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MIKE WENDLING (HOST): As I said earlier, Jim Marchant, the Republican candidate [for secretary of state] in Nevada, is just one candidate who has connections with a prominent QAnon influencer. To get a scale of this movement, I've been chatting to Alex Kaplan. He's a senior researcher with Media Matters for America. It's a left-wing research group that keeps tabs on movements like QAnon.

ALEX KAPLAN (MEDIA MATTERS SENIOR RESEARCHER): I've been keeping track of this is for the second cycle now, or second congressional cycle of candidates running for Congress who have expressed or promoted at some level QAnon. And, currently, I have found over 60 candidates. That is possible that number could grow.

WENDLING: Alex Kaplan says to understand how this movement came together, we need to know about one person in particular.

KAPLAN: This is one of the biggest stories in the history of QAnon, what Juan O. Savin is doing.

WENDLING: Juan O. Savin. That's an alias, not his real name. And yes, it seems like it's some sort of riff on the number 107. Like everything in the world of QAnon, Juan O. Savin's backstory is murky, shrouded in mystery and misinformation. News reports say he's an insurance investigator who lives on the west coast of America, but somehow he's become a political powerbroker, enlisting candidates to run for powerful positions, those secretary of state jobs that oversee elections like the one that Jim Marchant hopes to win in Nevada.

KAPLAN: We have Marchant confirming that Juan O. Savin's involved. Juan O. Savin has confirmed, and I have him on video, saying he's involved. We now have multiple cases of candidates who were secretary of state candidates, confirming that Savin was involved, on video.

Read the rest here:
Media Matters' Alex Kaplan explains how a QAnon influencer is trying to get Big Lie candidates elected to control elections - Media Matters for...

August 6, 9 pm ET

Click here to see ISW's interactive map of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This map is updated daily alongside the static maps present in this report.

Russian and Ukrainian forces traded accusations of dangerous shelling at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) on August 6 continuing the exchange of accusations ISW reported on August 5.[1] ISW cannot independently determine which party is responsible for the incident. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the alleged Russian shelling as an "open, brazen crime and an act of terror.[2] He called on the international community to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism and to sanction Russias nuclear industry. [3] Both sides claimed that the shelling caused a fire at the hydrogen station at the plant. The Russian-appointed head of the Zaporizhia Oblast Occupation Administration, Evgeniy Balitskyi, claimed on August 5 that Ukrainian forces decided to put the whole of Europe on the brink of a nuclear catastrophe by shelling the plant.[4] The Ukrainian head of the Zaporizhia Oblast Military Administration, Oleksandr Starukh, claimed on August 6 that Russian forces are trying to provoke Ukrainians into shelling the NPP to make the West hesitant to provide weapons to Ukraine.[5]

A Russian opposition outlet reported that Russian forces are storing explosives and ammunition around the nuclear power plant. The Insider reported on August 5 that a source claimed Russian forces mined the turbine room of energy block 1 of the NPP around August 2.[6] A separate source claimed that about 500 Russian soldiers, as well as armored personnel carriers and anti-aircraft guns, were stationed within the plant and that Russian forces mined the area around the plant. The second source said that Russian forces store mines and ammunition in the immediate vicinity of the energy blocks, under trestles, with some of the ammunition stored inside the energy block. The second source was unsure whether the energy block has been mined or is simply used for storing explosives. The Insider reported that Russian forces established Grad rocket batteries near the village of Vodyane, approximately 4 km from the NPP reactors (and approximately 2 km from the spent fuel containment units at the plant). Ukrainian channels and officials had reported in mid-July that Russian forces were firing on Nikopolthe Ukrainian town just across the river from the NPPfrom near the nuclear reactors at Zaporizhzhia NPP.[7] Ukraines Southern Military Command has subsequently reported that Russian forces have regularly shelled Nikopol with Grad rockets, damaging 47 houses on August 5 and 6.[8]

ISW previously assessed on August 3 that Russian forces are likely using the NPP to play on Western fears of a nuclear disaster in Ukraine in an effort to degrade Western will to provide military support to a Ukrainian counteroffensive, while also effectively using the plant as a nuclear shield to prevent Ukrainian strikes on Russian forces and equipment.[9]

Note: ISW does not receive any classified material from any source, uses only publicly available information, and draws extensively on Russian, Ukrainian, and Western reporting and social media as well as commercially available satellite imagery and other geospatial data as the basis for these reports. References to all sources used are provided in the endnotes of each update.

