Taking Control Over Modern Idolatry - How to Do It and Why? 7 Compelling Reasons

1. Regain control. Let's be honest, how much of your day is spent in front of a screen? According to a survey by the Central Bureau of Statistics, 40% of Israelis feel their smartphones consume too much of their time. It also revealed that 73% of smartphone owners feel dependent on this device. Media tools are addictive and the only way to regain balance is to set boundaries to help us curb the addiction. On a phone, this can be done by installing filtering apps or switching to a protected smartphone or kosher phone. On a computer, you can disengage from addictive social networks and install filtering software.

2. Fear of Heaven doesn't mix with indecent images. In various media tools without filtering, encountering improper content that contaminates the soul and impairs spiritual purity is unavoidable. What we see affects our thoughts, purity and sanctity levels, imagination, and morality. When a person sees sinful sights, their fear of Heaven cools, and their sensitivity diminishes. The more one guards their gaze, the more they elevate themselves spiritually and achieve higher spiritual attainments than a person who doesn't guard their eyes.

3. People always complain there's not enough time in the day. When you don't spend two hours daily in front of the TV plus four hours collectively on a smaller screen, you suddenly find that you have a lot of free time. There becomes time to do important things that deserve our attention such as spending quality time with the kids, talking, playing with them, taking walks around the neighborhood; visiting elderly grandparents; listening to Torah lessons, dedicating more time to Torah study, and more.

4. For your family. The harmful content presented in media tools affects the family unit in several ways. Firstly, public exposure to the lives of others can lead to comparing your relationship with others, which may seem perfect online but often isn't. The absurdity is that after a few months, you may discover that couple is on their way to divorce court. Additionally, exposure to individuals prioritizing outer appearances can sour the relationship. Blocking media tools sets an example for children, because if parents use unfiltered media, it's likely their children will too, with no ability for parental control. Media devices might connect you to those far away, but disconnect you from those close by.

5. To live according to halacha. Whether we relate to this or not or whether we feel we manage ourselves responsibly without harming ourselves spiritually, ultimately, leading Rabbis have instructed not to use unfiltered media tools. Surely, Hashem doesn't want us to have devices that pollute our souls, even if we only access proper sites. When there's no filtering, indecent images get to our eyes, whether we like it or not.

6. Stop the madness of envy. How long can we consume the lives of others? This norm of sharing every little thing in our lives has become madness – every meal in a restaurant, each trip, every purchase, personal moments, and whatnot; it’s all to make others envious. Isn't it better to part with this fake guise that only makes us feel worse about ourselves and our lives?

7. Live your life. The screen draws us into a virtual world, disconnecting us from our lives. How often do you see friends sitting together in a café, and instead of social interaction, everyone is staring at their screens? This addiction doesn't allow us to focus on our surroundings, social connections, personal growth, and self-enrichment. Instead, it drags us into a world of virtual friends, never-ending updates, and a vast waste of time.

This Week's Challenge

Choose your next step from the available options:

1. Configure your computer to block images on websites. You can set specific sites where images will be blocked. Alternatively, a preferable option is to block all images except those on specific kosher sites. How to do this? Search Google for "how to block website images," and you'll find detailed guidance.  

2. Another recommended option is to install filtering software on your computer, blocking websites with inappropriate content. There are many filtering software options available with various protection levels, such as Rimon, Etrog, Netfree, Nativ, Netspark, and more.

3. Do you have a smartphone and want to take a step forward? One option is to install a filtering app such as Netspark, Rimon, etc. Another option is to use a "protected smartphone" from companies like Hadran, Nativ, Mishgach, Mehadrin Plus, and more.  

4. If you have a television, replace it with the kosher 'Tzofiya' converter from Hidabroot, which contains countless rich and fascinating content. For more details, visit the 'Tzofiya' website or call us at 073-3-333-333. (The converter is not intended for Haredi families and is subject to a Rabbinical Committee).

Also read:

Smartphones: The Idolatry of Our Generation

"When it gets tough and I think about returning to WhatsApp, I remember the calm that overwhelms me."

So why don't I have a smartphone?

This Is the Hard Addiction That Became a Social Norm

The Beginner's Guide: Why Religious People Guard Their Eyes