The impact of digital technologies like smartphones, social media and virtual reality on humanity terrifies me, and I doubt I am alone. I am only 24, and despite being of a tech-savvy generation, I cannot pretend to understand the impact of digital technology or claim that I am comfortable with it.
Right now, society is undergoing a “Fourth Industrial Revolution,” which refers to a significant shift in the creation of economic, political and social value through new technologies that have spread worldwide throughout the 21st century. Such developments are exacerbated by Moore’s Law, the phenomenon whereby the number of components on an integrated circuit has doubled about every two years since the 1960s, meaning that computer power and speed have rapidly increased over time.
These intense changes provoke questions about the future, and I wonder if digital technology will create a dystopia where everyone loses touch with the natural world, falls into virtual reality and forgets their inner humanity.
I have good reason to believe many people feel like I do. Digital technology is a broad term, and it can be defined as a wide range of tools, services and applications that use electronic means to process, transmit or display information. These devices are so all-encompassing that everyone discusses their impact. From The Matrix to Black Mirror, the cultural lexicon is riddled with cautionary tales on digital technology and consciousness.
Whether positive or negative, digital technology is revolutionizing everything, and here, I will explain my relationship with digital technologies to outline why modern life makes mindfulness more crucial than ever.
Digital minimalism to mindfulness practices
Discussions on digital technology came to the forefront in March 2020, when the majority of the world went entirely online. Like many, my mental health took an incredible hit during the pandemic, and I cannot help but ask how much of that came from a lack of personal connection during lockdown.
Starting in June of 2020, as my anxiety and depression worsened, I began to seriously question the role of digital technology in my life, and eventually, I was forced to cut down on digital consumption. My response to the pandemic was to limit the time I spent on screens and the internet, hoping it would improve my mental and spiritual well-being.
For a period of several months throughout 2020 and 2021, I went as far as to check my phone just once per day and check social media just one time per week. For my mental health, I did anything and everything to limit the time I spent in digital spaces.
This practice of digital minimalism morphed into mindfulness practices. As I became increasingly skeptical of digital technology, I wondered if it also corresponded with a lack of presence in my life. Mindfulness as a concept tends to evoke imagery of monks meditating in the mountains, secluded from mainstream life, but the reality is different.
In essence, mindfulness is a state of presence brought about through self-awareness. Mindfulness is a practice more than a lifestyle; no matter your job, hobbies or pastimes, it is always possible to be aware and present.
During the early months of the pandemic, I began to research mindfulness philosophies to find a sense of focus in a world of constant distractions. I read books about Buddhism and New Age spirituality, covering the works of Eckhart Tolle, Sunsu Suriki, Alan Watts and many others. I took up regular meditation, and by late 2022, I normally spent up to two hours per day sitting still, with no distractions, counting my breaths.
While I have not permanently developed a way to regulate my relationship with digital technology and did not find inner peace, I have made substantial improvements over the last three-and-a-half years.
A sped-up rate of change
One way I achieved success was by discussing digital technology with friends to gain insight, and I heard various opinions. Futurists argue that “progress” is inevitable, and that the world has constantly been improved by technology throughout history. Innovations like ChatGPT are new examples of an ever-easier existence right around the corner.
On the other hand, pessimists counter with the high levels of mental distress among youth provoked by social media and the lack of time people spend with each other in person as examples of digital technology’s shortcomings. Pragmatists try to have it both ways, claiming it is possible to avoid the pitfalls of modernity while still reaping its benefits—since technology is a double-edged sword, it is both helpful and harmful depending on individual values or priorities.
As an environmentalist, I sympathize with the pessimists because my heart longs for a life more archaic than the one contemporary society provides. A life where people grow their food, have deep bonds with the land and carry an inner serenity that the constant noise of digital technology prevents. Yet, throughout my life, I have spent time inhabiting each of the futurist, pessimist and pragmatist camps, all of which make insightful contributions.
I have noticed two recurring themes in my conversations with people about digital technology; first and foremost, almost everyone has something to say about its role in their lives; and second, almost no one has a comfortable relationship with that very same technology. It only takes a little pressing to discover how uneasy people are with the invasion of personal privacy by tech giants, the distractions from never-ending notifications or the personal and professional difficulties with being “unplugged.”
