Ten Arguments For Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now (Jaron Lanier) Thought-provoking and logical reminders of the costs of engagement, from an expert in the field.ħ. Hooked (Nir Eyal) A glimpse at the design of addictive product use loops, for a conscious consumer to probe into how the other side thinks.Ħ. Privacy Is Hard and Seven Other Myths (Jaap-Henk Hoepman) Hoepman debunks myths around computer privacy and while illuminating the current privacy landscape.ĥ. The Sovereign Individual (James Dale Davidson and William Rees-Mogg) An insightful look through the history of technological transitions and the disruptive (and sometimes radical) dynamics of the internet.Ĥ. Privacy is Power ( Carissa Véliz ) Outlines the erosion of privacy, and gives an overview of the different players in the information age.ģ. Digital Minimalism (Cal Newport) A useful guide on how to retain your focus and de-clutter your digital life all while keeping your phone.Ģ. I think others will find it useful too.For those curious to learn more about the information industry, freedom of expression and privacy, here’s some books of interest:ġ. Now I am seeking out solitude, while also following the advice to reclaim high quality leisure activities, so as to chip away at the perceived value of smartphone use during idle hours.Īs a scholar of social media, I am actually embarrassed by how good and useful I am finding Digital Minimalism. Solitude has always been a core aid in my work as an academic, but I had not been particularly conscious of it. I had not thought deeply about the idea that humans had evolved to sort through complicated questions during the vast tracts of solitude that were the norm for most of human existence. To me, the most profound aspect of the digital minimalism philosophy was emphasizing the value of solitude.

By emphasizing intentionality rather than a more ideological argument about life purity or economic extortion, Newport offers a big tent for folks to choose to discard the more insidious aspects of smartphone app design, while finding and optimizing for the specific ways platforms can provide value. It synthesizes just enough research and anecdotal examples to be convincing and then offers well-reasoned recommendations for how to choose a more intentional approach to internet-based media consumption.Ĭompared to his previous few books, Newport does a better of job of collecting a diversity of voices in his reportage, which strengthens the book’s arguments and its accessibility to a wider audience.

Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal NewportĪmong many books critical of social media use, Digital Minimalism is a very accessible and useful read.

Book digital minimalism