The "Glowing Rectangles: Finding Digital Wellbeing & Real Connections" program in Poland was an unforgettable experience for all of us. Through creative activities, we realized the impact of daily technology use on our mental and physical health and reflected on our habits. More specifically, we designed our own social networking application in a way that would be addictive for the user. In this way, we understood the techniques that companies use to keep us glued to the screen. Then, we became content creators ourselves, creating short films on the harmful but also beneficial ways of using mobile phones. We also took a day trip to the nearby forest, during which we did not use our mobile phones at all. This prompted us to focus on the moment and interact more with each other. At the end of the program, armed with tools and knowledge for the healthy use of our mobile phones, we designed our new personal routine by prioritizing socialization and exercise instead of using our mobile phones. Equally important was the opportunity we were given to communicate and collaborate with our peers from all over Europe, learn about their countries and cultures, and develop friendships.
Angelina Konstantopoulou
Chrysanthos Manousaridis
Kalliope Vamvakidou
Popi Mylonaki
Kyriaki Kanelli