Digital detox is like plugging a small leak in a dam with your finger

If I’m not on Instagram, I don’t exist. If I’m on TikTok, even better. If I’m on Facebook, though, I must be old. But at least I exist. If I miss a notification or don’t instantly reply to a five-minute voice note on WhatsApp, then I must be ghosting. And that’s not okay. If I own a TV, I’m a loser because shows should be projected onto a wall with a Mubi subscription. Alternatively, compulsively scrolling through my Instagram feed or spending ten minutes on TikTok watching someone boil rice and a guy explaining how Lana Del Rey connects to Dante will do. If I don’t order groceries on Deliveroo and actually go to the supermarket, my back pain and that herniated disc I developed from sitting in front of my laptop will only get worse. Missing that little red dot suddenly appearing on the Tinder icon is basically the same as losing my soulmate. Sitting in silence or chatting with a stranger while waiting for the bus is pure science fiction—wasn’t that why Spotify and Candy Crush were invented? And what if I turn off my phone and there’s a family emergency? No, disconnecting is not an option. And the digital detox that everyone talks about? Just a socially accepted lie, like believing DiCaprio’s character dies in Titanic because there wasn’t enough room on the floating door. Worse yet, maybe it’s just another fleeting trend, built on our guilt and sold to us by the same industry that created the problem. Or am I wrong?

Digital detox: Does unplugging really improve life?

According to the Oxford Dictionary, a digital detox is "a period of time during which a person refrains from using electronic devices such as smartphones, as an opportunity to relieve stress or focus on real-world social connections." The idea is to unplug from all devices and redirect the time and energy spent checking emails or reading Demi Moore’s autobiography on a Kindle into offline activities. You could go for a simple social detox, meaning a break from social media, or a full-on technology detox, which means ditching any device that connects to a network. How long should it last? That’s up to the individual—24 hours, an entire weekend, or testing your endurance by extending the digital fast for weeks or even months. The reward for those who succeed? A healthier relationship with technology? Maybe. But more importantly, better mental—and physical—health.

Smartphone addiction and techno-stress: Why Gen Z wants to disconnect

Recent studies confirm it: techno-stress, mental fatigue, and nomophobia (the fear of being without a smartphone) are increasing at alarming rates, causing anxiety, stress, irritability, concentration difficulties, and sleep disorders. A May 2024 survey by Deloitte Germany found that 56% of respondents admitted to staying up late, being distracted, or feeling compelled to check their phones obsessively. Nearly one in five (19%) aged 18-24 linked excessive smartphone use to physical discomfort like headaches and eye strain. Among younger respondents, 84% believe they use their phones "too much." Aware of the negative effects on mental and physical health, Gen Z acknowledges its digital addiction and feels the need for a detox. The desire for a healthier relationship with apps and social media is creeping into New Year’s resolutions for 2025, with more people setting goals like "disconnecting," "reducing screen time," "spending more time outdoors," or even "deleting social media apps." But how?

From Flip Phones to Detox Apps: The Business of Digital Disconnection

On TikTok, a growing group of Millennials and Gen Z users, rallying behind the hashtag #bringbackflipphones, has embraced digital detox by switching back to flip phones. Others, fearing their brains will rot (brain rot, anyone?) from excessive and compulsive device usage, turn to motivational challenges and apps like Opal, Forest, and Jomo. Those looking to "tackle digital stress and improve their lives" can choose from an endless array of options, from online guides to self-help books, courses, retreats, and tech-free wellness getaways promising an almost mystical mind-body reset. This eclectic mix of quick fixes fuels a billion-dollar industry. In fact, the market for digital detox apps alone is projected to grow from approximately $0.39 billion in 2023 to around $19.44 billion by 2032.

The Detox Culture: A Real Solution or Just Another Business Model?

If creating a problem only to sell its solution is one of the pillars of capitalism, then detox culture is its prime example. Whether it’s detoxing from alcohol, food, or social media, monetizing our cultural anxieties—exploiting a mechanism not so different from addiction itself—is a strategy that works just as well in the digital realm. Algorithms are skilled at identifying user interests, and social media platforms are designed to foster dependency, reinforcing the illusion that our lives only exist if we post about them. As addiction medicine expert Anna Lembke, author of Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, explains: "Every like, comment, or cute cat video triggers a rush of dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter." When the very source of the problem is also selling the cure, it’s hard to ignore the contradiction. What’s the point of quitting social media for a week if you’re still tracking every moment of your detox with your smartphone, only to post and share it online?

Digital Detox: Why Disconnecting Isn’t the Answer and How to Build a Sustainable Relationship with Technology

Cultivating a healthier relationship with technology is both necessary and possible. But believing that a New Age retreat or avoiding scrolling for an hour a day is enough is wishful thinking. Any digital detox practice, while seemingly beneficial in the short term, is ultimately just an act of rebellion against an all-encompassing system that cannot be fully eliminated—because it’s part of the reality we live in. Having an app that tracks how much time we spend on Instagram might make us reflect on our habits, but it’s hardly a real solution. As confirmed by several studies, digital detoxes don’t actually work. To be honest, disconnecting—even temporarily—is a luxury not everyone can afford. For those working in digital fields, especially freelancers, stepping away from the internet often means losing work opportunities. The issue of internet dependency is complex and nuanced—it’s not just about counting hours spent on TikTok or replacing a Zoom call with a walk. What we really need to discuss are more sustainable work rhythms, the creation of accessible community spaces, our collective obsession with hyper-productivity, and rebuilding our tolerance for boredom. We need to dismantle the mechanisms that make us anxious when our phones aren’t within reach. There are no easy, instant solutions. All we can do is strive to balance every aspect of our lives—including the digital one—like a tightrope walker suspended over an empty abyss. And there’s no safety net. Only the risk of falling.