Key Takeaways

We do not report in detail on Russian war crimes because those activities are well-covered in Western media and do not directly affect the military operations we are assessing and forecasting. We will continue to evaluate and report on the effects of these criminal activities on the Ukrainian military and population and specifically on combat in Ukrainian urban areas. We utterly condemn these Russian violations of the laws of armed conflict, Geneva Conventions, and humanity even though we do not describe them in these reports.

Main EffortEastern Ukraine

Subordinate Main EffortSouthern Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk Oblasts (Russian objective: Encircle Ukrainian forces in Eastern Ukraine and capture the entirety of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, the claimed territory of Russias proxies in Donbas)

Russian forces conducted a limited ground attack northwest of Slovyansk and otherwise shelled settlements along the Izyum-Slovyansk line on August 6. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian troops tried and failed to advance on the western outskirts of Bohorodychne, about 17km northwest of Slovyansk.[10] Russian forces continued artillery strikes on settlements along the Kharkiv-Donetsk Oblast border, including Mazanivka, Adamivka, Kurulka, Dibrovne, Dovhenke, Krasnopillya, and Dolyna.[11]

Russian forces did not conduct any confirmed ground attacks on Siversk and continued to shell Siversk and surrounding settlements on August 6.[12] Social media posted to Twitter on August 5 showed elements of the Russian 55th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Combined Arms Army of the Central Military district reportedly operating in the direction of Siversk.[13] This imagery seemingly confirms that elements of Russian Colonel General Aleksandr Lapins Central Group of forces are still operating in northeastern Donetsk Oblast near the Luhansk Oblast border, as ISW has previously reported.[14]

Russian force conducted a series of ground attacks east and south of Bakhmut on August 6. The Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian troops attempted to gain more advantageous tactical positions around Stryapivka, Bakhmutske, Soledar, Yakovlivka, Volodymyrivka, and Pokrovske, settlements along the eastern arc of Bakhmut and all within 12km of the outskirts of Bakhmut.[15] Russian troops additionally continued localized ground attacks south of Bakhmut around Vidrozhennya, Vershyna, Kodema, and Zaitseve and otherwise shelled Bakhmut and surrounding settlements to support ongoing ground operations.[16] Geolocated footage posted by the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DNR) militia forces indicates that Russian forces have likely captured Travneve, a small settlement about 17km south of Bakhmut.[17]

Russian forces conducted a series of ground attacks in an attempt to break through Ukrainian lines of defense in the Avdiivka-Donetsk City area on August 6. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to penetrate Ukrainian defenses north of Donetsk City in the Spartak-Avdiivka, Novoselivka Druha-Krasnohorivka, and Lozove-Nevelske directions.[18] Russian troops also attempted to push west of their positions near Oleksandrivka towards Maryinka, about 5km west of the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk City.[19] Ukrainian sources additionally refuted Russian claims that Russian forces have full control over Pisky, and geolocated footage of Donetsk Peoples Republic (DNR) soldiers in Pisky indicates that Russian troops likely only control the southeastern outskirts of Pisky.[20]

Russian forces conducted several limited ground attacks southwest of Donetsk City in the direction of the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border on August 6. The Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to break through Ukrainian defenses around Krylivka, Pavlivka, Novomaiorske, and Prechystivka- all southwest of Donetsk City and within 30km of the Zaporizhia Oblast border.[21] Russian forces continued air and artillery strikes in the area between Donetsk City and the oblast border.[22]

Supporting Effort #1Kharkiv City (Russian objective: Defend ground lines of communication (GLOCs) to Izyum and prevent Ukrainian forces from reaching the Russian border)

Russian forces did not conduct any confirmed ground attacks in northeastern Kharkiv Oblast and shelled Kharkiv City and surrounding settlements on August 6.[23]

Supporting Effort #2Southern Axis (Russian objective: Defend Kherson and Zaporizhia Oblasts against Ukrainian counterattacks)

Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations in southern Ukraine and focused on defending their occupied positions with aviation and artillery. Ukrainian military officials reported that Russian forces continued to launch airstrikes near Andriivka, situated on the eastern Inhulets Rivers bank near the Ukrainian bridgehead.[24] Russian forces also continued aerial reconnaissance near the bridgehead and maintained artillery fire along the contact line in Kherson Oblast.[25] The Ukrainian Southern Operational Command stated that Russian forces are rotating manpower and redistributing equipment in unspecified directions in Kherson Oblast but noted that the composition of Russian troops in the area has not changed as of August 5.[26] Russian forces launched rockets at Nikopol, Zaporizhia City, and Mykolaiv City from MLRS systems.[27] Social media footage also showed Russian forces transporting a Buk air defense system near Pryazovske, southeast of Melitopol, on an unspecified date.[28]

Ukrainian military officials confirmed several strikes at Russian strongholds and ammunition depots throughout Kherson Oblast. The Ukrainian Southern Operational Command stated that Ukrainian missile units destroyed two Russian control points belonging to the 76th Airborne Assault Division and the 49th Combined Arms Army in Chornobaivka (about 5km northwest of Kherson City), a command and observation post of an unspecified battalion tactical group (BTG) in Bruskinske along the T2207 highway, and an ammunition depot in Oleshky southeast of Kherson City.[29] Ukrainian local officials noted that Russian forces are continuing to accumulate large quantities of military equipment in Oleshky, likely in preparation to defend logistics routes to Kherson City and to establish defensive positions on the left bank of Dnipro River.[30] Social media users published footage of a large smoke cloud coming from Skadovsk (approximately 62km south of Kherson City), but Ukrainian officials have not confirmed any Ukrainian attack on that location as of the time of this publication.[31]

Mobilization and Force Generation Efforts (Russian objective: Expand combat power without conducting general mobilization)

Existing Russian military units and the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardia) are continuing to recruit volunteers to reinforce existing military units. Caucasus region-focused outlet Kavkaz Uzel reported that Russian forces distributed leaflets and established a day-long recruitment drive in Nazran, Republic of Ingushetia, to recruit volunteers for the existing 503rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 58th Combined Arms Army.[32] Russian forces reconstituted the 503rd Regiment in July 2021, after it had been dismantled in 2009 during the military reforms.[33] Rosgvardia also posted job listings for riflemen and drivers in the Republic of Ingushetia offering starting monthly salaries of 45,000 to 50,000 rubles (about $750 to $820) with a requirement to be ready to participate in the special military operation in Ukraine. The Republic of Dagestan also posted explosives expert positions with a requirement for a desire to serve in the Russian Armed Forces. Stavropol and Krasnoyarskiy Krai both listed on employment portals several military positions such as UAV operator with the requirement to travel for business trips. Such recruitment drives indicate that Russian leaders are seeking to exploit different security services to generate more volunteers for the special military operation. The drives also suggest that volunteer recruitment is not limited to newly forming volunteer units.

ISW identified additional Russian federal subjects (regions) that are recruiting personnel for volunteer battalions to participate in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Local media outlets reported that Khanty-Mansi Okrug and Voronezh and Smolensk Oblasts are forming volunteer battalions and offering one-time enlistment payments ranging between 100,000 and 250,000 rubles (about $1,650 to $4,130).[34] Smolensk Oblast officials created the Feniks volunteer battalion Telegram channel on July 27 and announced recruitment of men ages 18 to 60 in the region for a minimum six-month service period.[35] Khanty-Mansi Okrug announced the formation of two unnamed volunteer battalions also requiring a minimum contract time period of six months.[36] Voronezh Oblast promised recruits of an unspecified volunteer battalion monthly salaries of at least 256,000 rubles (about $4,200) if the servicemen serve in the combat zone.[37]

Activity in Russian-occupied Areas (Russian objective: consolidate administrative control of occupied areas; set conditions for potential annexation into the Russian Federation or some other future political arrangement of Moscows choosing)

