David Daines

Hi, my name is literally David And I’m going a year without screens in 22 days (down from 10h+ per day) While tracking: - Neuroimaging (fMRI + MRI) - Cognitive + motor tests (very comprehensive) - 131 blood-based biomarkers (@superpower) - Sleep and activity data (@ouraring) - Vision exam - Hearing exam - And more I’m excited to see what the data show We all deserve to know more about how our devices in their current form are affecting us

@AviJGordon Yes, I will share; I agreed not to publish for now. Doing beginning, middle, & end for full battery

@daviddorg What was the assessment battery? Will you share that eventually? Are you doing a post- test also?

Just finished the most detailed cognitive test battery anyone has ever taken for a personal n=1 (in all likelihood) IQ, memory, working memory, attention, too many things to name It took two days With enough breaks to avoid fatigue So why the hell am I doing this? Baseline When I begin the year without screens, which starts in April, things may change fast & change significantly - Perhaps my memory will get a lot better - Perhaps my reaction time will improve - Perhaps my executive function will get a lot better (seems likely, I’m a bit impaired) That last one could be particularly relevant if, like me, you have attention issues like ADHD *Whatever* happens, we’ll have so many data points that we’ll pick up just about any shift & get a better idea of how our screens may be affecting us All of that will be published on the live dashboard as it becomes available. yearunplugged.com/biomarkers

@KetoCounselor @MitoPsychoBio New to this one but open to it. Feel free to DM.

@daviddorg @MitoPsychoBio Martin! Can we check his GDF 15?

@sovereignsuitor Agree. I have Oura steps + active calories being uploaded now but DXA & RMR would be cool as well to see some consequences of that additional activity

@daviddorg You could throw in DXA and RMR tests for the physical side. One hypothesis I have for your year is without all the screen time you'll be exercising like crazy and enjoying it more.

@KetoCounselor fMRI + MRI baselines are next week :) Anything else you think would be interesting to track?

@daviddorg Ohhh this is gonna be fascinating! Is there budget for an fMRI scan? I want to track changes in brain region connectivity!

@GregDuncan_ April & will post more on this

@daviddorg when do you start? how do you recommend people with internet money jobs go about doing this?

You know something is seriously wrong when one of the top creators on YouTube is going to these insane lengths to minimize his screen time We made a wrong turn We need to change course I am going a year without screens and publishing my brain scans, cognitive testing, and tons of other biomarkers to make the costs, whatever they may be, more obvious Because to be clear, this way of doing things is costing us a lot, and we can’t keep doing it

I start my screenless journey in April You can follow along: @daviddorg and sign up to my free newsletter to receive updates: daviddorg.substack.com

@Kalheyn Government could never - nor would we want them to

@daviddorg We need to change our incentives But how do we do that? Is that the government’s role?

Even the creators feel trapped Doomscrolling Slop content Kids addicted to wasting their lives We’re stuck in a system that has evolved to extract our attention at the expense of living our lives But nobody planned it this way; it evolved, and we find ourselves in a nightmare we haven’t figured out how to wake up from This was not malice; it is where the incentives led us As technology now transitions again, I believe we will converge on something that’s friendlier to us all Because even the creators inside these companies feel trapped, captive to a system they never planned or envisioned

@bruno_m_correia @levelsio x.com/daviddorg/stat…

@daviddorg @levelsio @levelsio aren't you against this ink?

“Give me top 5 financial news in last 24h. Be concise.” I write it on an index card Put it in the screenless phone It gives me what I request No need for exposure to the poisonous “algorithm” Personal agents are the future

@fitzmaro Yes it’s BPA/BPS free

@daviddorg Watch out for thermal paper. V bad for health

@brunneis @LeonardVolner Vitamin C derived. Much safer.

@daviddorg @LeonardVolner Interested on this, is that paper 100% safe to touch?

@tedbuildsapps YES exactly

@daviddorg Bro this is awesome lol its like a fax machine from the future or something

Btw I'm getting ready to go a year without screens I will be using the "screenless phone" to communicate And publishing 100s of biomarkers including neuroimaging and cognitive metrics (like IQ) to see how screens may be affecting us Follow along: yearunplugged.com

@JonDotJames I can post on here with it but will have help with video

@daviddorg Obvious question you've no doubt answered. How will you keep us updated? Will screenless phone tweet for you too?

@NiagaraThistle Yeah we'll see. Publishing neuroimaging, IQ data, etc. so could be surprises.

wow. That's awesome! While i don't see anything inherently wrong with 'screens', one does have to be able to regulate oneself with them or fall into the trap of being addicted and 'led' by them. Like anything else: Moderation and self control is key. Good on you for the 1-year!

@mistamolecule @levelsio It's a Star, don't remember model

@daviddorg @levelsio This is sick, what printer?

@NiagaraThistle I'm going a year without screens soon and it's my phone (call, text, tweet, etc). Will soon be able to do things like order me groceries as well.

@daviddorg What is the actual benefit? Or is this just a 'fun project' thing?

@ericedarnold It does for some things

@daviddorg Now make it auto print. Sometimes, don't want to see the screen.