Digital Detox: Can we take a break from the Internet?

Bao Nguyen
Sep 9, 2018 · 3 min read

In this contemporary digital age, it is undeniable that we have been heavily dependent on the Internet. But is it really a cause of negative consequences? If so, will disconnecting from the Internet truly help us to be more “self-authentic” or just become a temporary solution for our over-mediated digital life?

Source: Startupnation.com

The arrival of Internet has caused real conversations and physical interactions to slowly become “the allure of the virtual” in which a person’s self-image has been separated from its “authentic form” and replaced with “digital status-posturing, empty interaction, and addictive connection” (Jurgenson et al., 2013). This fact made many people, especially early adopters of social media networks to reconsider the quality of their online experience where their privacy has been increasingly invaded for commercial and advertising purposes. Whereas the others just accept their social lives being unfolded as a condition when participating in the media ecosystem (Van Dijck, 2013).

So, there comes a question: is unplugging from Internet able to bring back our true selves and reject social media seductive? With this regard, it would be insufficient not to mention the most well-known disconnection case of The Verge’s Paul Miller.

“The internet had held me back from my true self, the better Paul. I had pulled the plug and found the light” — Paul writes.

However, digital detox did not help him get wiser or healthier as he expected. In contrast, it is argued that people who have disconnected from the Internet come back and report to prefer their online selves which are more real and fulfilling, and that “it was their doubts and dissatisfaction with the internet that had been misguided”. Miller even clearly stated that “you can take your break, but there is no escape” (deBoer, 2014).

Perhaps, the question whether we should take a digital break cannot be answered by a “yes” or “no”, but rather by what method of detoxification we choose and how we experience it. In fact, Australians have recently seen a rising demand for “digital-free holiday”. Since 2016, this service has shifted from a niche product which serves as a way to escape and de-stress to one that attractive to a broader customer base by providing opportunities to stimulate fully engagement between companions (Pearce and Jing, 2018).

Source: fastcompany.com

After all, it is a matter of personal choice when it comes to connect or disconnect from the Internet life. But this, in my experience, is not as important as spending quality time on interacting with other people regardless of the online or offline platforms. Because it would be useless if we are disconnecting but still keeping our online state of mind (deBoer, 2014).


References

Jurgenson, N., Inquiry, T., Horning, R., Bulajewski, M. and Jurgenson, N. (2013). The Disconnectionists. [online] The New Inquiry. Available at: https://thenewinquiry.com/the-disconnectionists/ [Accessed 7 Sep. 2018].

deBoer, F. (2014). Digital Breaks, or “Breaks”. [online] The Dish. Available at: http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2014/08/19/digital-breaks-or-breaks/ [Accessed 7 Sep. 2018].

Van Dijck, J. (2013). The Ecosystem of Connective Media: Lock In, Fence Off, Opt Out?, The Culture of Connectivity: A Critical History of Social Media. New York: Oxford University Press, pp.154–176.

Pearce, L. P. and Jing L. 2018, More of us are opting for ‘digital detox holidays’.The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/more-of-us-are-opting-for-digital-detox-holidays-99740 [Accessed 6 Sep.2018]

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