Grayscale

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Grayscale Mode  changes all pixels on your screen to shades of gray. It's supposed to be for photosensitive users.
Grayscale Mode has become something of a trend lately, but mostly for the youth obsessed with their phone.
Me.
It must have been January of 2024, when trying to get my head out of my phone, that I heard this mental health tip discussed in a YouTube video that attempted to rehabilitate addicts like me, from a former addict themselves. I recall not their name, gender (hence the gender-neutral pronouns), or even their facial features or  the nuances in their voice. Just what they said:
Try Grayscale.
They said this step might be a bit extreme, and I agree, it would be hard for many of us, and outright impossible for visual artists. I tried it anyway.
At first, I had trouble acclimating my eyes to the dimness of my new screen. It kept me off my phone more. I rarely used it. The glamor and sparkle were gone. I don't recall very well, but it did the job.
That lasted a couple days, 5 at most.

Then I realized, the lack of flavor on my screen was simple and minimal. Even at minimum brightness, I couldn't use my phone without Grayscale. It made me watch videos and look at pictures I otherwise wouldn't want to look at. Colours I don't like, became excellent tones of gray, white, and black. I enjoyed it. I watched more video essays, longer ones too, without much strain in my eyes. A family member said it looked depressing, I found that funny because I was happier with this mode on. Another person asked if I'd consider turning it off to get off my phone. I said no, I couldn't.
While working on this blog, I had to turn it off to toggle with the colors so my blog looks fine to others. Even to paste the image above, I had to switch off Grayscale Mode. It felt like a chore. I went back to my Digital Wellbeing page of my Settings as soon as I could, switched it on, and embraced my beloved painless gray again.

I find this so ironic.
Or maybe it's for photosensitive users for a reason. :)
Tags:
"Chess-kuh." You're welcome

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