Ongoing Ukrainian partisan activity and civilian resistance are frustrating Russian occupation forces and may lead to additional crackdowns on occupied civilians. Unknown people shot and killed the deputy head of the Russian administration in charge of the housing and utility sector in Nova Kakhovka, Kherson Oblast, Vitaly Gura, on August 5.[38] Gura died in the hospital on August 6. Russian milblogger Daniil Bezsonov claimed that Ukrainian partisans were responsible.[39] Ukrainian Advisor to the Kherson Military Administration Serhiy Khan warned that Guras fate will reach all collaborators but did not directly attribute the attack to partisans.[40] Ukrainian Telegram channel MariupolNow reported that partisans took responsibility for an explosion at the Russian-controlled police station in Berdyansk, Zaporizhia Oblast on August 6.[41] The Ukrainian Resistance Center reported on August 4 that Russian occupation forces harassed the staff of a construction materials store in occupied Kherson, but that the staff refused to work for Russian occupation forces.[42] The Ukrainian Resistance Center also reported both attacks on August 6 and said The Center for National Resistance notes that collaborationism is bad for your health.[43]

Russian state media advocated for the introduction of labor camps, repression, and the shooting of Ukrainian partisans and civilians who refuse to cooperate with Russian-appointed officials in occupied Ukrainian territories. Kremlin-affiliated outlet Komsomolskaya Pravda host Sergey Mardan encouraged an unnamed occupation authority that he interviewed on his show to recreate gulags (the notorious Soviet prison/labor camp system), confiscate private property, and shoot local teachers and partisans for refusing to cooperate with Russian-appointed authorities.[44] The majority owner of Komsomolskaya Pravda, Sergey Rudnov, is the son of Oleg Rudnov, a childhood friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin.[45] The unnamed occupation official also acknowledged that Russian authorities have been facing severe challenges with partisan activity, specifically noting an occasion when partisans disabled the electronic control units of unspecified equipment. The interview confirms Ukrainian official reports of partisan activity and the refusal of Ukrainian specialists to cooperate with occupation authorities.

Meanwhile, Russian occupation forces continue to prepare for the integration of occupied territories into the Russian Federation following their sham annexation referenda. The Ukrainian Resistance Center reported on August 6 that Russian authorities seized the Suspline Kherson TV branch, likely to establish pro-Russian broadcasters in advance of the referenda, and renamed it the Tavriia channel.[46] The Tavriia (or Tauride) Gubernia was a historical province of the Russian Empire and is a possible administrative structure for parts of occupied Kherson and Zaporizhia oblasts that could fold them into a Russian republic that may also include Russian-occupied Crimea.[47] The Center reported that the majority of the TV channel staff refused to cooperate, so Russian forces appointed a cleaning lady as channel director and imported propagandists from St Petersburg to open a media school to teach all willing people how to be journalists, cameramen, and editors for the occupation administration-run channel. Russian state-affiliated news outlet TASS reported that Russian occupation forces will begin issuing Russian license plates in Kherson Oblast with region code 184 and will require residents to have Russian passports to acquire legal license plates.[48] ISW previously reported that Russian occupation authorities are dramatically expanding their passportization of occupied Ukrainian territories by requiring Ukrainian civilians to acquire Russian passports to participate in basic life activities.[49] The Russian head of the Zaporizhia Occupation Administration, Yevheny Balitsky, stated on August 5 that the Zaporizhian rail lines will become part of a big network of Russian railways, demonstrating Russian plans for increasingly overt integration with the Russian Federation.[50]

View Citations

Original post:
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 6 - Critical Threats Project

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced that the application of periodic preventive maintenance to its power transmission networks contributes to achieving 100% in the reliability and availability of the power transmission system in Dubai, and reducing the average maintenance costs by approximately AED 2 million annually. This also has helped DEWA to be the Best in Class among global utilities since 2018.

DEWA continuously conducts preventive maintenance work based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality, Data Science, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), the latest cybersecurity technologies, thermal images and functional tests. Through its Space D-programme, DEWA is developing several specialised uses for the electricity and water networks, enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness, including preventive maintenance of the electricity and water networks and improving resilience and agility in monitoring and controlling the electricity and water networks.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, noted that DEWA is the first utility in the region to adopt Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) strategy. In 2016, it received the ISO 55001: 2014 Certificate for Asset Management. DEWA was the first utility in the world to receive the prestigious award for integrating high quality asset management in operations pertaining to the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity and water.

