This week's best things

A short one this week as it's Midsommar here in Sweden so I'm off to drink some snaps and do the frog dance. Glad Midsommar!

Screen apnea: What happens to our breath when we type, tap, scroll

I've been really conscious of what happens to my breathing when I'm working since reading this article from James Nestor.

This NPR article/podcast from Manoush Zomorodi also explores the impact of screen-based working on our breath.

"In 2007, former Microsoft executive Linda Stone noticed something strange happening every time she'd sit down to answer emails. She was holding her breath.

"I would inhale in anticipation, but I wouldn't exhale because so many emails would be streaming in," Stone told Manoush Zomorodi in an interview for NPR's Body Electric. "And this would go on for hours."

Stone wondered how common this was and set out to investigate using "kitchen table science," as she called it. She recruited dozens of friends and colleagues to sit at her computer answering emails while she monitored their pulse and heart rate variability. Of those participants, 80% had what Stone coined "email or screen apnea" — shallow or suspended breathing while working on a screen."

Screen apnea: What happens to our breath when we type, tap, scroll : Body Electric

Do you have “screen apnea”? Former Microsoft executive Linda Stone coined this term around 2007 after noticing she’d developed an unhealthy habit while answering emails: She held her breath. On this episode, she tells host Manoush Zomorodi how she tested her friends and colleagues for screen apnea and what she has done since.Then, Manoush talks to the bestselling author of Breath, science writer James Nestor, who explains how shallow breathing impacts our physical and mental health. He takes us through a simple exercise to “reset” our breath and relieve screen time stress.Binge the whole Body Electric series here.Sign up for the Body Electric Challenge and our newsletter here.Talk to us on Instagram @manoushz, or record a voice memo and email it to us at BodyElectric@npr.org.

NPRManoush Zomorodi

What happened when 10 teens gave up their smartphones?

"But most say after taking part in the detox, they would like to find ways to limit their screentime.

“It’s made me realise how much time I spent on social media, and I’ve realised I need to cut down on it and go out more,“ acknowledges Will. “I’ll try and use less of TikTok, that’s for sure.”

He admits it’s been difficult, and he’s particularly missed listening to music. But time away from his phone has allowed Will to reignite his passion for cycling - something he’s determined to continue instead of spending endless hours scrolling.

“Eight hours a day is just crazy,” he says."

What happened when 10 teens gave up their smartphones?

Will, Ruby and Grace are among those swapping their devices for basic phones, for five days.

BBC News

AIs are coming for social networks

The enshittification of everything continues apace, AI seems to have really been rocket fuel for that particular trend across everything.

"So far, generative AI has been mostly confined to chatbots like ChatGPT. Startups like Character.AI and Replika are seeing early traction by making chatbots more like companions. But what happens when you dump a bunch of AI characters into something that looks like Instagram and let them talk to each other?

That’s the idea behind Butterflies, one of the most provocative — and, at times, unsettling — takes on social media that I’ve seen in quite a while."

AIs are coming for social networks

What happens when AIs invade our feeds?

The Verge

The value of editorial content

Our ‘thinking like a publisher’ panel session at the 2024 Digital Works Conference explored the value of editorial content, as well as the processes, thinking and strategy required to produce high-quality editorial content.

We had loads of audience questions, and we couldn't get to them all, so our panellists have taken the time to write answers to those questions. The result is a really useful article for anyone involved in content work at a cultural organisation.

Digital Works Conference 2024 Q&A: Thinking like a publisher - unlocking the value of editorial content | Digital Works

Digital WorksZosia Poulter, Matt Locke, Chris Sullivan, and Danny Birchall

Mac Glocky

I came across this guy who does covers of well-known songs in the style of...unexpected bands (mostly late 90s/early 00s emo/metal/grunge) via a cover of 'it wasn't me' by Shaggy in the style of... Disturbed (it works better than it has any right to).

Anyway, he's very talented and a look through his TikTok is quite fun.

Good sign-offs

Does what it says on the tin, a collection of email signoffs.

Good Sign-Offs | Are.na

“100+ ways to tell someone goodbye”

Are.na