In this episode of On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Jay explores the psychology and neuroscience behind smartphone and internet addiction. He explains how dopamine drives our online behaviors and how the absence of these digital stimuli can lead to feelings of emptiness or boredom.
Jay also highlights the detrimental effects of excessive smartphone and internet use, including negative impacts on mental health, physical health, and real human connections. To combat these issues, he provides practical strategies for reducing usage, such as increasing awareness, setting intentional boundaries, limiting low-quality content, and implementing "digital fasts."
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Jay Shetty explains that every interaction online triggers [restricted term] release in the brain - a "reward chemical" that motivates us to continue using our phones and the internet. Americans check their phones 144 times a day on average, reinforcing this habit cycle.
Without regular [restricted term] hits from phone use, we can experience feelings of boredom or emptiness - a "flattening effect" signaling reduced stimulation, according to Shetty. This highlights how our happiness is tied to constant connectivity.
The World Happiness Report suggests that as smartphone and internet use has risen, overall human happiness has decreased, especially in wealthy countries. The interplay between [restricted term]-seeking behavior and cortisol production from digital stress contributes to this trend.
Constant online engagement can increase anxiety, stress, and disconnect from reality. Our focus, concentration, and presence also diminish, leading to impatience and lack of meaningful engagement, says Shetty.
Excessive screen time disrupts sleep, causes eye strain, and contributes to a sedentary lifestyle - effects not explicitly mentioned but widely recognized.
Despite enabling global communication, overreliance on online interactions comes at the cost of nurturing real-life relationships, which Shetty suggests can leave people feeling isolated.
Shetty advises observing impulses to use the phone without judgment, noting emotional factors driving the habit.
He recommends waiting an hour before using the phone after waking up, replacing it with healthier habits. "Wi-Fi free" mealtimes can also help cultivate presence.
Like avoiding junk food, Shetty suggests reducing exposure to low-quality digital content that can harm productivity and mental health.
Taking cues from intermittent fasting, Shetty proposes scheduled phone-free periods, like weekends or designated days, to temporarily break the constant connectivity cycle.
1-Page Summary
The increasing pull of our smartphones and the internet taps into the brain’s reward system, a phenomenon that experts, including Jay Shetty, are examining to understand the impacts on happiness and mental health.
Every interaction online, from swiping and liking to commenting and emoji-sending, triggers a [restricted term] release in the brain, signifying a reward. This chemical is what motivates us to continue seeking pleasurable activities, including the seemingly innocuous act of phone and internet usage.
Jay Shetty elaborates on [restricted term]’s function by describing how it moves us toward pleasure-seeking behaviors, much like going out for dinner or drinks, and, in this technological age, engaging with our smartphones and online activities. He notes that Americans check their phones approximately 144 times a day and bridge physical contact with their phones around 2,600 times a day, reflecting a deep entanglement with our devices. These habits discharge [restricted term] every time we unlock our phones or hear notification sounds, reinforcing the habit cycle.
The constant flux of [restricted term] from phone use conditions us to associate happiness with phone engagement. When we are not online, we can experience a “flattening effect,” a state where the absence of regular [restricted term] hits leaves us feeling empty or understimulated. Shetty talks about this lack of stimulation as a compensation from our brain for high levels of [restricted term], leading to flatness or even a touch of depression when we are not indulging in pleasurable activities, including digital ones.
This flattening effect highlights a concerning trend of our happiness being tied to constant connectivity and the resultant feelings when that connection is severed.
The psychology and neuroscience behind smartphone and internet addiction
Jay Shetty highlights the various consequences, both mental and physical, that can arise from excessive internet and smartphone usage, encouraging an "internet diet" to mitigate these effects.
Excessive engagement with digital devices and online platforms can lead to a detrimental impact on our mental health.
Jay Shetty suggests that constantly being online—especially following harmful patterns such as "doom scrolling"—can lead to increased levels of anxiety and stress. This behavior is often accompanied by a release of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress response. As a result, individuals may feel disconnected from the real world and experience a decline in mental well-being.
The continuous distractions from smartphones can erode our ability to focus and concentrate. Shetty specifically discusses how the impulsive nature of activities like "add to cart" can make us more impatient and impulsively reactive. This not only affects our productivity but also impairs our ability to stay present in the moment with friends and family, leading to feelings of anger or disgust stemming from a lack of meaningful engagement.
Though not explicitly mentioned in the input, it’s widely recognized that extensive screen time from smartphone and internet use can lead to disrupted sleep patterns, eye strain from prolonged exposure ...
The detrimental effects of excessive smartphone and internet use
In a digitally saturated world, Shetty emphasizes the importance of conscious and mindful use of smartphones and internet, offering practical steps to manage our digital habits and dependencies.
Shetty suggests a mindful approach by observing impulses to use the phone without judgment as a first step in managing automatic phone usage. He recommends becoming more aware of the reach for the phone within the first 10 minutes of waking up—an action 89% of Americans are guilty of—by asking what feelings prompt this reach, what is being sought, and why. This awareness can highlight underlying feelings of boredom, sadness, or fear of missing out, providing valuable information about oneself.
Increasing consciousness around phone use can lead to intentional boundaries, such as waiting an hour before going online in the morning. Shetty advises replacing the early morning online impulse with healthier habits such as meditating, making a gratitude list, reading, or listening to music. This practice of starting the day with immersive, offline activities can greatly shift daily routines and attitudes.
Shetty also proposes "Wi-Fi free" mealtimes, urging individuals to enjoy meals without distraction from their devices. By keeping the phone in another room, one can focus on the food, chew more mindfully, and engage in a practice of hyper mindfulness. Setting a 15-minute limit during meals where the phone is inaccessible can lead to more conscious eating and increased appreciation of food textures and flavors.
Similar to being selective with nutrition, Shetty suggests ap ...
Practical steps and strategies for reducing smartphone and internet use
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