Over 30% of American Adults are Infected
The new epidemic quietly sweeping the world
Hey there, you good?
There’s a new epidemic in town.
We’re all infected, and we know it.
What’s the cure, and how do we find it?
Maximum Freedom
What’s the epidemic? Digital addiction.
Apps, screens, socials, and checking the price of Bitcoin 21 times per day.
These distractions rob us of our ability to focus.
Lack of deep work and productivity.
Research from addictionhelp.com indicates that roughly 30% of American adults feel addicted. The issue is worse among Gen Z, with 82% believing they are addicted. Excessive social media use, defined as three or more hours daily, has been linked to negative feelings about social well-being.
The problem is becoming apparent. The subreddit ‘nosurf’ is now a 250,000-strong community focused on tips to increase productivity and decrease pointless scrolling.
Let’s compare doomscrolling to another addiction. Debt.
As bitcoiners, we know that no amount of fiscal responsibility will stop the debt ceiling from rising. No politician or central bank can ever resist the urge to print.
The answer is to remove the possibility of printing—enforced responsibility. 21 million coins only.
Likewise, digital addiction and distraction cannot be cured through better use of our phones.
No matter how many notifications we silence, we are still drawn by the fear of missing out.
Hide your phone in a locked drawer, and you’ll be fishing out the key when it rings. Blocking apps can be paused, you know, just while we check Instagram for 5 mins, which turns into 15, then 50 minutes.
To retrain your focus, your digital detox must be immutable. But how can you do this?
Enter LockMeOut. This week’s Maximum Freedom resource is a time-lock tool that returns your productivity.
The site has a strong privacy focus (only email required for login) with no download or installation. You can generate timelocks for your entire device, which cannot be unlocked any earlier than the appointed time. Users can buddy up to gain peer accountability and even set stakes to make sure that emergency access (yes, it’s available) will be shameful and come at a cost.
No ads, and no cost.
Just a tool to help us activate real locks and reclaim our time.
Give it a try.
Minimum Bullshit
Pierre Noizat’s powerful thesis, Energy, the Flip Side of Money, is now available in English.
André Dragosch, head of research for Bitwise has published Exponential Gold. The book, with a foreword by Samson Mow, is an accessible guide to Bitcoin & cryptoassets aimed at institutional investors.
Broken Money by Lyn Alden is now available in French, Spanish and Dutch. Check out our shop to find our translations.
21 Futures is seeking a title sponsor for The Noderoid Saga, its inaugural short film. The animation is in pre-production and will be released early next year with an aim of reaching 1 million bitcoiners (ideal for cypherpunk brands, hardware suppliers, and miners). Banner space, newsletter mentions, and other sponsor benefits are included in the package. Check our Geyser campaign or reach out via our website.
Editor Philip Charter will be arranging a pop-up book sale and signing event at BTC Prague alongside Ioni Appelberg and Pierre Noizat. Check Konsensus socials for all the details.
That’s all for now.
Keep livin’ free.