Philosophy Discussion Forums | A Humans-Only Club for Open-Minded Discussion & Debate

[Sushan]

This topic is about the October 2024 Philosophy Book of the Month, Reconceptualizing Mental Illness in the Digital Age: Ghosts in the Machine by Elliott B. Martin, Jr.

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The world today is a never-sleeping, never-resting one, thanks to digital developments. People are always connected and constantly bombarded with calls, messages, notifications, etc., leading to neural saturation. This has ultimately led humans to never-ending mental exhaustion, which has caused various new (or recurring) mental health issues.

Who should intervene, or be morally obliged, to prevent this from happening? Should the government interfere? Should big tech companies respect individual privacy more and stop sending unnecessary notifications to consumers, which are solely aimed at gaining profits? Or, as always, does this burden also have to be borne by individuals?

[Cynthia Pence]

In my opinion, all parties including Government, Companies and individuals, should be responsible. However, the specialty of one party's responsibility would differ and serious than the other. E.g., Government in creating laws, big companies in applying governmental laws, and individual becoming aware of how to selectively allow digital messages.

[Sushan]

In my opinion, all parties including Government, Companies and individuals, should be responsible. However, the specialty of one party's responsibility would differ and serious than the other. E.g., Government in creating laws, big companies in applying governmental laws, and individual becoming aware of how to selectively allow digital messages.

Yes, I agree. Everyone must play a role, albeit in a distinct way. Although businesses should abide by the standards established by governments, individuals have a great deal of control over their own decisions. We may change our mental space by learning to filter out what we let in. Still, sometimes it feels like an uphill battle when notifications are practically designed to demand our attention.

It’d be interesting to explore how different countries handle this—some seem to be pushing for “right to disconnect” laws that give people the option to fully disengage outside work hours. And with the tech companies, I wonder how realistic it is to expect real change when their business models depend on engagement. Maybe the question is also how individuals can push for change on a larger scale—think boycotts, privacy advocacy, or supporting companies that prioritize user well-being. What do you think about that?