We are committed to achieving the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to provide an advanced and integrated infrastructure for electricity and water to meet the increasing demand and keep pace with the needs of sustainable development in Dubai, and to provide electricity and water services according to the highest standards of availability, reliability and efficiency. DEWA continues to develop innovative, proactive solutions by using its advanced smart grid and the latest technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to strengthen its leadership as one of the most prominent and distinguished utilities worldwide in all fields, added Al Tayer.

We raise the capacity, efficiency and reliability of the electricity transmission network through implementing preventive maintenance and using the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, telecommunications and tele-control systems, , securing the network through a well-established protection system, adopting the highest international standards in operation, and using smart grid technologies. The smart grid provides advanced features, including automated decision-making and deployment of smart sensors and applications to regulate transmission and distribution network operations. This has made DEWAs practices a benchmark for utilities around the world, said Hussain Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission Power at DEWA.

Original post:
DEWA's preventive maintenance work for its energy transmission network makes its grid the best worldwide - Government of Dubai Media Office

In spite of a heroic counteroffensive by Kiev, Russian tanks, vehicles, and artillery are accumulating in southern Ukraine as Putins forces attempt to tighten their control over the area.

Russian forces drove north from the occupied peninsula during a deadly six-day fight to seize control of the Kherson region near Crimea on March 2.

However, Ukraine has put up a strong fight against the invaders in recent weeks, and Kyiv is now confident that it can recapture the area by September.

This mornings daily intelligence bulletin from the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated: Long convoys [] continue to move away from Ukraines Donbas region and are going southwest.

According to the MoD, Battalion tactical groups (BTG), which are made up of between 800 and 1,000 soldiers, have been sent to Crimea and will probably certainly be employed to reinforce Russian forces in the Kherson region.

In Ukraines southern areas, Ukrainian forces are increasingly concentrating their attacks on rail links, munitions storage facilities, and bridges.

Russias war against Ukraine is set to enter a new phase, with the focus shifting to an approximately 350-kilometer front line running parallel to the Dnieper River from close to Zaporizhzhia to Kherson.

In the meantime, video shared on Telegram claimed to show Ukrainian rockets striking a Russian armoured car, the kind that would presumably be in the long convoys that are rumoured to be travelling to Kherson.

According to Ukraine, there have been claims of horrendous Russian war crimes in Kherson on a magnitude almost too sickening to imagine.

Russians are allegedly ambushed, bombed, and the targets of sniper fire in Kherson, according to pro-democracy activists in the area. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are able to cause significant harm thanks to shipments of Western weapons.

The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which the US provided and is capable of firing barrages of missiles from the back of an armoured lorry, is the weapon that the Russians are most afraid of.

These rocket launchers are practically unstoppable since they are both manoeuvrable and deadly accurate. They may destroy a column of tanks or an ammunition depot in a single strike.

The AFU was supposed to last a month on the last shipment of HIMARS.

But with terrible results, they set the whole thing ablaze in three days.

We can say that the Kherson region will surely be liberated by September, and all the occupiers schemes will fail, declared Serhii Khlan, the regional governor of Kherson, last week.

The bold prediction came a week after Ukraine apparently tried to block off Kherson from reinforcements by attacking two important bridges going there, and as footage showed destroyed Russian anti-air systems in the area.

The only regional city to fall to Putins forces during the five-month conflict is Kherson, which also serves as Russias sole enclave on the western bank of the Dnipro River, which runs through the heart of Ukraine.

Regaining control of it would provide a significant propaganda blow to Putins forces and potentially put a stop to their efforts to advance west along the Black Sea to the port of Odesa.

Generals from Russia have already stated that one of their war goals is to block off Ukraine from the Black Sea, denying Zelenskys administration access to its most valuable trading routes.

