Syntropic Foundation
Our Approach
Written by humans, for humans.
Digital media misuse has become a problem that's often just "shrugged off" by the people who are most hurt. Endless doomscrolling, wee-hour gaming sessions, the majority of one's waking hours spent online - it's all been normalized to the point that advertisers flaunt perpetual binging as an enticement for consumers. But this didn't happen overnight.
The weakening of human attention span, caused by increasing exposure to constant online excitement, incentivized digital media producers to push content that only required even lesser attention spans to consume. Slowly but steadily, this created the vicious cycle of mental deterioration, personal isolation, and loss of meaning that is continuing to harm our society right now.
At Syntropic Foundation, we're treating this problem like the weeds. Harmful device usage develops quickly and chokes out room for personal growth. It steals resources - energy, sleep, time - and wastes them away, leading to the degradation of the quality of people's fruits. Further, the rise of artificial intelligence has made it even easier for people to fake effort or real world progress while continuing detrimental indulgence.
We know doomscrolling, hour-long gaming sessions, and binging movies, among others, are hard habits to break. Many of these abusive behaviors develop from a lack of defenses protecting hidden vulnerabilities - that which have been exploited by digital media platforms. But we also know that it's never too late to start reversing their effects and start reclaiming lost ground. The most effective way to uproot digital weeds is to go for the roots of the problem.
Our approach, gathered from testimonies of recovered individuals and from personal experience walking alongside them, is for anyone - casual scrollers or binge addicts, families or friends - wanting to uproot digital weeds from their own lives or those of people close to them. Rather than only trying to cut out bad habits, our approach focuses on planting seeds of resistance and personal development, in order to completely replace digital media misuse with healthy and beneficial lifestyles. What we've found to be most effective is to personally focus on cultivating virtues which directly oppose the sources of harmful effects, and we've identified three such "seeds" which are most fruitful in doing so.
We've also found that people pursuing freedom (whom we call "Travelers") often benefit greatly from personal connections with individuals who want to help them (whom we call "Guides"), like parents/guardians, relatives, and friends. We intend for this Approach page to serve as direction for growth and an encouragement to motivate both Travelers and Guides as they strive along the path towards building new lives.
The Seeds
Discipline
Travelers: Abusive digital media habits like uncontrolled scrolling, excessive gaming, or movie binging take root when one doesn't consciously resist and reject the triggers which lead to those habits. Platform methods like recommendation feeds, clickbait thumbnails, and daily reward streaks are disguised as "user satisfaction" features, but ultimately they're employed to serve the end they were designed for: making users keep going back for more. These hooks are engineered such that repeated, subconscious acceptance continually diminishes a person's ability to resist them.
Discipline is the direct counter to this "automated" behavior. Though the term often gets a bad-rep from abuse, healthy discipline is a virtue that has been looked up to throughout all ages. Developing self-discipline counters mindless, robotic, self-indulging digital media usage, instead encouraging a clear-headed lifestyle where one is actually in control. Just like one exercises their body to build physical strength and endurance, so can one exercise their mental control to build up their will to control their impulses. The ability to deny implanted urges is ultimately the key to breaking free from bad habits, and that is what discipline enables a person to do.
Sowing the seed of discipline doesn't feel great at first - it sometimes hurts to go against what one "feels" like wanting to do in the moment, or what one has been doing for a long time. However, we know that it's one of the most important seeds to plant, and once sprouted it will make a lot of things a lot easier.
For beginning Travelers, we recommend starting small, by first practicing discipline in other parts of life - perhaps refraining from a certain favorite food for a week, or sticking strictly to an early time to go offline and to bed. This serves as a "warmup" which helps to prepare oneself before attempting to breaking down long-standing, deeply ingrained habits. When one keeps developing their discipline, they will be able to reach the point where they can see a recommended video, or feel the urge to start scrolling, but instead say, "I don't need to do this anymore. I can choose to be in control."
Guides: Setting a good example for your Traveler by inviting them to join you in practices developing discipline helps both of you to cultivate this seed. A Traveler can be discouraged if they see their Guide indulging in the same things the Traveler is trying to break free from, especially if they are someone close - like a parent or dear friend. It doesn't hurt to exercise your own self discipline and walk with your Traveler for some time: turning off the TV together for a week, or staying off of social media at night, can't do anything other than good for both of you.
It's important to find a balance when helping to develop discipline as well: practices should be firm enough to support continual development of self-control, while not being too heavy as to crush the motivation to continue.
Keep in mind that the end goal of developing discipline is for the Traveler to be able to recognize, resist, and reject harmful urges for digital media by themselves. Reminding and encouraging your Traveler of this motive helps to dissuade hostility caused by potential misunderstandings about these practices, and instead to build a more personal and fruitful connection.
