This article was originally published in the Washington Examiner.
As we usher in a new year, countless resolutions will focus on our relationship with digital technology, with many centering on a singular goal: cutting back.
Yet, instead of resolving to use technology less, we might resolve to use it better. Many people appear to be thriving in their digital lives, and understanding their patterns of engagement can offer valuable insights for improving our own relationship with technology in 2025.
The impulse to cut back is understandable. The prevailing narrative surrounding digital tools, especially social media, paints a consistently bleak picture: addiction, deteriorating mental health, social disconnection, and political polarization. While these concerns merit serious attention, they represent only part of a more nuanced reality.
Academic research has documented a phenomenon known as “digital flourishing,” the positive experiences derived from engaging in social interactions online.