Related

Read more here:
Putins forces attempt to tighten control over Kyiv - TDPel Media

Over the past years, theres been excessive and infiltrating use of smartphones, laptops, and tablets, which have become an integral part of our lives as it keeps us in touch with the external world. Their usage as a means of connectivity and the providence of using it whenever and wherever we want has caused it to be introduced recurrently in our daily life [1]. A dramatic spike has been observed in their usage that has now slowly developed into an unconscious, effortless reach-out for gadgets even when it isnt mandatory. There has been a major overtaking of gadgets and technology as it has been incorporated into our private and professional lives and has proven to be an aid in achieving a comfortable and easily accessible lifestyle. [2]

It has been found that their design to lure attention has enabled an average person to tap and swipe their phones around 2600 times a day [2] and has caused an individual to spend approximately three to five hours per day [3,4]. It has been studied that there is a risk of addiction in university students all across the globe due to the constant use of gadgets that causes abandonment of work and engagement in unnecessary screen time [5-6]. There has been an observational decline in their academic performance and energy due to lack of sleep which has further added to a stressful lifestyle [6-8]. Studies have established the impact of digital technology usage and teenage well-being to be harmful but to a small proportion [9-10]. Gadgets, having given the leverage and opportunity to users to utilize the power of technology whenever possible, have many downsides and always come with a cost. The constant connection has led to social pressure to constantly be in touch with peers, safety issues due to excessive usage, and an overall decrease in mood and well-being [11]. Due to the negative impact of technology on student health and lower levels of well-being, the need for a novel idea to combat this issue has become a dire need.

Digital well-being is an upcoming intervention that can be viewed as using digital technology to ensure one's mental and physical health in an environment overridden by digital abundance. Digital well-being primarily focuses on incorporating and adapting personal tech habits to fulfill essential targets. The central but small steps that can be incorporated into one's life are to promote focus when working or studying and minimize distractions, set reminders to unplug and detox and promote the building of social and family relations for better mental wellness [12]. Digital wellness essentially prioritizes the level of self-control one can assert over their usage of digital devices and focuses on aligning them to achieve long-standing goals. Self-control as the focus of attaining digital well-being is seen to be more effective, and a means to achieve personal and healthy lifestyles [13].

Although individuals have expressed an interest in setting self-limits and restricting the usage of smartphones, adhering to them has proven to be tricky and often cumbersome. There has been the development of many productivity-promoting apps and tools for individuals to set restraints and limits. Still, little research has been done on its effectiveness and the aspects to be considered to ensure its efficiency. Only when there is non-use of apps that cause distractions can there be a shifting of the attention to engage in n productive environment.

The current evidence suggests that typical or balanced digital technology use will not harm adolescents or students. However, excessive or inappropriate use may lead to adverse effects like insufficient sleep [5,9], lack of energy, poor academic achievement [5], altered psychological well-being [6], withdrawal, functional impairment, compulsive behavior [7], physiological stress, mind wandering, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder-related behavior, nonadaptive/negative thinking styles, decreased life satisfaction [9]. Digital technology use is more likely to affect short-term positive or negative affect than long-term life satisfaction.

The European Commission 2020 announced The European Digital Strategy that focuses on digital inclusion incorporating technology in education as one of the priorities in schools and colleges; hence use of technological advancements is inevitable [14]. A study conducted in Riyadh on medical students showed that 51.6% of students use personal digital assistance devices such as laptops and tablets for their studies. Even though they are aware of the ill effects it causes on their health, they continue using the same [4].

Leading technology companies such as Apple and Google have taken the initiative of incorporating digital well-being tools such as Screentime and Digital Wellbeing into their operating systems in the promotion of digital wellness by aiding in the monitoring of daily usage and setting limits on distracting apps and ensures concentration and efficiency (Figure 1, 2). Apps such as Forest, Detox, OffTime, and Moment act as positive reinforcement and enable individuals to focus on their goals with visual stimulus and rewards, thereby regaining control of lost screen time [15]. The main focus of such an initiative is to ensure that we use technology for the betterment and not let it take control of our lives.

Research conducted for two weeks on the effectiveness of digital tools with a self-designed app called 'Mytime' revealed that stand-alone interventions have reduced smartphone's non-use of specific apps by 21% and have effectively helped individuals achieve their self-defined goals for a short duration. However, this has been limited as smartphone usage has become a social practice, and often warnings are ignored in a social setting; hence interventions have to be personalized to cater to an individual for them to be effective [11].

