I asked an AI

"People say smartphone addiction is bad, but they don't say reading is bad. Does reading note not count as reading?"

This might be a bit late to bring up, but I love reading books, and I also love reading articles on note. It makes me feel uneasy when that's called smartphone addiction, so I asked an AI, and this is the answer I got.

AI's answer:

1. The difference between "passive" and "active"

When society worries about smartphone addiction, it is often referring to a passive state where one "unconsciously scrolls through" social media timelines or short videos. On the other hand, reading (including note) is an active task where you follow the text with your own will and expand images in your mind. This "difference in how the brain is used" leads to the difference in evaluation.

2. The issue of the "quality" of addiction

In fact, there is a history of reading also being feared as an addiction or dependency, with people saying "if you read too much, you forget reality."

• Smartphone addiction: Tends to lead to a state of repeatedly seeking short-term stimulation (dopamine).

• Reading addiction: Tends to be seen as a "good addiction" because it has aspects that lead to the accumulation of knowledge and emotional stability.

3. The characteristics of the note medium

note is a medium that conveys the author's "body temperature" and "raw voice" more directly than books.

• Systematic knowledge is what you get from "books"

• Current, ongoing thoughts and sensibilities are what you encounter on "note." While there is a difference in roles, both are acts of expanding your world through text.

So, does note count as reading?

AI's answer:
Yes, reading note counts as proper reading.

It depends on how you define the word "reading," but if you think about it essentially, there is no major difference in the experience gained from note or books. Let me list a few reasons why I can say that.

Why can note be called "reading"?

• Dialogue through text: The essence of reading lies in taking the author's thoughts and experiences into your own mind through text and engaging in a dialogue. note is this process itself.

• Understanding context: Unlike short social media posts, note requires reading and interpreting a certain amount of cohesive text (context). This act of "reading deeply" is very similar to the state of the brain when reading a paper book.

• Updating knowledge and sensibilities: From specialized knowledge to deep personal insights, note is overflowing with dense information comparable to a whole book.

The appeal of "note" as reading

In fact, it also has the appeal of "modern reading" that traditional books do not have.

• Freshness: You can encounter "living words" that someone is thinking about at this very moment.

• Diversity: You can encounter freer and more diverse values that have not passed through the filter of publishing.

• Sense of distance: You can feel the author's warmth up close, making it easier to compare with your own heart.

How did you all feel about this answer?

As the definition of "reading" changes with the times, isn't what matters not the format, but what that experience leaves in your heart?

The boundary between smartphone addiction and reading might actually be determined by our own consciousness. Actively choosing words that let you feel someone's body temperature from the overflowing information. I intend to continue purely enjoying this "modern reading" called note.

Of course, while reading books too