphone
This is what I needed, I guess I have to rationalise all the excuses. It's hard to apply what I read about cigarettes and alcohol when I just want to watch funny videos.

No. 2066996

>>2066989
If you want to watch funny videos, you should try to just look for a good comedy movie to watch or a funny book to read. If you have a hard time applying what you know, try to look into research published in journals about the negative effects of social media on the mind. It's helpful sometimes realizing that even experts are telling us that this shit is really bad for us.



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