Outsmarting smartphone

Bid to cut back on constant habit

NEW YORK, May 23, (AP): Why are we checking Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, then Facebook again when we just wanted to check the weather?

Turns out, smartphone addiction is by design. Think of the constant stream of notifications, color schemes in apps and all the “likes,” followers and in-game trophies. Our phones and apps are designed to give us short-term, feel-good rewards, so we’ll use them longer — at the expense of reading, enjoying the moment or simply being bored.

Some companies are relenting in response to concerns from customers and experts. Google’s next operating system , for instance, will come with a “wind down” mode; the screen will automatically fade to grey at a designated time before bed. Another feature will automatically put your phone in “do not disturb” mode if you flip it face down on a table.

But most Android phones won’t get this system, Android P, until late this year or even next year, if at all. And it’s unclear if Apple plans similar features for the iPhone.

So, for now, here’s how you can outsmart the smartphone yourself: Limit Notifications Notice those red dots on iPhones and Samsung phones showing how many unread messages, news items or app updates you have left to read? Of course, you have.

“Red is a trigger color that instantly draws our attention,” notes The Center for Humane Technology , an organization that promotes a healthier, less dependent relationship to technology.

Other Android phones running the most recent version, Oreo, have smaller dots. There are no numbers, and colors are more subtle, but the concept is the same: to lure you into opening the app.

To foil that on iPhones and most recent Android phones, go to your phone’s settings and turn off the dots, known as badges, for all but the handful of apps you care most about. These might be messaging apps you use with friends, or news services you want breaking-news alerts from.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation in this hot air turbine electrical plant.

As a precaution, flammable chemicals were removed from the plant and the wells were filled with cold water. For now, there’s a steam release. Civil defense also indicated that the

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Boyd

But do you really need a red dot for the 2,346 unread emails you have?

You can also turn off push notifications, app by app.

With Facebook, you’ll need to go to the app’s own settings to turn off the dozens of notification categories, such as “updates on your friends since you last logged in.” Turning a category off will turn off dots for that category, too. Detox Regularly It can be as simple as going to the bathroom without your phone or turning it off during meal times or even every Saturday. Leaving your phone behind helps your brain reset.

If you need a prompt on just why you should “detox,” try Moment, an app that automatically tracks how much you use your iPhone or iPad each day. It’s not perfect, as the timer runs anytime your screen is unlocked, even if you’ve stepped away. Still, the results will probably surprise you. For Android, there’s an app called QualityTime. Set A Schedule Nir Eyal, author of “Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products,” compares humans to lab mice in an experiment of random rewards. Mice, it turns out, respond “most voraciously to random rewards,” Eyal wrote in 2012 .

Social media apps have perfected the art of random rewards. You don’t know when you’ll get a friend request, or a like, or even when you’ll see a new post from a friend. Cue endless check-ins and scrolling.

Set aside a specific time each day to check Facebook — or email, or instant messages. Then resist the urge until the next scheduled time.

Along those lines, try deleting the Facebook app from your phone and check only from a computer. This could help reduce the temptation to check all day. Turn Off Autoplay Binge-watching might be fun sometimes, but it shouldn’t be standard behavior. Services like YouTube and Netflix often play the next video automatically. Turn that off in the settings. Otherwise, it’s easy to forget where time went in the middle of a “Stranger Things” binge.

constant eruptions from crack number 22 continue to feed another dangerous lava channel that goes to the ocean. (AFP)

UK told to use less water:

Renowned for rain and surrounded by sea, England could run out of water by 2050 unless attitudes change and waste is cut, the country’s environment body said on Wednesday.

It cited a growing population, bad water management and climate change as the main culprits, with the looming shortages a threat to people and wildlife alike.

“If we do not increase water supply, reduce demand and cut down on wastage, many areas will face significant water deficits by 2050, particularly in the south east (region),” said Emma Howard Boyd, chair of the Environment Agency. (RTRS)