Spring 2020

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tep out into a group of people and look around. It’s clear we are looking

at our smartphones more than we are looking at each other. It’s clear

many adults are struggling to manage technology. Should we be more

proactive in making sure we take steps to ensure we help our kids manage

technology?

The ability to manage our time wisely isn’t a new problem. Before the digital

age, there were plenty of ways to avoid unpleasant tasks or people. We’ve long

used the term “veg out and watch TV.” You can even ignore the real world by

reading books. These activities aren’t wrong, but when they hinder our ability to

work and function, they become a problem.

What makes apps different is the makers are using techniques to deliberately

draw us in and keep us engaged in the app. This means instead of just using the

app when we have nothing better to do, we’re enticed to interact with the app

regularly.

So how do we teach kids to manage technology they use so all those apps

they use don’t end up managing them? By understanding the techniques and

tricks developers use to keep all of us glued to our smartphone.

AUTOPLAY

The autoplay feature keeps video content served up in a never-ending sup-

ply. Your video ends and you don’t even have to lift a finger to begin the next

one. No decision needed. The next video is presented and played for you. Netf-

lix, YouTube, Amazon, and Hulu all employ autoplay to keep users engaged on

their service. Binging on a series is almost a bragging right.

Autoplay isn’t a feature used on streaming services only. Both Snapchat and

Instagram use the autoplay feature on their stories. Watch the story for one

friend, and stories from everyone on your list autoplay with no effort on your

part. Meaning a quick check-in on a friend’s story can easily turn into a 30-min-

ute block of your day as you watch story after story.

Be the Master:

Autoplay is typically on by default. Be the master of your time

by turning the feature off. Autoplay can usually be turned off by going into the

settings for the app.

NOTIFICATIONS

Notifications are those little pokes from the apps we use. Developers let us

know everything when it comes to our account on their app: when we receive

a friend request, when someone “likes” our post, when we should watch a vid-

eo from a friend. These notifications literally disrupt the flow of our day, and at

times, dominate our schedule.

This sort of behavior would be viewed as invasive if there was a human face

behind it. Imagine your boss or mother popping in your office every 20 minutes

to let you know“your Instagram photo received a new like” or “it’s time to enter

your breakfast into your fitness app.”However, these disruptions in our day from

a faceless app developer are viewed as helpful. Virtually every app uses them.

TikTok is constantly telling kids to check out the daily video with a quick-wit-

ted message. Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram all send notifications unless you

opt out of them.

Notifications are so powerful they’ve been called the“

Pavlovian bell of the 21st

century

.”Constant notifications urging us to check our apps enforce a habit. And

these habits not only interrupt our day, they often cause us stress.

Be the Master:

Turn off notifications for the apps you use. Instead, select the

time each day you want to check notifications for your apps. Allot an amount of

time for checking and responding to any requests. If you need to leave notifica-

tions on for certain apps, leave them on only for people, not businesses. And

narrow it down to only friends, if possible.

Help Your Kids

Manage

Technology

BY LEAH NIEMAN