Nir Eyal explains why Apple and Google are pushing features that limit phone use. Tech companies have a responsibility to reduce the unintended harm their products cause, and users need to actually engage with these tools to make them work.
The history of innovation is littered with examples of new technologies causing unintended harm. As cultural theorist Paul Virilio said, when you invent the ship, you also invent the shipwreck. Although the devices these modern shipbuilders make certainly have potential negative consequences like overuse, it's also in their interests to make their products less harmful. With few exceptions, when a product harms people, consumers tend to use it less often, which or find better alternatives. The move to help users create healthy habits with their devices is an example of competition making products better. Although they are certainly designed to be persuasive and user friendly, we aren't slaves to our technologies, and it behooves us to stop thinking we're powerless. The tech companies are taking steps to help users rein in device overuse. Now it's our turn to put these features to use. Buckle down and buckle up.
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