Reclaiming Life from Technology: A Designer’s Journey to Balance
“Here’s something that might surprise you: I design apps for a living, and it wasn’t until last year that I realized I was trapped by the very technology I helped create,” says Shaul Nemtzov, a User Experience Designer and father of four.His story is a wake-up call for anyone who feels their phone has become their boss, demanding attention and pulling them away from what truly matters.
Nemtzov’s realization came after years of designing apps that, while useful, were intentionally crafted to capture attention. “The billion-dollar social media companies aren’t just hoping you’ll use their apps – they’re specifically designing them to keep you coming back,” he explains. This addictive design is no accident. Apps like TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp are engineered to maximize engagement, enabling companies to sell ads at higher rates.
The consequences are stark. The average teenager spends over six hours a day on screens, excluding schoolwork. Despite this constant “connection,” more then half of teens report feeling lonelier because of social media. Nemtzov’s own family wasn’t immune.“We knew intuitively that too much technology wasn’t good for our family, but screens still had more presence in our lives than we wanted,” he admits.
A turning point came when Nemtzov attended the ProTECHtion event in Crown heights.This event, aimed at helping families navigate the challenges of technology, introduced him to practical solutions. one standout was the collection of “offline” products – stickers, coloring books, and arts and crafts – that encouraged creativity and reduced reliance on screens. “I practically bought them out,” he recalls.
The event also inspired his family to enroll their children in weekly soccer and gymnastics, fostering physical activity and real-world connections. These changes, combined with intentional phone use, transformed their household. “We now limit screen time for our kids to once or twice a week and carefully curate the content they watch,” Nemtzov shares.But the most notable shift was in how he and his wife used their phones. “We’re more intentional about it,” he says. Such as, they switched from a YouTube subscription to 24six, a platform that aligns with their family values. “The feeling of knowing that nothing on there is a concern was such a relief,” he adds.
Research supports Nemtzov’s approach. Studies show that even the mere presence of a phone during a conversation can make people feel less connected. For Nemtzov’s family, limiting technology has brought them closer to their values and each other. “We’re teaching our children that real connections matter more than digital vanity metrics,” he says.
This year’s ProTECHtion event promises to offer even more insights and tools for families seeking balance. “If you’re feeling overwhelmed by technology, this is your chance to take back control,” Nemtzov urges. attendees will gain practical tips, hear from experts, and discover offline activities that promote mindfulness and connection.
Nemtzov’s journey proves that change is possible. “You don’t have to feel guilty about your screen time or worried about how technology is affecting your family,” he says. “You can use technology on your own terms.”
| Key Takeaways |
|——————–|
| Teen Screen Time | Over 6 hours daily, excluding schoolwork |
| Social Media Impact | 50%+ teens feel lonelier due to social media |
| ProTECHtion Solutions | Offline products, curated content, intentional phone use |
| Family Changes | Limited screen time, offline activities, value-aligned platforms |
The choice is yours. Will you let your phone control your life, or are you ready to take back control? Attend this year’s ProTECHtion event and learn how to create a healthier relationship with technology while staying connected to what truly matters – your family, your friends, your community, and your values.
Shaul Nemtzov is a User Experience Designer and father of four children under 6, living in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, with his wife.
Reclaiming Life from Technology: A Designer’s Journey to Balance
Table of Contents
- Reclaiming Life from Technology: A Designer’s Journey to Balance
- The Wake-Up Call: Realizing the Trap of Technology
- The Intentional Design of Addictive Apps
- The Impact of Excessive Screen Time
- Finding Solutions: The ProTECHtion Event
- Intentional Phone Use and Curated Content
- the Importance of Real-World Connections
- Looking Ahead: The ProTECHtion event and Beyond
- Final Thoughts: Taking Control of Technology
in a world where technology dominates our daily lives, finding a balance between screen time and real-world connections has become a pressing challenge. shaul Nemtzov, a user Experience Designer and father of four, shares his personal journey of reclaiming his family’s life from teh grips of addictive technology. In this exclusive interview, Nemtzov discusses the intentional design of apps, the impact of excessive screen time, and practical solutions for families seeking to foster healthier relationships with technology.
The Wake-Up Call: Realizing the Trap of Technology
Senior Editor: Shaul, you’ve been designing apps for years. What was the turning point that made you realize technology was controlling your life?
Shaul Nemtzov: It was a gradual realization, but the tipping point came last year. I was designing apps that were intentionally addictive, and I started to see the same patterns in my own life. My phone was constantly demanding my attention, pulling me away from my family and what truly mattered. I realized I was trapped by the very technology I helped create.
The Intentional Design of Addictive Apps
Senior Editor: You mentioned that apps are designed to be addictive. Can you elaborate on how this works?
Shaul Nemtzov: Absolutely.Social media companies aren’t just hoping you’ll use their apps—they’re engineering them to keep you coming back. Features like endless scrolling,notifications,and personalized content are all designed to maximize engagement. The more time you spend on the app, the more ads you see, and the more revenue they generate.It’s a billion-dollar industry built on capturing your attention.
The Impact of Excessive Screen Time
Senior Editor: What are the consequences of this constant engagement with technology,especially for younger users?
Shaul Nemtzov: The consequences are stark.The average teenager spends over six hours a day on screens, excluding schoolwork. Despite this constant “connection,” more than half of teens report feeling lonelier as of social media. In my own family, we noticed that screens were taking over our lives, and it was affecting our relationships and well-being.
Finding Solutions: The ProTECHtion Event
Senior Editor: You attended the ProTECHtion event in Crown Heights. How did that experience help your family?
Shaul Nemtzov: The protechtion event was a game-changer for us.It introduced us to practical solutions like offline products—stickers, coloring books, and arts and crafts—that encouraged creativity and reduced reliance on screens. We also enrolled our kids in weekly soccer and gymnastics, which fostered physical activity and real-world connections. These changes,combined with intentional phone use,transformed our household.
Intentional Phone Use and Curated Content
senior Editor: How did you and your wife change your approach to using phones and consuming content?
Shaul Nemtzov: We became much more intentional about our phone use. For exmaple, we switched from a YouTube subscription to 24six, a platform that aligns with our family values. knowing that nothing on there is a concern was such a relief. We also limit screen time for our kids to once or twice a week and carefully curate the content they watch. These small changes have made a big difference.
the Importance of Real-World Connections
Senior Editor: What’s the most notable change you’ve noticed since making these adjustments?
Shaul Nemtzov: The most notable shift has been in how connected we feel as a family. We’re teaching our children that real connections matter more than digital vanity metrics. Research shows that even the mere presence of a phone during a conversation can make people feel less connected. By limiting technology, we’ve brought ourselves closer to our values and each other.
Looking Ahead: The ProTECHtion event and Beyond
Senior Editor: What can attendees expect from this year’s ProTECHtion event?
shaul Nemtzov: This year’s event promises to offer even more insights and tools for families seeking balance. Attendees will gain practical tips,hear from experts,and discover offline activities that promote mindfulness and connection. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by technology, this is your chance to take back control.
Final Thoughts: Taking Control of Technology
Senior Editor: What advice would you give to families who feel overwhelmed by technology?
shaul Nemtzov: My advice is simple: you don’t have to feel guilty about your screen time or worried about how technology is affecting your family. You can use technology on your own terms. Start small—limit screen time, curate content, and prioritize real-world connections.Change is absolutely possible, and it’s never too late to take back control.
