It's The Phones
We’re living in a time where technology gives us access to information we were never meant to know. Not like this, not at this scale, not with this level of emotional intensity. And it’s messing with our mental health in ways we aren't totally aware of.
Surveillance
There's duality to surveillance. In recent years, it has been a tool for justice. We’ve seen how camera phones and social media can expose wrongdoing and protect the vulnerable. On the other hand, surveillance has become a trigger for rage. We see fragments of someone’s worst moment and feel compelled to take sides. We form opinions about strangers based on 15-second videos and comment threads. We’re not just watching anymore. We’re judging, reacting, and absorbing emotional residue from stories we don’t fully understand. Here is what Psychology professional, KeyTysha Williams, contributes to the discussion:
"From a counseling perspective, having constant access to massive amounts of information is not always healthy for emotional or psychological stability. When information comes faster than a person can mentally process, it can heighten stress and make it harder to stay grounded. This kind of overload can cause distorted thinking, especially for individuals who are already vulnerable to anxiety or different types of paranoia. The nonstop flow of digital content also removes the natural pauses that help people reflect and regulate their emotions. Because information is available almost instantly, people may begin relying on the internet to validate their feelings or their opinions, trying to turn it into facts. This constant seeking can ultimately worsen distress by feeding into fear-based or emotionally charged content. Overall, too much access to information can overwhelm the mind in ways that disrupt clarity, calmness, and healthy emotional functioning."
As a collective, we are struggling to stay regulated. Social platforms are thriving and profiting from mental instability. Rage bait content designed to provoke anger, it’s annoying and manipulative. It hijacks our nervous systems, floods us with stress, and makes us feel like we’re constantly under attack and in survival mode. We’re being influenced without even realizing it. We’re not just consuming content anymore; we’re being shaped by it. You lose control. That’s what unchecked digital consumption does to your mind.Reality Check
Check your screentime! Look at where those hours go. Working on your phone is a different story, but how much time are you spending on recreational apps? How much of your day is being siphoned into scrolling, reacting, comparing? Set limits. Create more than you consume. Post and go. You don’t need to be online all the time to be relevant.
Reclaim Your Mental Space
The best advice I can give you is to make your phone your personal assistant. Use widgets to keep your calendar and tasks front and center. Set your home screen to show what you need, not what the algorithm wants you to see. Turn on Focus Mode or Do Not Disturb. Protect your attention like it’s sacred, because it is. Technology is a tool that can help us learn, grow, and connect, but it can also regress our brain power and emotional intelligence if we let it consume us. I enjoy technology. I love learning about it. However, I refuse to let it turn me into someone who’s constantly reacting, constantly distracted, constantly drained. Let’s be intentional. Let’s be aware. Remember, we’re supposed to be the ones controlling technology, not technology controlling us.