One common objection to digital technology is that it creates more uncertainty. While change itself is an integral part of the human experience, nowadays, the rate of change is much quicker than it was in the past. It is impossible to understand what will happen in 10 weeks, never mind 10 years. Gone are the days of stable long-term careers; in fact, according to the World Economic Forum, 75 percent of companies are now looking to adopt big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) within five years.
It’s best to spend time developing traits that will always be beneficial, irrespective of whatever new digital technology inevitably comes down the line.
Decades ago, strategic business plans extended as far as 10 years into the future, but due to volatile markets, globalization and, of course, technological changes, contemporary organizations now only plan three years into the future. The radical changes taking place are concerning, but there is a reason to remain calm.
People who are increasingly anxious about the future should understand the wisdom of the past. Most technological advancements will make life more convenient or efficient, and may even cause significant disruptions. Yet, ultimately, digital technology is still a tool dependent on its user, and humans are remarkably consistent.
For roughly 50,000 years, people have had the same genetic and neurological makeup, so throughout all recorded history, humans have addressed challenges with the exact same brains and personality traits. It is easy to assume our generation is entirely different from all others, but in the same vein, it is also possible to argue that each generation is completely unique and faces its own hardships.
The future belongs to those who can prepare, not predict, so it’s important to study history and determine what stays consistent. For example, is kindness any less admired now than it was in the past? Is intelligence any less useful? What about integrity, do you genuinely think it will become less respectable in the future?
The fact of the matter is that certain things do not change easily or quickly. While new problems always come up, people still react similarly to those problems. Therefore, to be ready for whatever unpredictable things happen next, it’s best to spend time developing traits that will always be beneficial, irrespective of whatever new digital technology inevitably comes down the line.
Mindfulness matters in this digital age
A skill that has been remarkably useful throughout the entirety of history is mindfulness, and it will only become more valuable.
While the search for mindfulness is as old as time, the ego now often uses digital technology as an insidious attack against the present moment. People are constantly being pulled away from the present moment through notifications. Thanks to wireless headphones and the like, paying attention to one’s surroundings takes effort, whereas, for most of human history, it was a prerequisite for survival.
Mindfulness is an essential part of the human experience, and it is becoming easier now to brush it aside as unnecessary. People do not heed the warnings of techno-skeptics because the allure of pleasure and convenience is so palpable. Imagine living without calculators, Google Maps, WhatsApp, Grammarly, iPods, or Zoom; it simply does not seem practical since digital technology makes life that much better. Nowadays, everyone is jumping on the digitization train, continually streamlining life.
A fundamental question in the 21st century is, do age-old attributes still matter? Is human ingenuity necessary if ChatGPT can write a report in a minute that would usually take a week? While it is appealing to overly rely on digital technology, there is a simple problem with always embracing it: The human touch is going nowhere. People who rush, multitask and focus on the medium over the message are ironically automating away their humanity.
Digital technology will never do absolutely everything the human mind can do, so it is imperative to not depend on it. By practicing mindfulness, people can discover their strengths and weaknesses and gradually become more capable of focusing. As speed and efficiency become popular priorities, those who can concentrate for long periods of time, produce original content and engage in deep work that is cognitively challenging will become incredibly influential.
While developing these skills takes practice, accepting nuance and learning what is right on a case-by-case basis is also critical to becoming mindful. At best, every truth is partial, and pure good and evil exist only in fiction.
One of the biggest problems with digital technology is that it creates the illusion that mystery no longer exists. Humanity is increasingly uncomfortable with the unknown because the internet causes a false sense of certainty. It is easy to believe that answers to complicated questions are only a Google search away, but it is impossible to break everything down into a binary digit displayed on a computer screen.
Mindfulness is a social responsibility
The fact is that paradoxes exist, the truth is surprising and uncertainty is a guarantee in life. Mindfulness will change in different contexts; for example, meditation for someone with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) may look different than it would for someone who is neurotypical.
To say that mindfulness is the same for everyone is absurd, and nowhere is the need for nuance more evident than it is when it comes to digital technology. For many people, radically regulating digital technology itself is not practical or desirable, due to its benefits. Personally, I would be remiss as a dyslexic if I did not discuss the plus sides of digital technology in modern life. Without spellcheck, e-readers, audiobooks, and keyboards, I could never write this article, much less function in society.
