Issue 08: Prayer as Digital Detox, #SocialMediaStrike and Going Light

Prayer: the best way to take a digital detox?

French activist, mystic and philosopher Simone Weil once wrote that 'absolute unmixed attention is prayer'. Most religions have structure for time in which attention is turned inwards, for quiet reflection or stillness—the National Day of Unplugging has links to the Sabbath Manifesto, a 'creative project designed to slow down lives in an increasingly hectic world.'

No matter your own religious beliefs, this reflective essay from Vox on how prayer helped this writer digital detox is thought provoking: "Prayer is the ability to say no to the demands of technology; to silence my devices, close my office door, and recite the afternoon service. It is a brief taste of Sabbath slipped into the frenzy of the day-to-day; it allows me to put everything aside and turn away from screens to paper."

It makes one think: what is more important than work? Is anything more meaningful than the messages coming from your phone? Is social media undermining religion?

Wikipedia founder's "social media strike"

Interview: Go Light With Joe Hollier

What's your favorite way to get bored?
I think it’s usually just grabbing my film camera and heading out of the house with no plan or direction for a long walk. It’s about leaving space for spontaneity. I will often turn down streets because of how the light is shining. Maybe I check out a bookstore, maybe I run into a friend and have a conversation, maybe I just sit and listen to the birds. It’s a pretty therapeutic experience for me, the walking keeps a steady rhythm and keeps the blood flowing which all eases my anxiety, allowing me to get pretty lost with my thoughts. I guess it’s a happy place of mine.
 

What's next after The Light Phone II? 
I guess we feel that even launching Light Phone II this summer is only the beginning of it for our phone. For one we’ll be continuing to iterate of the software, adding additional tools and finessing the overall interface based on user feedback. I’m really interested in how our users will be using their phones, and would love to document and showcase some of that.

I’m also really interested in how Light as a brand can help the users after they take the step to go light. We’ve always stopped there so far, saying here is all of this time and space to do the things you love to do the most, but that can be quite overwhelming and daunting for many of our users we’ve learned.

Are there ways we can subtly encourage users and perhaps set them on their own paths? Be it learning a new language or instrument to developing a new hobby like gardening or photography; how can we help alleviate some of the initial anxiety that comes with leaving our smartphones today by directing that feeling into more sustainable, positive outlets?

"How can we help alleviate some of the initial anxiety that comes with leaving our smartphones today by directing that feeling into more sustainable, positive outlets?"