Digital Detox Health Effects

Digital detox (?????? ???????) refers to a period of time when a person voluntarily refrains from using digital devices such as smartphones, computers, and social media platforms. This form of detoxification has gained popularity, as individuals have increased their time spent on digital devices and the Internet. Hence, Siddha Spirituality of Swami Hardas Life System also opines that the use of digital devices and the internet should be in moderation, one should not be addicted to it. Please read more about digital detox for well-being.

Digital detox Definition (?????? ??????? ?? ???????)

Digital detox refers to a state when an individual quits or suspends the use of digital equipment and devices to utilize that time for social interactions and activities. It is a technique that enables an individual to relieve stress and anxiety incurred from being over-occupied by the high utilization of digital devices.

Digital detox Background (?????? ??????? ?? ?????????)

A 2015 survey conducted by Deloitte found that around 59% of smartphone users check a social media platform in the five minutes prior to going to bed, and within 30 minutes of waking up.

Digital detox Motivations (?????? ??????? ?? ???????)

Motivations to start a digital detox include:

• Concern about developing addictive behavior that some identify as an Internet addiction disorder
• Aiming to reduce stress and anxiety caused by the overuse of technology
• Re-focusing offline social interactions and actions
• Re-connecting with nature
• Increasing mindfulness
• Improving one’s learning ability by decreasing distractions and eliminating multi-tasking

Digital detox Health Effects (?????? ??????? ?? ????????? ??????)

Physiological (???????) 

The extended overuse of technology has been found to reduce the quality of sleep, cause eye strain and vision problems, as well as lead to the increased occurrence of migraine headaches. A previous research survey of over 7,000 participants found that approximately 70% of those who use technology with screens have experienced digital eye strain as a result of the growing use of.

Effects of popular technological devices such as cellphones and computers have on our sleep have been well documented. The light emitted from screens has been shown to suppress the production of the hormone Melatonin, an important regulatory biochemical that controls the duration and character of sleep cycles.

Furthermore, cellphones and other technological devices can act as distractions that prevent us from getting sleep. It is suggested that the presence of a cellphone or tablet within the bedroom at night is responsible for up to an hour of time being distracted that could have been used for sleep.

Psychological (????????????) 

A study published in The Journal of The American Medical Association reported that teens and young adults who frequently used digital media were more than twice as likely to develop symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Other publications, however, have found that technology-addicted teenagers have significantly higher scores when being evaluated for:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Impulsive behaviour

Relationship (?????) 

A study of 145 adults suggested that the act of snubbing a partner in favor of using a cellphone lowered marital satisfaction. In addition to lowering satisfaction, those who had snubbed their partners before for their cell phone also tested higher for depression and reported lower satisfaction with life.

Another study suggested that the visible presence of mobile devices during conversations had a limiting effect on the sense of connection felt between those involved in the conversation as well as the overall quality of the conversation. These findings suggest that the abundant presence of technology in our every day lives may act as a limiting factor to the deepness of relationships we are able to form, thus negatively impacting the health of our relationships.

Social media detoxification (???? ?????? ??????????????)

A subset of digital detox is social media detox, which is a period of time when individuals voluntarily stay away from social media. In academic research, social media detoxification is commonly referred to as the “non-use of social media”, and falls under the umbrella of “Digital Detox”, with a focus specifically on unplugging from social media.

Social media rejectors (???? ?????? ?????)

Based on a 2019 Pew Research Center study, 69% of adults in the United States use Facebook, 73% use YouTube, and 37% use Instagram. A 2012 study found that around 60% of Facebook users have made a conscious effort to voluntarily take a break from Facebook for a time period of several weeks or more. This has been referred to as “media refusal”, with non-users known as “social media rejectors” who once used social media but have now voluntarily given it up for various reasons.

Methods of Digital detox (?????? ??????? ?? ?????)

Social Media Detoxification (???? ?????? ??????????????)

A subset of a digital detox is a social media detox, in which an individual voluntarily keeps off of social media platforms. The use of social media can lead to internet addiction and decrease productivity which is why celebrities such as Ed Sheeran and Kendall Jenner have undergone a social media detox and influenced others to do one as well.

Comedian Ari Shaffir gained attention for refusing to use a smartphone after concerns about spending too much time on it, especially on social media. A study found that the average user will spend 5 years and 4 months on social media, which is second only to watching TV, which is at 7 years and 8 months.

Many social media users will also visit their platforms multiple times per day, with 68% of Snapchat users and 50% of Facebook. Based on a 2019 Pew Research Center study, 73% of adults in the United States use YouTube, 37% use Instagram and 69% use Facebook with around 60% of Facebook users making an effort to undergo social media detoxification.

Other methods of digital detox (?????? ??????? ?? ???? ???????)

Most experts agree that moderation is a much more effective method of detoxification than fully forgoing technology. One way of curbing the overuse of digital devices is to allocate some of the uses of a smartphone.

Google is launching a “paper phone” which can contain daily agendas, directions, and other users so that people rely less on their smartphone.

Criticisms of Digital Detox (?????? ??????? ?? ??????)

An integral aspect of everyday life (???????? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ?????? ????)

Over the past decade, technology and social media have become an integral aspect of everyday life, and thus the decision to refrain from using technology or social media has become a conscious lifestyle choice reflecting the desire for selective and reversible disconnection. In the digital age, social media plays a vital role in building social capital, maintaining connections, and managing impressions.

A balanced state of body and mind (???? ?? ?? ?? ??????? ??????)

Scholars have argued for the importance of maintaining a certain level of distraction that social media can provide for a balanced state of body and mind, and some scholars have even argued that social media is necessary and should not be completely cut out. That being said, many scholars believe that the moderation of social media is essential, primarily due to social media platforms’ goal of encouraging constant use with likes, notifications, and infinite scrolling.

Alternative methods (???????? ?????)

To lessen the effects of these addictive features social media platforms such as Instagram have begun to explore alternative methods, such as making likes on a user’s post invisible to the user, to shift the focus away from constant notifications and likes.

Movements against technology addiction (???????????? ?? ?? ?? ????? ??????)

Some companies have even launched movements against technology addiction. For example, In October 2019 Google released Paper Phone, a google product consisting of a printed piece of paper folded into eighths that contains relevant information to your day much like a daily planner. The motive behind the project was to provide the utility of a smartphone in a simplistic and less dynamic delivery.

Other projects focusing on building second phones with less functionality are The Light Phone, Siempo, Mudita. Other initiatives put human nature and design above technology. Some critics disagree with Google’s approach to the digital detox phenomenon, however, and instead argue that harmony between technology use and well-being can be achieved.

 

Reference:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_detox
• https://www.techopedia.com/definition/15418/digital-detox