Digital life

Digital life

In the middle of December 2025, I decided to switch my digital smartwatch for a classic analog watch, as part of my effort to make my life just a bit less digital in 2026. The added bonus is that I really liked the look of a classic watch. I went to my local jewellery store and picked out a mid-range watch. I didn't want to get an expensive one just in case my resolution didn't work out.

People who prefer texting over phone calls aren't broken or antisocial. In fact, they often possess unique strengths that phone-lovers might actually envy. I discovered this firsthand during my freelancing stint after getting laid off. Without the constant barrage of office calls and impromptu meetings, I found myself gravitating toward written communication. And something interesting happened: my work got better, my relationships became more intentional, and my anxiety levels dropped significantly.

"I get just enough to cover my rent a month," she told the . "It's not enough to be a career and this is a full-time job."

Their very existence is proof of something not working. And so, in a way, their project is to exist, to be seen, to be popular. That's why he's going to say the N-word on stream. That's why he's going to read the humiliating text from his father on stream. It's a total commitment to that project. Because I think his existence just sort of proves that the gatekeepers are gone.

I remember stepping out of Austin-Bergstrom Airport last July, and the heat hit me like opening an oven door. Not the dry, manageable warmth I knew from Southern California, but something thick and heavy that made my shirt cling to my back before I even reached the rental car. That moment was my first real hint that moving from California to Texas would be more than just a change of scenery.

On the veranda of her family's home, with her laptop balanced on a mud slab built into the wall, Monsumi Murmu works from one of the few places where the mobile signal holds. The familiar sounds of domestic life come from inside the house: clinking utensils, footsteps, voices. On her screen a very different scene plays: a woman is pinned down by a group of men, the camera shakes, there is shouting and the sound of breathing.

Picture this: Your phone rings. The caller ID shows your local hospital. The voice on the other end sounds professional, maybe a bit urgent. They're calling about Medicare coverage changes that could affect your upcoming procedures. They just need to verify some information to ensure your benefits continue uninterrupted. Sounds legitimate, right? Here's the thing - it probably isn't. And that's exactly what makes modern phone scams so dangerous.

You know that friend who always texts back within seconds, no matter what time of day? I used to be that person. My phone would buzz, and before I'd even consciously registered the notification, my thumbs were already typing. It took me years to realize that my lightning-fast response time wasn't just about being helpful or friendly. It was broadcasting something much deeper about my relationship with boundaries.

Don't make me have an account for everything.

Leveraging your skills on freelancing platforms like Upwork, Fiverr or Freelancer can be a quick way to earn cash. Whether it's writing, graphic design, programming or social media management, these platforms connect you with clients looking for specific skill sets. Start by creating a compelling profile and bidding on projects that match your expertise.

Finding your way with digital maps, making online bank transfers, looking things up on search engines Our digital habits are recent, yet so ingrained that going back to their analog versions feels unthinkable. Even something as ancient as flirting can now seem inseparable from screens. But a recent trend on social media suggests the story isn't over. A few months ago, a video titled Sit at the Bar September went viral.

Kanopy is a free streaming service with thousands of titles. All you need to sign up is a participating library card. You're limited to 10 titles per month. If you're tired of ever-increasing streaming prices, there's a good chance you have access to a free streaming service with a fairly impressive catalog of titles -- all thanks to your local library. Kanopy is a streaming app that's available for iOS, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, and Roku devices.

We all know that once you get a taste for certain things in life, it's tough to go back. Redditor Phase_zero_X asked, "What is a luxury you can never go back from once you've experienced it?" Here's what people said. 1. "A comfortable bed. My husband and I really splurged on our most recent mattress, and I mean really splurged, but gosh darn it, it feels good to lie down."

Google officially made the switch to have AI Overviews flow into AI Mode, resulting in less traffic for publishers and site owners. Google is being forced to allow sites to opt out of AI search experiences but will you block Google, many say no. Personal Intelligence is now in both AI Mode and Gemini, and Google is personalizing some AI answers which are now powered by Gemini 3. But don't worry, core search signals are built into those AI experiences.

