– It is very pleasant and very surprising, says Sven Bisgaard Sundet. Together with his friend Michael Stilson, he has been the front man for the series “Avlogga”, which has been shown on news this autumn. The concept for the series is simple: Sundet and Stilson logged off their smartphones for a whole year, and were only allowed to use the screen otherwise for one hour a day. With the help of researchers, they also investigated what happened to their brains in this screen-free time. For this mix of self-experiment, entertainment and research dissemination, the Brain Council has chosen to give the award as Brain Health Journalist of the Year 2024 to Sundet and Stilson. – When they called from the Brain Council, I thought at first they had discovered something wrong with the series – that we had made a serious mistake, laughs Stilson. – The fact that we were to receive an award was not expected, but very nice. The presenters of “Avlogga” had what you might call an average screen time before they logged off. Now they don’t want to go back. Photo: Lars O. Skjønberg Heavy, but light The Brain Council is an organization that works for good brain health in the population. Since 2018, they have handed out the brain health journalist award to honor journalists who have contributed to spreading knowledge and engagement around brain health. Award winners have produced journalism on everything from childhood dementia and ALS, to now screen use. Secretary General of the Brain Council, Henrik Peersen, says the board has been impressed by Sundet and Stilson’s efforts. – Awareness of how we can take care of our brains, that is something we need more of in society. And “Avlogga” contributes to that, says Henrik Peersen in the Brain Council. Photo: Hjernerådet / – Throughout a whole year, they have gone in person and experienced what mobile use does to the brain. And they have managed to engage and talk to the audience in a way that inspires, says Peersen. – They have made professional, heavy brain research easily accessible to most people, and they have managed to show that the way we use the brain affects the brain itself. The valuable dead time During the time they were logged off, it turned out that Sundet and Stilson actually had increased brain activity. – It is actually a bit backwards that you should get more brain activity from doing less, but that is what happens, says Sundet. – Because by logging out, I had to start using maps, note things, and remember appointments myself, instead of the phone doing it for me. Sundet and Stilson have also had more time – time to be present with family and friends, and time to do nothing and let their brains rest a bit. – I have noticed how incredibly delicious silence is. In an age where stimuli come so easily, it is difficult to find the gaps, but giving the brain dead time is important, says Stilson. Sundet adds: – This concept of dead time, it’s such a bad word, because it sounds like something negative. But that’s when the brain can catch up. It should rather be called brain recovery. Brain researcher Audrey van der Meer saw a tremendous increase in the presenters’ brain activity halfway through the year. Photo: Vegard T. Blakstad / news Suget is there September 18 was the year that Sundet and Stilson signed off. After that, they have been able to use the computer, watch TV and scroll on the phone as much as they want. However, Sundet has chosen to keep his “dumb phone”. – The smartphone is like a magnet, and I fear falling back on the road – I have too little self-control, he laughs. – I get dragged into so many things on the smartphone. There will be more online newspapers, e-mails, chatting, more stress. You get exhausted from the internet, says Sven Bisgaard Sundet. Photo: Ola Hana / news Stilson, for his part, has gone back to the iPhone. – I did it out of curiosity. I wanted to check if I have changed something in myself. Have I removed the suction? Since the craving is actually still there, he has introduced restrictions. – I have deleted everything that is alluring, and I often put the phone in another room. I will cherish a lot of what I have found to be so good without the phone. Michael Stilson feels that the “Avlogga” project has been a bit of a commitment in terms of not sitting with the phone all the time. Photo: Chris Veløy Only Haaland has enough self-control Henrik Peersen in the Brain Council says that the series has contributed to him also becoming more aware. – I’ve had reality press upon me, and I may not have been as good as I think either, he says. – I have to admit that I uninstalled some apps after watching the series, and I have started to monitor my own screen time more. Sundet says that they have been contacted by several parent groups who want them to give lectures for them, as well as teachers who have shown the series in the classroom and discussed it with the pupils. And it was precisely getting people to talk about what the mobile phone does to us, which was the hope for the series, says Stilson. – Then I hope that people understand that your screen time is not only about yourself, but also the environment around you. If everyone thinks like that, I think we’ll have a slightly nicer society. Sundet and Stilson hope that their project stimulates good conversations, at school, at workplaces and in the family. Photo: Vegard T. Blakstad / news Sundet hopes they have inspired people to take action, including politicians. – You cannot let people continue to regulate themselves. We regulate meat, sugar, nicotine, alcohol, where you can fly with a drone… It is absolutely incredible that smartphones and social media are not regulated, he says. – Only Erling Braut Haaland manages to regulate himself. The rest of us need a little help. The brain health journalist of the year award is presented in connection with the Brain Health Conference in Oslo, Thursday 7 November at 14, by Storting politician Tove Elise Madland (Ap). Before logging off, Sven and Mike have to go through a series of demanding tests. The worst, living for two weeks as 17-year-olds, brings them to breaking point. Published 07.11.2024, at 12.00
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Put the phone away for a year – now they get a price