NUGU is a group-based app used to self-regulate and restrict smartphone usage. It primarily focuses on taking aid of groups and social support and serves the purpose of helping and motivating each other. There was a positive impact, and this kind of intervention successfully managed distractions and limited usage [16].

Digital detox interventions wherein an individual observes voluntary abstinence from social media and technology have been suggested as a solution to reduce the negative impacts of smartphone use on outcomes like well-being or social relationships. These interventions are a solution to minimize digital addiction [17]. The national day of unplugging observed on 4th-5th March has been followed by many organizations for several years and has dedicated a day to promoting 24 hours detox from technology. Digital detox intervention studies have shown that there has been a significant reduction in stress, improved sleep hygiene, and overall improved mental health [17,18]. On the other hand, a study conducted on a digital detox for smartphone users for 24 hours measured the effect on three parameters (mood, anxiety, and craving) on four different occasions. The results showed that only desire was affected, suggesting that a long period of smartphone usage might not be indicative of digital addiction [19]. Hence there seem to be varying results indicating the need for a personalized approach.

Tiffany Shlain [20], in her book '24/6: The power of unplugging one day a week', talks about how it's necessary to take a break from technology and smartphones once a day according to convenience to promote balance and recharge oneself with social interactions. She talks about putting aside a day for self-reflection and regaining control of one's life. The tips shared in her books are simple yet effective and are a means of promoting digital wellness.

Digital and online activity of students may include using the web and online services for social networking, education, information gathering, and entertainment.Adolescents, teenagers, and students need to analyze their use of various websites, mobile apps, electronic gadgets, and devices and differentiate between using digital technology for study and other purposes [12]. If the students' digital indulgence is more for activities other than academics, it may affect their progress and performance. Secondly, nowadays, if the quantum of online learning resource material is overwhelming in the education field, that too may adversely affect digital wellbeing.

To prevent the emergenceof digital stress and its implications, it is vital to teach young students the effective use of digital and online resources.Some of the measures that may help to improve digital well-being are - capacity building of students for practical use and handling of digital and online resources[13],emphasizing active learning in the classroom and lab/fields, and promoting a healthy digital learning environment to facilitate digital creation, innovation, networking, and collaboration in academics and research [14], and use of interventions like digital detox and apps [15,17].

There has been sufficient data suggesting that using digital interventions promotes and helps an individual attain overall wellbeing. The use of digital detox programs, although proven effective, has drawbacks in the period and compliance of individuals [19]. Digital wellbeing apps have the advantage of easy-to-use technology and being accessible, proving to be the aptest link in reducing technological use. Using new and strategic app-based interventions has shown better progress and can cater to a much larger population. A positive association has been seen in using digital tools as they have demonstrated reduced stress and anxiety levels in a controlled setting [15].

Despite temporary and simple incorporable solutions that can easily be indulged in one's lifestyle, there have been profound difficulties in adhering to self-defined boundaries. It has been challenging to tweak habits and make lifestyle changes even when it is goal-oriented and is for the maintenance of well-being. Social settings leading to altered behavior and already developed habits and patterns pose a problem following the required regimens by customized apps and interventions. There is a constant need for motivation and reminders to keep focus and adhere to the targets. Since there is inconclusive evidence on the effectiveness of digital well-being due to various variables present, there is a prerequisite to personalizing digital well-being requirements by customizing an individual's specific needs. The limitations in using interventions for achieving digital well-being are seen to be a 'vantage point' in future studies and can help better understand this concept.

The importance of digital wellness is to enable users to be more productive and engage in activities that promote holistic growth using technology to attain healthy and active lifestyles. Digital well-being can create significant advances in research with appropriate data backup. It can be integrated to promote awareness in medical students and teachers and encourage education about the struggles faced with social media connectivity, the risk of stress, and burnout. It can help foster healthy digital habits and promote the need for better interpersonal relationships with family and colleagues. There has, however, been minimal knowledge regarding it, causing a standby on its inquiry. The limitations set in achieving digital well-being can be overcome by more empirical research and customizing it to fulfill an individuals purpose and goals.

Read more:
'Digital Wellbeing': The Need of the Hour in Today's Digitalized and Technology Driven World! - Cureus