Reads: Addiction in the Internet Age

Social media addiction is a huge problem, as are smartphone addiction, addictive apps, and the services that manipulate us into spending more of our time with them. So how do we deal with it? By installing lesser apps? By establishing tighter controls over how we spend time on our phones and tablets? By installing apps that monitor our day-to-day smartphone use and rewarding us when not using them? By turning off notifications? Or is it by making our social media feeds blank? Here are some interesting reads to get you started and help you handle persuasive technology better.

1. Facebook Wants to Overhaul Its News Feed—I Made Mine Empty Instead - Gizmodo
2. Your Smartphone Is Making You Stupid, Antisocial and Unhealthy. So Why Can’t You Put It Down? - The Globe and Mail
3. Is the Answer to Phone Addiction a Worse Phone? - The New York Times
4. It's Time for Apple to Build a Less Addictive iPhone - The New York Times
5. Are You in Love With Your Phone? - The New York Times
6. How to Break Up With Your Phone - The New York Times
7. Too Busy to Think Straight? Your Digital Addiction Is to Blame. - Medium
8. Addicted to Your Phone? You're Not Alone - The Atlantic
9. 'Our Minds Can Be Hijacked': the Tech Insiders Who Fear a Smartphone Dystopia - The Guardian
10. The 13-step Digital Declutter - The Guardian
11. If the Internet is Addictive, Why Don't We Regulate It? - Aeon
12. Can Students Who Are Constantly on Their Devices Actually Learn? - Aeon
13. The Scientists Who Make Apps Addictive - 1843 Magazine
14. These are the Sneaky Ways Apps Like Instagram, Facebook, Tinder Lure You in and Get You 'Addicted' - Business Insider
15. Sorry, Silicon Valley Won't Save Your Kids From Tech Addiction - Fast Company

*Updated on Mar. 26 with more links