When we make active decisions about how we spend our time and decide where to invest it, we are practising the concept of social economising. Michelle Drouin calls social economising the greatest hack of all time because it makes us realise that technology doesn’t control us. One way you can practise social economising is through omission; carve out intimate times and spaces where your phone is off limits, like dinner time and the bedroom, to curb your screen time. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here