So I'm going to read the quote that's in this photo right now so we can jump off from the quote into a conversation. We live here now at the intersection of physical and virtual worlds. Our collective wellbeing spans both. I read this quote from an organization called Metaversal Wellbeing, and they really posit the idea that there's a very thin membrane between everything right now. How we spend time digitally is how we spend all our time, mostly these days
Metaversal Wellbeing
@MetaWellĀ Ā·Ā 4:22
So down the line, I'd love her to weigh in on how she defined this from a scientific standpoint. But to me, being digitally unwell is when your time online and your digital habits stunt healthy development, positive action, and or authentic happiness. So just like with physical Ailments, this can show up in all sorts of different ways. It's when the media you consume and the interactions you have online leave you overwhelmed, apathetic, radicalized, or immobilized
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardesĀ Ā·Ā 1:14
It's not just language that's generic. It really invites us to take part in something that seems really amazing. Can you talk about outreach and how is that going? And what's your goals around reaching people who are right now online to be reached? Obviously, because they're probably online all the time. But how do we find them and how do we find those who love them? What does that look like?
Swell Team
@SwellĀ Ā·Ā 0:15
Renee šŖ¬
@RensLensĀ Ā·Ā 4:48
But that being said, I still really can't do any social media on weekends because that's when my family's home, when my kids are home and my husband's home, and I do need to be focused on them and I don't transition real well. So the weekends are kind of social media free for me personally, but for other people, that might be their high time
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardesĀ Ā·Ā 1:16
Hey, Renee, thanks for your comments. I think what you talk about with regard to stimulation is a very interesting subset of this. And I hope that we can talk about this with Kelly, because stimulation is really good. I think it sparks us, it keeps the lights on in our minds, and we've associated so much of our connection to the digital world with that stimulation information, creativity, engagement, all that yummy stuff
Katharine Coles
@katharine.colesĀ Ā·Ā 3:48
Creating time for us instead of sucking up our time and figuring out where our digital practices are actually constraining us, limiting our ability to act in the world, limiting our capacity to be fully human. And I had a really quick example of this
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardesĀ Ā·Ā 0:58
Hey, Catherine, I had to reply to this because, first of all, you are so you're so spot on about this. And you're not a little old lady, by the way. I mean, you're little, but you're not a little old lady. Okay? The idea of knowing your world without a device in your hand is something that really resonates with me and a great topic
Metaversal Wellbeing
@MetaWellĀ Ā·Ā 4:51
We don't have a ton of social followers yet, and sometimes that makes me feel self conscious or frustrated. But that's another trick of the Internet. It to make you feel like everyone is doing things faster and better than you. That's an illusion. When you're building things with substance and integrity, it takes time. So this movement will take the time that it takes, and I'm okay with that
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardesĀ Ā·Ā 3:00
I really do sincerely invite you to use this platform as a place for dialogue and a place for convening, whether it's in a private group or whether it's on a public feed because we need to be listening in to the questions of others so we can say, wow, I'm glad they asked that question. I didn't even know I had that question, but I did as well
Metaversal Wellbeing
@MetaWellĀ Ā·Ā 4:03
Again, it feels like this should be obvious until you try it for yourself and realize how disconnected most of us have become from our inner voice. So again, we think the absolute best thing that you can incorporate for your digital well being is getting curious and to start tuning into all the physical and emotional sensations that come up for you when you go online. Another principle is about maintaining variety and balance. So just like with food, people require different types and sources of information for healthy development
Renee šŖ¬
@RensLensĀ Ā·Ā 3:07
And so what I mean by that is they're going to have a class on TikTok, and they want you as a parent to learn all of the ins and outs of this app so that you can stay one step ahead of your kid as they're using it. And the problem with that is I never stay one step ahead of my kids when it comes to technology. My kids are always one step ahead of me
Metaversal Wellbeing
@MetaWellĀ Ā·Ā 2:56
It's just a way of seeing and being that is rarely applied to the Internet or technology, and that's what's so radical. So thank you again so much for spreading this message, which is really that these complex and oppressive technology do not eclipse deeper form of knowing
Metaversal Wellbeing
@MetaWellĀ Ā·Ā 1:39
You. Hi, Catherine. So appreciate you weighing in on this. And when I listened to your recording and the story about your student who couldn't navigate without their phone, it really made me think about how crucial the education piece is in all of this. So we are huge, huge advocates for digital and media literacy being taught in schools, and at some point, we'd actually love to help design a curriculum to help people approach digital well being in a more holistic and intuitive way