Interesting read. A courageous experiment?!

It’s strange isn’t it how lifestyle changes can also drive your behaviour. Whilst I was working, I was always watching my twitterfeed – now there are far more “important” things to do, and reading blogposts became my favoured way of keeping in touch … apart from face-to-face, text and phone. So I rely on RSS feeds – what will I do if/when they’re a thing of the past. I hope that doesn’t happen, I rely on a Feedly -> Pocket/Flipboard dayflow too much. And that about sums it up. I have a daily routine now that means I check my RSS twice a day, don’t look at twitter and Fb more than once a day and I logout of both, and that’s the trick!

Like you, security/privacy concerns have been in my mind for some time now. Like you, I was not a Fb user, but have been driven back to it … because that’s where my friends and relies often visit. But I logout. That extra step of inconvenience means I don’t continually just look to see what’s going on – same for twitter. Is that the answer? Make use of your smartphone just a little bit more inconvenient?

I do really think that your concerns for your family and children are well-founded. I’m glad I’m not in the position that you (and my kids) are in with the peer-group pressure to use the things constantly and take stupid photos to post on Instagram, just because it’s cool to be hanging out with the crowd. Smartphone gaol is one answer for misuse, definitely banning them from the bedroom (old and young alike), banning them from the dining table and many more rules to control use are ones my kids have experimented with for their children and they’d be OK for me too. So I’ll lead by example. You’ve prompted me to be a role model.

Could I give it up. Oh no! I need my WhatsApp. I need to have a sensible screen/keyboard to text with. I need the easy desktop/smartphone integration for contacts/calendar/email. I need the tethered modem for 4G access on my laptop/iPad. I need the camera … but I do agree with you about getting a proper camera – but perhaps not yet, they’re devilishly complicated (I know) and can get very expensive if you get the bug! I need the maps. I need the news – but only twice-a-day (self-imposed rule). I need the music. I need my iPhone.

Thanks. Hope rural life continues to serve you well. Cheers.