It's time to fix our broken relationship with technology

Our relationship with technology is broken. Tech companies have trained us to believe that all updates are good updates and any new functionality is good functionality. Phone manufacturers and app companies tap into our lazy nature and fear of missing out to push changes that, had we considered them carefully, we would never accept.

Updates pushed to your phone include new features and functionality. Is the new functionality necessary? Positive? Helpful? Are there any downsides, will they affect my behavior in unintentional ways? We don't think through those questions. We update, we adopt, and we modify our behavior to fit the device.

What is the new app you need this year? Are you supposed to be on Snapchat or TikTok or Telegram? If you aren't there, what will you miss? We jump in, start sharing, and accept the change these apps drive without careful evaluation of the cost.

How many of you have ever shaken your Apple Watch while laying in bed so you can close your exercise rings? Is this the behavior you thought your watch would drive?

The Apple site for the activity app says "Three rings: Move, Exercise, Stand. One goal: Close them every day. It’s such a simple and fun way to live a healthier day that you’ll want to do it all the time. That’s the idea behind the Activity app on Apple Watch."

It sounds great. Motivation. Tracking. Simple and fun. But also, "you'll want to do it all the time."

Is being nagged about closing your rings really driving healthy change? Closing the ring becomes the end, not the healthy benefits of increased activity. Instead of becoming healthier, people are developing neurotic obsessions with ring closing. They shake their watch while they lie in bed before falling asleep. They won't exercise unless they are wearing their watch because they want "credit" for the work. They have replaced the pleasure that comes from taking a walk with the task of ring closing.

Apple activity monitor is just one example of the hundreds of technology features and functionality foisted on us every year. It's time to stop blindly accepting these changes.