Written with a very special thanks to Netherthong Primary's Year Six students and their teacher Martin Clayton
The average person spends 10 hours online each day and sleeps less than seven hours each night. Worldwide, two-billion people own smartphones. Over a third of households subscribe to video-streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, or HBO Go.
Just as drive-throughs satisfy our busy, automobile-driving lives, personal devices satisfy our busy, information-hungry desires.
In this modern era, we no longer need to wait to find the answers we crave or the social connections we desire. We no longer need to venture to the library to seek information or to Blockbuster Video for entertainment. We no longer have to wait days or weeks or months for our favorite shows and movies to air on TV. We can have it all right now without needing to leave our homes. Our devices are convenient outlets for explorations of all kinds. Boundless exploration is at our fingertips.
We have the option to be connected in at any time. But, is it really necessary?
I have observed media habits for seven years as an educator. My students use iPads to access textbooks, notetaking applications, and external resources. iPads are an unfortunate requirement of the modern education system, since they capable of receiving notifications at any time from Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and various sports applications. Students seem to be dstracted at all times of day, not just during class. I see kids in the hallways, so mesmerized by their glowing screens that they ignore their friends and fail to look where they are walking. One particular student of mine regularly boasts about his uncanny ability to function normally at school despite his proclivity to binge-watch Netflix shows all night long!
What is lost when we are plugged in?
Spending more than 70 hours a week online doesn’t leave much time for anything else. It doesn’t leave any time to develop and pursue hobbies, spend time with loved ones, travel, or complete necessary household tasks. We barely have any time left to learn, to create, and to live our lives. We are neglecting our personal relationships, our chores, and even our safety by choosing to spend more time in a digital world. There is an increased risk of illness and obesity associated with the sedentary nature of technology use. When we spend too much time online, whether it is due to using the internet, email, social media, or texting, we can become sleep deprived and disconnected with reality, leading to numerous psychological ramifications. In addition, if our wireless connection is suddenly disrupted, we end up feeling anxious, helpless, lost, and alone.
To combat the rising dependence on technology, more and more people are gravitating towards something called a “digital detox.”
What is a digital detox?
A digital detox is a period of time when a technology user abstains from devices like smartphones, computers, wearables, or tablets in order to reconnect and ground themselves more fully to the physical world.
What’s the point of a digital detox?
Digital detoxes are geared towards breaking technology habits and rekindling relationships with the real world. This can be done through disconnection with the virtual world, since studies have shown that disconnecting from devices can reduce stress and increase productivity. Once disconnected, we can experience a more focused connection with ourselves and others. Digital detox practices are meant to increase our feelings of self-other awareness, to revive feelings of empathy for our fellow humans, and to restore balance to our lives.
Who is doing a Digital Detox?
Organizations such as Camp Grounded and Digital Detox make it easy for companies to organize tech-free retreats to give employees breaks from screen time. Virgin Airlines integrates digital detoxifying techniques into their workdays by having employees turn off their devices between 10 a.m. and noon on Wednesdays. During this time of disconnection, employees engage in group brainstorming sessions while taking walks in nature. Virgin hopes these “Disconnection Wednesdays” will help foster feelings of work-life balance.
Digital Detox and Education
Even educational institutions like high schools and grade schools are including digital detoxes into their curriculum. The rationale for digital detoxes in schools is to help students use technology more responsibly since it is an inevitable part of the future. And, kids are the future!
I’ve often wondered what a tech-free week would do for the youth. What would it be like to force kids to leave technology alone for a week? Would students’ technology habits change once they completed the detox?
I had the recent privilege of connecting with the Netherthong Primary School in Holmfirth, England, where Year Six (apprx. 5th grade) students have just completed a week-long digital detox. These kids have never known a world without constant connection. After reaching out and chatting with Martin Clayton, a teacher of Netherthong Primary who recently led his students through a digital detox, I was able to gather some data about their experience.
To see how Netherthong's Year Six students fared on their week-long digital detox, check back next week Monday morning when I'll post "The Importance of Disconnecting to Reconnect: Part 2."