Digital technology is not exclusively a negative force, but the key to developing a healthy relationship with it is to be aware of and master its inherent contradictions. Mindfulness is a good way of achieving this awareness because it involves figuring out what specifically works for you.
My recommendation to people who are serious about mindfulness is to gain self-knowledge. Write in a journal, talk to friends or family about meaningful thoughts, read self-help books or go to therapy. Do whatever it takes to figure yourself out and find a balance that is right for your specific circumstances. However, there is a catch—everything worthwhile in life comes from sacrifice, toil or hardship, and that is precisely the way it should be.
Balance means compromise, not convenience, and practicing mindfulness will be difficult no matter who you are. It is easy to lose oneself in a subjective haze, where doing what is right for you means there is no quantifiable metric for success and no external rubric to gauge progress.
If anything, mindfulness will involve facing up to your specific fears. There should be no easy answers, but once you understand what mindfulness looks like, you can figure out what one must sacrifice to get there. For instance, if you are uncomfortable with digital technology and its impact on mental and spiritual well-being, ask precisely what you are willing to give up.
Will you get a different job if it means that you turn off email access after 5 p.m.? Will you change your friend group if it means less time on social media? Will you switch from an urban lifestyle to a rural one? Life is full of trade-offs, and to become mindful is to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve your definition of success.
A critic may ask if it is worth it―why, in a world of such convenience, should people make sacrifices in the pursuit of mindfulness? My answer is that people must become mindful because it is a social responsibility. The stakes are high because now it is easier for people to lose themselves in virtual spaces. In fact, by the time virtual reality exists, it may already be too late. The human condition could be so diluted by digital technology that no one will know what reality is.
People already spend their entire lives behind computer screens, sheltered from nature, the present moment and mystery. Digital technology is dangerous because people will not simply depend on it in a few short generations, but forget that there is a way to live without it.
We rush away from the present moment
Developing a mindful sense of awareness is critical in a world where people constantly prioritize distractions, notifications and instant gratification. Mindfulness will set an example and prove that another way of life is achievable. Furthermore, through practicing mindfulness and honing a level of mastery over digital technology, it is possible to develop the intellectual acumen you’ll need to critique the technological status quo.
Society is rushing away from the present moment, and digital technology is often used to escape it. If you do not know what it is like to be mindful, how can you effectively engage in discussions on these topics? Authentic learning does not come from a textbook; it comes from the trials and errors of life experience, so only through presence will it be possible to understand and criticize the pitfalls of modernity.
I am a cynical romantic with digital technology. I long for a different life, but I am not naive about the difficulties of escaping this one. Moreover, I admit that the positives of digital technology may outweigh the negatives. Yet, like everyone, I am uneasy about digital technology and its social impact. Since the pandemic, I have been limiting my digital intake and engaging in mindfulness practices. While I have not achieved digital mastery or enlightenment, I have made notable observations.
I have realized that change is inevitable and ongoing. For those who worry about the future, you are not alone, but remember that change itself is nothing new; whether it was the invention of the printing press, the telegram or the internet, humanity has had no shortage of experience with disruption. If you want clarity about the future, study the past to determine what is consistently valued.
Digital technology makes mindfulness more important because it is an age-old state of being that is less and less convenient to practice in the modern world. True mindfulness can only be achieved through a deep connection to the present moment that’s rooted in a particular life experience. Everyone seeking mindfulness should ask insightful questions to discover what specific sacrifices or trade-offs must be made to be successful.
The reason mindfulness is worth it is twofold. First, by practicing it, you will gain a deep understanding of yourself and the way that digital technology impacts life. As people continually sacrifice their presence at the altar of efficiency, this level of self-knowledge will become incredibly valuable since many people may not be able to see the downsides of digital technology for what they are.
Secondly, people must know there is an alternative to the lifestyle of hyperactivity provoked by digitization. Those with a sense of presence must keep the flame of mindfulness alive, not for themselves, but to set an example. It is possible to master all domains of life, digital or otherwise, but people will never believe it if the bold few do not take risks and lead the way.
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image 1 Gerd Altmann; image 2: rupixen; image 3: ATDS; image 4: Gerd Altmann; image 5: Gerd Altmann