"We found that in China, three out of four Gen Z said 'I'm not disconnected and actually if I was disconnected, I might as well have disappeared'. That's how important and real digital life is. This struck us is quite a profound insight, because our digital connection has basically been asynchronous, for the entirety of human existence so far. Suddenly we're hitting this point, which is now synchronous, so it's happening at the same speed as real life,"

In a dimly lit, dusty church basement, eight people meet and place their cellphones into a wooden box. Each member of the octet struggles with a dependency upon the very tool that enables us all to enjoy a level of historically unprecedented convenience - the internet. Like the characters, audiences are called to unplug and immerse themselves in the world of Studio Theatre's production of Dave Malloy's unique a capella musical, Octet.

Last week, I stood in line at my local bank branch, notebook in hand to jot down some thoughts while waiting. The woman ahead of me had brought what looked like six months' worth of statements, each one carefully marked with sticky notes. As the teller patiently worked through each query, I watched the line behind us grow longer and longer. The young teller maintained her professional smile, but I caught that subtle eye twitch that said everything.

A woman got in line behind him, who looked to be about 70. You know, sometimes when you meet someone, you just get a sense that they're kind of an asshole? Yeah, she was one of those types. She pushed her cart up behind him, made a few comments that we all ignored about 'not having enough open registers' and 'we'll be here all day at this rate.'

During the pandemic, I was freelancing at the time, and I was writing an article about "worldschooling." I had never heard of it, and I started interviewing these people around the world, and these are families who were just traveling the world with their kids. My wife and I had both lived abroad, and we loved the idea, and we said if we ever make it out of the pandemic, we want to do something like this with our kids.

Charlie Warzel opens with what it means to live in 2026, when our phones can drop us into graphic, real-time violence without warning-and when documenting that violence can be both traumatizing and politically consequential. Using recent footage out of Minneapolis as a lens, he explores the uneasy collision of algorithmic feeds, misinformation, and the moral weight of witnessing. Charlie also traces how viral documentation can puncture official narratives, pushing stories beyond political circles and even into "apolitical" corners of the internet.

The upgraded speeds for GFiber include: The previous Core 1 Gig is now Core 3 Gig, priced at $70 per month. Core 3 is 3x the symmetrical speed of GFiber's initial internet offering and is still the same price it was in 2012. Home 3 Gig is now Home 5 Gig, for $100/month. Customers at this tier are seeing about a 67% increase in speeds and will receive the GFiber Multi-Gig Wi-Fi 7 router.

Digital gambling has changed fast, and the UK has been right in the middle of that shift. Over the past few years, players have grown more comfortable using digital wallets, decentralised platforms, and alternatives to traditional payment rails. What once felt technical or risky is now part of everyday online life, especially for people already used to contactless payments and app-based banking.

How do I stop pop ups on the desktop on Windows 10? These are not pop up ads that happen on a web site. They happen on my desktop as little pop ups in the lower right corner of my computer screen. They look like this video I recorded here:

When Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the world wide web in 1989, his vision was clear: it would used by everyone, filled with everything and, crucially, it would be free. Today, the British computer scientist's creation is regularly used by 5.5 billion people and bears little resemblance to the democratic force for humanity he intended. In Australia to promote his book, This is for Everyone, Berners-Lee is reflecting on what his invention has become and how he and a community of collaborators can put the power of the web back into the hands of its users.

I arrived at 6:45 pm that Monday evening at a nondescript office block in Dalston, a recently gentrified area of East London. I was greeted at the door by the event host, who was wearing a T-shirt that read, "The Offline Club." I handed them my phone, which they stowed in a specially built cabinet-a sort of shrunken-down capsule hotel. The entryway opened into a narrow room with high concrete walls painted white, with space enough for about 40 people to sit.

We live in a world of consumerism whether we like it or not. It's hard to do anything or go anywhere (or even doom scroll) without being served up the latest gadget, subscription, or solution - most of which end up being a reason you have to devote so much time to decluttering the damn house. How can you know when your latest splurge is actually worth it or just a waste?

The worst possible thing that could happen to me has happened to me, he said. Last night or this morning, my van was stolen. He shows the spot his van was parked, near where his girlfriend lives, which he said had since been taken. He urges anyone who sees the van, or who might have information that leads to the van's location, to get in touch, or report it to police.

Whenever there's a spare minute, your first instinct is to reach for your phone and scroll. But what if you didn't? Experts confirm the benefits of this new take on old ways to pass time

You settle in for a quick scroll through your feed, maybe just to unwind for a minute or two. But somewhere between a cooking hack and a clip you've already forgotten, forty minutes vanished. It's all a blur. Welcome to the era of infinite content and finite attention, where our brains are working overtime just to keep up with the deluge.