How to stop doomscrolling and the benefits of a new EU digital wallet

·27 min·2 clips

Adrian Weckler reveals how Ireland's new digital wallet will replace physical IDs but questions its authoritarian implications.

This episode of The Big Tech Show, hosted by Adrian Weckler with guest JJ Clark, examines the impending EU digital identity wallet and strategies to combat nighttime doomscrolling. Weckler is a technology journalist for the Irish Independent, and Clark provides additional commentary on these digital life topics. The discussion first addresses Ireland's new age verification law, which the hosts view as ineffective, before pivoting to the more substantial EU digital wallet initiative. This state digital wallet, mandated by EU law to be implemented across member states by the end of next year, will securely store digital versions of official documents like driver's licenses and birth certificates. Ireland is currently running a trial for public servants, with a full public rollout expected, though potentially delayed, by late next year. The wallet aims to streamline activities like hotel check-ins and accessing public services by allowing phone-based verification, possibly via a tap system similar to contactless payments. The hosts differentiate between "qualified" documents, like government IDs, and "non-qualified" items, such as a gym membership. They reference Italy as a country that already has a similar system in operation, noting a cultural tendency in some European nations toward greater identity verification. A significant portion of the conversation weighs the convenience of this system against potential civil liberties concerns and technical pitfalls. Weckler lists advantages, including unparalleled convenience for renewals and transactions, and notes society's existing comfort with verification chains, like using fingerprints for phone payments. He contrasts this with past government IT failures, specifically referencing a 2017 controversy where then-Minister Regina Doherty described the Public Services Card as "mandatory but not compulsory." The hosts express concern that the digital wallet could effectively become a de facto national ID card, altering Ireland's tradition where police cannot randomly demand identification. They also worry about institutionalizing the duopoly of Apple and Google's mobile operating systems, making smartphones an even more essential, non-optional tool for civic life. A security risk is highlighted by referencing a past Irish data breach where a leaked database exposed mobile numbers linked to judges and police officers. The conversation acknowledges that while opposition to national ID schemes has weakened, a debate persists on whether requiring ID for social media use is a proportionate next step. For the segment on doomscrolling, Weckler shares advice given to a listener who struggles with compulsive phone use at bedtime, which interferes with sleep. The only solution the host finds consistently effective is physically leaving his phone outside the bedroom door at night. An alternative, though less favored, method involves swapping a smartphone's SIM card into a basic "dumb phone" for emergency calls only. The guest mentions the "phone foyer" method, advocated by American professor Cal Newport, which involves leaving devices in another room. They discuss disabling all non-essential notifications and using a standalone alarm clock to break the dependency. The hosts observe that compulsive scrolling can damage personal interactions, particularly noting a sad dynamic when couples scroll separately without engaging each other. The tone is conversational and analytical, blending practical advice with a critical examination of tech policy implications. The style is informal and debate-adjacent, as the hosts freely exchange personal opinions and experiences alongside reported facts. Listeners interested in European digital policy, data privacy debates, and practical digital wellness tips would find this episode highly engaging. Those seeking a highly technical deep dive or who are unaffected by EU regulations may find the discussion less immediately relevant.

As heard by us

A grounded look at Ireland's digital wallet, with a short closing nod to doom scrolling.

Adrian Weckler keeps the talk on firm ground, treating Ireland's digital wallet as a plain question of convenience versus control. The state identity tool looks less like a shiny reset and more like a formal version of what smartphones already do, with Apple and Google sitting…

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For a sober look at Ireland's digital ID wallet and the habits that keep you scrolling

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