Friday Buzz: How Your Smartphone May Be Hurting You

Your smartphone helps untether you from the office, but you probably know that constantly checking it throughout the day isn’t good for your productivity. Now, researchers say that simply having your phone near you—even if you’re not checking it—can reduce your ability to get your best work accomplished.

Lifehacker reports  (opens in a new tab) on a study from the University of Chicago Press  (opens in a new tab) that found having your smartphone in close proximity not only distracts you from the task at hand but also reduces your ability to handle more complex cognitive actions.

According to Lifehacker, your brain uses “a bit of your cognitive capacity to stay on track when you know your phone is right next to you, begging to be touched.”

So, if you have an important task that requires you to focus, it’s best to leave your smartphone in another room.

Social Media Day

🎉 Happy #SMDay  (opens in a new tab)! Counting down the top 10 biggest moments social media history – Would you add any? #ImpactOfSocial  (opens in a new tab) https://t.co/Aswse1wCLF  (opens in a new tab)

— Buffer (@buffer) June 30, 2017  (opens in a new tab)

Today is #SMDay, a day that commemorates the powerful and positive impact of social media. It’s nearly impossible to overstate the ways that social media has changed the world.

To celebrate #SMDay, the Buffer blog shares  (opens in a new tab) 10 top moments in social media history, starting with the birth of Facebook.

Buffer also touches on the famous Ellen DeGeneres selfie from the 2014 Academy Awards and the rise of YouTube with viral videos such as “Charlie Bit My Finger.” The association world even gets a chance to shine with a highlight of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. “Since 2014, largely due to social media, the ALS Association has raised more than $115 million for research towards Lou Gehrig’s disease,” writes Brian Peters.

Other Links of Note

Looking to make your next meeting a little more fun? MeetingsNet details a few games your attendees will want to play  (opens in a new tab).

Twitter continues its fight against fake news. According to The Washington Post  (opens in a new tab), the platform is experimenting with features that allow users to flag fake news.

Do you ever feel uncertain as a leader? Forbes shares tips  (opens in a new tab) for getting rid of your second-guessing.

(iStock/Thinkstock)