Is Trying to Disconnect from Our Devices Fruitless in Today’s World of Technology Integration?

In February, it was reported that Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff took a 10-day ‘digital detox’ at a French Polynesian resort. While this may be an achievable dream for a small group of people, for most, it is an impossibility, especially now. A digital detox involves a significant reduction in technology use, such as taking a break from screens, social media, and video conferences for multiple days. The goals of this are to reduce stress or anxiety and reconnect with the physical world, but although there are no scientifically proven benefits from periods of tech abstinence, the digital detox has become a coveted challenge.

However, since the term was first used in 2012, the challenge has become far harder to accomplish. Screens were already important then, even with nascent versions of apps and social media. Yet attempting a digital detox in 2012 would have been a piece of cake compared to now, when more than ever, our lives are inextricably linked with technology. We use our phones to pay in stores, work on our computers and tablets, and maintain relationships through apps. And since the pandemic, our life-tech connection has intensified even further.

For most people, a digital detox in 2023 is no longer feasible. Short of running to the remote wilderness for a few phone-free days, experts say that it is impossible to completely disconnect from technology. “Technology is very much a part of us now. We bank with an app, read restaurant menus on phones and even sweat with exercise instructors through a screen,” says Seattle-based consultant Emily Cherkin, who specialises in screen-time management. “It’s so embedded in our lives, we’re setting ourselves up for failure if we say we’re going to go phone-free for a week.”

It is becoming increasingly difficult to disconnect from our devices as they become more entwined in our lives. However, there may be a more achievable solution to reducing our tech obsession without requiring complete disconnection.

The pandemic has intensified screen time, as people spent more time on devices during lockdown and continue to do so even as they are free to leave their homes and socialize. According to a 2022 University of Leeds study, 54% of British adults now use screens more often than before the pandemic, with half of those surveyed spending 11 or more hours a day on screens. Screen time for leisure has increased for 51% of respondents, while 27% reported an increase in screen use for work.

This rise in screen time has also transformed how we connect with each other. As we built communities in WhatsApp groups, replaced family meals with FaceTime calls, and more, critical relationships have become more digitized. As a result, a digital detox not only means taking a break from work-related Slack chats but also entails cutting ties with loved ones for a certain period of time.

Technology has also become a central means of making friends, with online dating and apps like Bumble BFF seeing a surge in usage. Writer Chris Dancy notes that, for many people, technology has become a form of accessibility, and they may have forgotten how to navigate relationships without it.

As people become increasingly dependent on technology, the idea of a traditional digital detox no longer seems practical. Instead, a more realistic solution may be to reduce our tech obsession without completely disconnecting, especially in light of the growing trend towards hybrid work and relationships. Digital detoxes are often recommended as a way to reduce anxiety and distractions, but when our lives are so intertwined with screens, it can be challenging to disconnect, leading to more stress and anxiety.

Sina Joneidy, a senior lecturer in digital enterprise at Teesside University in the UK, suggests a different approach. Rather than completely cutting out technology, he advocates for detoxing from “desirous attachment” to technology, a Buddhist concept that describes wanting something because we believe it will make us happy, even if it’s just a blue light dopamine hit. Instead of a complete digital detox, Joneidy practices digital mindfulness, making sure his use of technology is purposeful. This approach allows users to enhance their lives with technology and be intentional with its use, rather than feeling tethered to a device and seduced by mindless scrolling.

Even if individuals cannot completely detach from screens, paying attention to specific tech-use patterns can help them use technology more intentionally, according to experts. Anthropologist Amber Case, based in Oregon, recommends using tracking tools on mobile phones to monitor usage patterns, and using plugins such as One Sec, which forces users to take a deep breath before accessing their apps, thereby allowing them to break out of autopilot mode. She also advises avoiding scrolling through the phone as a break and leaving the phone in another place when not in use. Experts suggest that the goal should not be to cut off technology entirely, but to avoid getting distracted by online content while performing essential tasks such as sending emails or texts. The approach is called “grey detoxing,” where individuals are not entirely immersed or disconnected from technology. Techniques include installing an app or plug-in to remove all metrics from social media or trading phones with loved ones. By using their loved ones’ phones, individuals can become more immersed in their digital lives. Therefore, instead of attempting to live without phones for a week, individuals can approach unavoidable screen time in a way that feels right for their individual lives.