Coming soon: Managing Your Gaming and Social Media Habits
In a world where screen time dominates our personal and professional lives, Catherine Knibbs offers a blueprint for reclaiming control over our technology use.
In Managing Your Gaming and Social Media Habits: From Science to Solutions, part of the Ask The Experts in Psychology series, Catherine Knibbs, a psychotherapist specialising in cybertrauma, delves into a pressing modern dilemma: our relationship with technology. Knibbs argues that technology is not inherently harmful or beneficial—it is the way we use it that determines its impact on our lives.
This balanced perspective is interesting reading for researchers and lab professionals, who often rely heavily on technology for their work. The balance between productive screen time and harmful overuse is a fine line, and Knibbs’ book provides valuable guidance for navigating this terrain.
“For some people, social media and gaming offer a lifesaving space,” Knibbs states. She points out that technology can be a crucial tool for combating feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression, offering a virtual community where individuals feel seen and understood. This insight is particularly relevant to researchers who may find themselves working long hours in isolation, especially during intense periods of data collection or analysis. Digital connections can provide a needed sense of community and support, mitigating the isolating aspects of lab work.
However, Knibbs also warns of the dangers of excessive technology use. The lure of screens can lead to neglecting real-world responsibilities, from basic needs like recognising when to eat or use the restroom, to more significant commitments such as attending school or going to work. For researchers, this could translate into reduced productivity and compromised work quality, as distractions from social media or gaming eat into valuable research time.
Knibbs stresses the importance of understanding the tactics technology companies use to keep users engaged. She explains that these companies design their products to appeal to our fundamental needs for recognition, acceptance, and novelty. This can lead to a cycle of dependency, where researchers might find themselves endlessly scrolling through social media or gaming during breaks, rather than taking the time to relax and recharge.
To counteract these effects, Knibbs suggests practical strategies such as
- Keeping a diary of technology use to become more aware of habits and patterns. This reflective practice is akin to the meticulous note-taking that researchers are accustomed to, allowing them to apply similar analytical skills to monitor and manage their technology use.
- simple adjustments such as turning screens to black and white, disabling notifications, and using time-blocking apps to limit screen time.
These strategies could be particularly effective in a lab environment where focus and precision are paramount. By reducing digital distractions, researchers can maintain better concentration, leading to more accurate and reliable results. This mindful approach to technology use aligns well with the careful and deliberate nature of scientific work, encouraging researchers to engage with their digital tools only when truly necessary.
Knibbs’ book serves as a valuable resource for anyone looking to find a healthier balance with technology, particularly those in research settings where screen time is unavoidable. Her emphasis on mindfulness and intentionality offers a practical path to managing digital habits, ensuring that technology serves as a tool for enhancement rather than a source of distraction. As Knibbs aptly puts it, mastering these skills allows us to “engage with technology more intentionally, when you have the capacity to do so,”—a sentiment that resonates with the deliberate and thoughtful approach required in scientific research.
