A couple weeks ago I noticed Facebook persistently showing me a series of pop-up messages encouraging me to turn on a new set of alerts on my desktop that would allow them to send me notifications even when Facebook wasn’t open.
Aside from my immediate paranoia of having Facebook constantly running in the background, most likely tracking my every click, I was soon overcome with a sense of digital desperation. In all my attempts to find a little peaceful corner of my computer where I can think, create, read, watch Netflix, etc., now Facebook wants to interrupt that time, as well. “No. No, Facebook, you are not allowed. We’ve talked about this.”
We could probably blame AOL for making the idea of getting a message alert a fun experience. Their catchy and fun “You’ve Got Mail!” message created a sense of excitement, belonging, and attachment across the digital universe. Of course, that was a time when messages were rare, spam wasn’t prevalent, and most people didn’t send messages about the cup of coffee they were currently drinking. Notifications of messages and interactions are no longer fun, they’re mentally taxing.
The problem today is that public companies with digital properties are judged by “engagement.” If engagement goes up or down, someone gains or loses a billion dollars. The end game thus becomes: increase engagement at any costs.
Instead of allowing Facebook and other digital applications to disrupt our lives with constant alerts, notifications, and advertising, we should rise up and declare war against these micro-interruptions in our days. And if we’re going to war, we need a battle plan.
The 7 Day Strategy For Mobile Social Purge
Day 1: Turn Off Lock Screen Notifications
Day 2: Turn Off Social Media Notifications
Day 3: Remove Secondary Text Apps
Day 4: Remove Browsing Social Media Apps
Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat
Day 5: Remove Extra News Apps
Day 6: Delete the Facebook Mobile App
Day 7: Delete the Facebook Messenger App