PHONES RUINED RECREATION

“The new research, which tracked smartphone activity of 700 study participants for two years, reveals that participants' smartphone activity actually increased during visits to city parks and other urban green spaces”

A phone slide in a Japanese playground. Photo by <n>oihsat</n>.

A still from the 2002 film <n>Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet</n>, directed by <n>Aki Kaurismäki</n>.

“OFFLINE IS THE NEW LUXURY” 

Documentary below

WHY is the issue/topic important within the context of parks, recreation, and leisure?

Less face-to-face interaction, we are becoming digitally isolated.

Increased screen time leads to sedentary behavior. This leads to less time spent in parks. 
Constant phone use reduces the mental health benefits of nature. Parks help people to be free from technology. Phones bring technology to these parks.

“When John Muir wrote to his wife, Louie, in 1888 to say that "only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness," he could have in no way imagined the beeping, ringing, clicking, buzzing distractions we would carry with us everywhere in our pockets some 120-odd years later.” - Jeva Lange

From the publication <n>Anthrosphere 01</n>. Beijing, 2018.

WHO does the issue/topic impact (and how)?

Children and teens are spending more times on smart devices than ever. There is an epidemic of instant dopamine and anxiety because of these devices. Parks are there to mitigate this epidemic if we let them.

Parks are becoming less of social spaces and more of quiet places where phones ruin the purpose of the park. The purpose is to connect with nature and the people around you.

This project was created to showcase how phones and technology are ruining the very essence of recreation.

This is something I am very passionate about.

The photos in this canvas are meant to bring about nostalgia, and the emotions of how parks should be. They represent the message.

Smartphones have become an integral part of modern life. Their strong influence is transforming the way we engage with the world around us. Phones are shifting focus away from physical activity, social connection, and the enjoyment of nature. They have begun to take away the purpose of parks. 

WHAT is the issue/topic (and how does it relate to park, recreation, or leisure)?

Smartphones are distracting people from meaningful recreation.

Parks and recreation spaces are designed for physical activity, socializing, and nature engagement. Smartphones take people out of the present moment. This reduces the value of these spaces. Research shows that phone use in parks has increased in public spaces. This is important because parks aren’t built as places to be on your phone.

HOW can this issue/topic be addressed/mitigated moving forward?

Phone-Free Zones: We can create areas in parks dedicated to NO PHONES

PHONE FREE Events: Host outdoor events where phones are not allowed. The goal is to increase presence. 

Redesign Parks as a Digital Detox: Create spaces that promote mindfulness and presence. 

Overall the goal is to reduce phone use and promote the idea of presence in recreation. We want people to be free from digital technology. 

Smartphones have significantly changed how we experience parks and outdoor recreation. There is less socializing and enjoying nature. Many people are now distracted by their devices. This shift leads to less face-to-face interaction, more time spent indoors, and fewer opportunities to connect with the environment. We need to focus on creating phone-free zones, hosting tech-free events, and promoting outdoor activities in order to bring recreation back to what it should be.

THROW YOUR PHONE AWAY.

Offline is the new luxury - VPRO documentary - 2016

How Phones are Ruining the Joy of Recreation   

BY JACKSON BYRNE