Resolve
Travelers: The problem we face is, honestly, a very tough uphill battle. But where there's a will, there's a way - we believe that if anyone makes the true commitment to faithfully uproot digital weeds from their lives, they will. Even when times get rough - when we don't seem to be making any progress - if we persistently continue the struggle, that effort in itself is progress.
Recovery from deeply ingrained habits is hard and one usually faces setbacks, but having a clear goal and a firm resolve to attain it helps to reinvigorate the fight. Progress can often be hindered by subtle unwillingness to change, perhaps due to a hidden desire to continue indulgence in a certain form of digital media, or maybe lacking vigilance in breaking a bad habit. Thus, examining and nurturing the seed of resolve - "am I willing to put in the effort to stop this?" - will help to reveal and overcome these hurdles. When the seed of resolve is planted firmly, the battle is as good as won. No matter what difficulties one might face, that faithful stubbornness to keep pushing forward will lead to victory.
Digital media likes to present itself as a necessity in life, but that's just an illusion. Imagine a life without the burdens of the online world: not having to continue that daily streak, no longer constantly bombarded by exaggeration and fake advertisement, instead living a healthy life schedule and enjoying productive days. We know that the resolve to change enables people plow straight through the disguises and lies of digital media that tries to keep them chained down.
Guides: When beginning the journey, Travelers might face times of regret, loneliness, or fear of missing out (FOMO), caused by a withdraw from the artificial excitement brought by prolonged digital media exposure. On occasions, they may be resistant to help in changing, also potentially developing hostile attitudes towards others. However, these bouts are temporary.
As a Guide, your company and encouragement helps to keep alive the hope for recovery. It's important to not be discouraged by initial opposition, and to keep gently yet firmly supporting your Traveler. Frequent communication is helpful to track recovery progress and resolve any issues which arise. Helping a Traveler is an important responsibility that takes commitment and persistence, but it is ultimately a noble and rewarding effort.
Vibrance
Travelers: Who said recovery had to be gloomy? We're breaking free from the digital chains which have held so many people captive for so long. This is a passionate endeavor!
Depression and brain fogginess are common effects of too much time spent online and not-enough-time spent in the real world. For Travelers just beginning their journey out of the abyss, it might be hard to see and they might question what "real life" could possibly have to offer that's better than the excitement online. The answer? Real life.
Excessive digital media consumption is scientifically linked with the rising depression rates and other sorrowful figures. It might take a while to realize, but digital media ultimately doesn't satisfy, because it's not made to satisfy - it's made to make people want more. One can only find true joy in the world that isn't fake.
That joy doesn't have to wait! We find it very encouraging for Travelers to celebrate the small victories they claim throughout their journey; and then also find happiness in the fact they're on the journey in the first place. Vibrance obliterates the mental gloom and also helps to identify and replace developed physically unhealthy behaviors with healthy ones. This seed acts as a catalyst for all endeavors: we see that those who have found their joy don't shy away from hardship and aren't put down by setbacks, but only gladly deepen their resolve and strengthen their discipline to continue fighting. The desire to break out of the shackles of digital media misuse continues to compound as one gets further along the journey to freedom.
Guides: Enjoy the time you spend with your Traveler - a Guide is in a unique position to help their Traveler build a new life. While working to uprooting harmful digital behavior, it is important to not rely only showing your Traveler the negative effects of such behavior, but also show to them the great fruits to look forward to in a life free from digital weeds.
You can also find creative ways to spur their motivation to break free from their bonds. When emerging from a victorious battle, a Traveler often desires to share their Guide's tactics which helped them in their own recovery. Every person who's liberated can help liberate another. Further, with their personal experience overcoming digital media misuse, they'll be better equipped to tackle the challenge of replacing digital abuse with fruitful use. After all, technology itself isn't the problem - it's how we use it. You can guide others to use it healthily, starting that chain reaction towards building a better world.
Responsible
People equipped with discipline are independent, reliable, and effective individuals. They have the control to take the stand and stop the vicious cycle our society is spiraling downwards in. Our society needs people who can face the challenges we face and overcome them in order to lead to growth.
Meaningful
Those who are resolved know their goals, and they've found the strength they need to accomplish them. With clear minds free from digital media misuse, individuals can find their role in the world they live in to work together and build a better community.
Peaceful
The Seeds' Fruits
Oft-overlooked in our chaotic world, real rest is found in time free from flashing, stimulated excitement online. Breaking the dependence upon simulated exuberance in digital media lets people find peace and true joy in their real lives.