My simplest rule for making the net into a tool I use instead of a tool that uses me?

• Only click on things I specifically sought out

Not always easy, I know.

Tools for thought ≠ just apps.

PKM isn’t new—and it isn’t just digital. From notebooks to mind maps, analog tools still play a powerful role in how we think, write, and learn.

Don’t let shiny new toys and apps distract from solid thinking and meaning making.

Full post https://doi.org/10.58079/13opo
#PKM #PIM #ToolsForThought #Notemaking #Obsidian #DigitalMinimalism #Zettelkasten #notelab #notizlab #myth

In 1991, long before modern browsers and flashy websites, the University of Minnesota introduced Gopher. A text-based, menu-driven protocol that let users browse information across the internet in a clean and structured way. No JavaScript, no pop-ups, no CSS, just nested menus and pure content. It briefly ruled the net, especially in universities and research circles.

But when the university announced plans to charge licensing fees, and HTTP emerged with the freedom and flexibility of hypertext links, Gopher’s momentum crumbled almost overnight.

Still, Gopher never completely vanished. A small but passionate community keeps it alive through Gopherholes. Sites accessible via vintage clients or modern gateways. It’s minimal, fast, and nostalgic. For those who crave a web without surveillance capitalism or bloat, Gopher offers a quiet corner of the net that still whispers of what could have been.

I just finished reading Cal Newport's book "Digital Minimalism" and I very much enjoyed it. Highly recommended.

I've already been doing a lot of the suggested practices, but now I want to read the book again, really let the philosophy sink in, and make more changes. I think his approach makes sense and helps to ensure the digital technology in your life isn't using you, but that you are using it with intention to help enrich your life and help you focus on what is most important.

Dear #digitalminimalist, what are the first few things you cut off?

Just published: "Digital Minimalism for Developers: How I Stopped Drowning in Tech Noise"
After 14+ years of coding, I finally figured out (I didn’t really…) how to tame the digital chaos. Browser tab bankruptcy, notification guillotines, and terminal-based serenity.

#DigitalMinimalism #DevLife #Productivity #Coding

https://smsk.dev/2025/03/10/digital-minimalism-for-developers-how-i-stopped-drowning-in-tech-noise/

I've been curious about the Duoqin F22 (non-pro) for a while, but was hesitant to try it as I had already experimented with several, let's say "non-traditional" phones, and kept going back to my also not traditional Unihertz Jelly Star, which I've been using as my daily phone for the past two years or so.

Well, curiosity got the better of me. So... hi?
#DigitalMinimalism #Android #degoogle #Qin #Duoqin #Smartphone #Dumbphone #Lowtech #FOSS #Molly #Conversations #XMPP #Signal #Fossify

slowly trying to formulate my thoughts as I re-think the technology I use/have used my entire life and work towards a more intentional and privacy focused approach and finally putting some words down on "paper" (bear)

https://optout.bearblog.dev/

The Future of Calm Technology with Amber Case #digitalminimalism #technology https://www.luisquintanilla.me/feed/calm-tech-interview?utm_medium=feed

If your New Year's resolution is to spend less time online, 'digital minimalism' may be for you: You've had a break from social media over the holidays, but what about a more permanent reset of your relationship with your devices? These digital minimalists did just that. https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2025-01-06/smartphone-app-tiktok-instagram-social-media-digital-minimalism/104625038?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #AllintheMind #digitalminimalism #socialmedia

Have you ever considered how using a minimal Linux distribution can be a form of asceticism? https://www.rugu.dev/en/blog/linux-asceticism/
#Linux #OpenSource #Minimalism #TechPhilosophy #SelfImprovement #Asceticism #PersonalGrowth #ArchLinux #NixOS #SoftwareFreedom #Learning #TechCommunity #Programming #DigitalMinimalism #Tinkering

I have my phone set to grayscale for a few weeks now.
In general it works good, however certain apps are a bit difficult to use.
I now discovered that #iOS has a slider for the intensity, which I put now to about 80-90%.
So I have very muted colours but still enough to see a difference.

I've quit #Instagram a while ago. Followed by #Twitter since Musk took over. Completely quitting #Facebook and #Whatsapp seems harder than I've had anticipated since I use it primarily for following groups and interacting with my non-tech friends. Altough I've deleted those apps from my phone. Except for Whatsapp.

Almost a week into my cold-turkey purge of Meta-owned social media, I’m finding out that a simpler trick has helped me improve my mood and my ability to concentrate:

Turning off all phone app notifications.

It’s like suddenly this thing is a tool that’s there when I want it to be instead of being a constant annoyance factory.

Is There a Duty to Be a Digital Minimalist?

“In this paper, we argue that there is an obligation to foster and safeguard autonomy in ourselves, and we suggest that wireless mobile devices pose a serious threat to our capacity to fulfill this obligation. We defend the existence of an imperfect duty to be a “digital minimalist.” That is, we have a moral obligation to be intentional about how and to what extent we use these devices.”

https://philpapers.org/archive/AYLITA.pdf

Just came through this mini #documentary about #dumbphone users. As someone who is on the path to switch to #digitalminimalism in the long term (after some shorter experiments), it's good to see other people's thoughts about this topic.

My primary goal currently is that I want to reduce the purpose of my #smartphone to be used as an LTE-enabled tablet to be a tool in my backpack for emergencies, and point-and-shoot #photography device in case I see something interesting.

Instead, I'll use a #flipphone and a dedicated #MP3Player when I'm on the go. For communication, I'll use a smartwatch tethered to my smartphone and type answers on it only when it's necessary. Otherwise, I'll just let myself be bored and inspired, looking around myself.

I also got a cool #Linux based #RetroGaming #handheld #console, so that, my #ebook reader and video essays on #YouTube will be my entertainment.

I know, this sounds a lot. However, multiple single-purpose devices make more sense in the grand scheme of things. They make you more conscious about your digital life and condition you to live more, be more present. They also last more battery-wise, which is a huge bonus!

Especially now, when the world is on fire, I think this became more important than ever before. Time for a change for the better!

https://youtu.be/nQXmgP8qenE?si=GTwUZgjvsMfjbrse

“How much of your time and attention must be sacrificed to earn the small profit of occasional connections and new ideas … ?” — “Digital Minimalism” by Cal Newport

Ask yourself this question as you jump between social media sites. Those sites need you more than you need them.

Yk what would be nice to have?

An android flip phone, that a) looks good and isn't a masc-lookin' rugged phone, and b) doesn't suck...

Like, if Xiaomi just took their Qin F22 pro, and made it into a flip phone, I'd absolutely buy it.

I love how I customized my phone, so I can switch between a "normal" mode, and a minimal mode. (Read Alt text)

Hopefully I can replace Whatsapp with Signal in the near future, as I don't like Whatsapp, nor do I want it on my device, or touch it... One day when I get a #fairphone5 I'll be able to have my truly de-googled and (mostly) FLOSS life.

Wallpaper Alt Text: An amazing pastel color wallpaper of a bunnygirl, sitting on a cliffside, looking at a mountain with a sunset and cumulus clouds covering the valley below, with bunnies roaming and jumping around.

#android #android14 #AndroidCustomization #samsung #samsunggalaxy #samsunggalaxya33 #oneui6 #pastel
#mlauncher #digitalminimalism