I don’t have a phone, I don’t have an account on any AI (though google search gets me)

No AI is easy, I don’t want it.

No phone is inconvenient sometimes, but I’m well aware I don’t want my life to be more convenient, I want it to be more fulfilling. I do things that are inconvenient because I want to. Bake bread, chop wood to heat our house, hunt to fill the freezer. I talk to people face to face, I live basically the same as I did as an adult from 2000 onwards.

I spend my days outside where there is no cell service anyway, and have no interest in being contacted or contacting others. The people with me are who I want to spend time with.

It's virtue signaling with extra steps

Actually if we take the phrase to refer to Cal Newport's book, no. What you're describing is digital abstinence. From the article,

> Explore ways of greatly decreasing or scoping your social media use ... Get the information benefits of the platform without getting sucked in to the vortex

This is more or less what Newport is recommending. Find ways to get the benefit of digital technology while refusing the manipulative aspects and other downsides.

EDIT: oops, TFA doesn't actually mention the book, I thought it did. I think this point still stands: "minimal" does not mean "none".

I am not describing digital abstinence. Note that I did not mention abstaining from:

- the web (I am posting on HN after all, although I recommend a very stripped down browsing experience)

- email

- general computer use

It's telling that you interpreted that (rather circumscribed) list as total digital abstinence. Social media, smartphones, and AI are all relatively recent appearances on the digital stage.

That's fair, though I was somewhat responding to the short list of topics from the article and discussion in this thread.

I still don't think minimalism inherently demands what you're suggesting. If you don't find social media has any beneficial uses for you, it makes sense to cut it out of your life completely. Someone else might find they need some specific things from it, and decide to keep some engagement - on their own carefully dictated terms.

Also fair.