In the midst of confinement, while I was spending most of my time online, I found the book Digital Minimalism: Reconnecting with the Basics in an Oversaturated World By computer science researcher Cal Newport. Tempted by the idea of starting a “big digital cleanse” and joining a movement bearing the grandiose name of “Resisting Attention,” I devoured the digital book despite my eyes. Dead in the headWithout pledging to deorganize my digital life. Chapter on the “Unbalanced Arms Race” between GAFAM 1 And it had a special resonance with us: I saw us looking more and more like the humans in the film WALL-E, so immersed in their screen that they no longer pay attention to their surroundings (you only have to walk down the corridor of a public place to be convinced of that). However, Newport's focus on individual productivity made me angry. I wasn't convinced that productivity was what we needed 2.
Before anyone criticizes me for comparing her to other characters WALL-EI want to say that I speak for myself too. Ten years before lockdown, on the verge of burnout in a busy professional life, I would scroll through my Twitter feed for hours between shifts. I know that these feelings of stress are related to overload, to lethargy, and above all, to dread of wasting all this time instead of creating or discussing. In reality.
For me to decide to exit social media and other GAFAM services (because it is impossible to completely exit digital, even without a computer), it took two events:
- Realize that digital technology is not dematerialized: it contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions (between 3.5% and 5% of global emissions), especially through the many devices we own and often replace (70% of Canada's digital emissions) , but also through video streaming and cloud computing, for example, which uses data centers that have to be constantly cooled, which unfortunately are located outside of Quebec, where electricity is carbon. I'm not even talking here about the amount of metals and water needed to make the devices or the ethical issues and tensions this raises. 3;
- Bill C-18 and Meta's response which frankly disgusted me (can I really expect better from a company that profits from the attention of its users?) Instagram It has been fueled above all by relevant publications created by the Canadian media subscriber To my network.
To break out of this circus in which I had been invested for so long, I attacked on several fronts: I subscribed to media newsletters and some print publications; I repaired my iPhone SE for the umpteenth time and started working on itYou are stupid (To make one Silent mobile) by removing the majority of applications and turning the screen into black and white; I downgraded my data plan; I “forgot” my phone at the bottom of my bag or in my desk; I have deleted my previous posts on Facebook and Instagram, which is the first step towards closing my accounts permanently.
And in doing so, I hope I can preserve a part of humanity, the one that learns to identify the birds in her garden, that designs interesting projects after a few hours of boredom, that cooks with her aunt without believing she has something. Better do another.
What do we do?
We're waiting to read part two of this column to see how I get on, and we'll try that next. Or we'll try tomorrow and come talk to me in person.
Anyway, we read.
On the subject of the centrality of social media in our lives and the drama that can ensue, Delphine de Vigan's latest novel, Children are kings Gallimard, with rare clarity, completely captivated me.
We are listening too.
Podcast episode With philosophy From France Culture, “Our Overstimulated Attention” comforts us in a certain way: in this world of acceleration, we are expected to be exhausted; However, there are ways to avoid the worst… if everyone did it.
1. Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft. Some companies changed their names, but the abbreviation remained.
2. Newport's next book will likely be about Slow productivity. How far will this concept depart from the prevailing neoliberal vision that values individualism and competitiveness?
3. Figures and elements are from the Chemins de Transition digital challenge report (https://cheminsdetransition.org/les-ressources/defi-numerique/) and the two reports from Shifters Montreal (Montreal, Quebec, Canada: How did it go digital? And The environmental impact of digital technology in Quebec and Canada), available online.
