Doctors are spending less time with patients in exchange for more time with medical software, and they don't like it

In a great article this week in The New Yorker (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/11/12/why-doctors-hate-their-computers?utm_source=jonlitwack), a surgeon describes the difficulties he and his peers face amidst myriad digital tools in the healthcare space. The article dives into the story of a large scale systems implementation in his hospital that drives him to feel like he's working for the software rather than it working for him.

Most notably - he describes a number of studies that show doctors now spend most of their time with software, rather than with patients.

Key Takeaway

In a society that is keenly focused on fixing human problems with software that should automate those problems away - we seem to be forgetting the humanity in the usage of these tools. The tech industry as a whole needs to find better ways to explore the data solutions in parallel with user experience solutions. Engineers need to spend more time with Customer Experience Designers and vice versa.

A new study shows that cutting social media time down to 30 minutes a day will reduce the likelihood of depression and loneliness

A study performed in the US is the first of its kind to show a direct relationship between our time spent on social media feeds and our mental health. Previous studies were only able to show correlation between the two. You can read the full summary here: https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-instagram-snapchat-social-media-well-being-2018-11?utm_source=reddit.com

Key Takeaway

GET OFF YOUR PHONE!!! But seriously - this is becoming a lot like the anti-smoking warnings of the previous half of the century. A lot of people have known in their hearts that social media can't be all that great for us - now we're getting definitive proof as depression and suicide rates go up.

Just like the last key takeaway - it's up to us to design our digital world in a healthier way. It won't be long before we start figuring out how to build more positive tools that still provide value to shareholders. Those who figure this out first will profit tremendously.

Mark Zuckerberg is asked to step down from his CEO role at Facebook

It's been a busy week for Facebook's PR team on a number of fronts - but mainly due to a damaging New York Times article titled "Delay, Deny and Deflect": https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/14/technology/facebook-data-russia-election-racism.html

It calls into question Facebook's use of a PR firm in writing negative articles about FB's rivals including Amazon, Google and Apple, amongst many other wrong-doings.

Facebook has since stopped their relationship with the PR firm, but has gotten its share of negative press ranging from criticisms of Sheryl Sandberg to their internal team continuously asking both Sheryl and Mark to operate with a greater moral compass.

Key Takeaway

If you cheat at anything, you're bound to get caught. Especially in a world driven by data. Design for good, be good. Success through malpractice typically gets exposed for what it is.