digital wellbeing
Digital minimalism
A philosophy of technology use: keep only the tools whose benefit outweighs their cost to your attention, and drop the rest.
Digital minimalism — popularized by Cal Newport's 2019 book — is a philosophy of technology use: instead of adopting every tool by default, you keep only those whose concrete benefit outweighs their cost to your attention, and configure them to serve your goals.
It is not anti-technology; it is anti-default. A digital minimalist might happily keep maps, a camera, and a music library while rejecting feeds entirely. Minimalist phones are the hardware expression of the idea: devices where every included tool was chosen and nothing arrived by default.
Related Terms
View all →Attention economy
The business model in which your attention is the product — apps are free because your hours are what's being sold.
Digital detox
A deliberate reset of your relationship with screens — done well, environment redesign rather than temporary abstinence.
Minimalist phone
A design-led phone built for ex-smartphone users: premium hardware, curated tools, and an explicit no-feeds philosophy.