Digital Detox Day: Pause for Presence

We check our mobile phones even before we greet our families – this has become the ‘new normal’ morning routine for many. In fact, the average person spends 6 to 7 hours per day on screens globally, which equals about 40% of waking hours for many adults. What began as a luxury, and transformed into a necessity, is now taking a toll on our physical and mental health. Face to face conversations, quality time with family and social relationships are sacrificed at the altar of constant online connectivity. Unceasing notifications disrupt moments of rest, causing eye-strain and headaches. Meanwhile, long-term effects of excessive screen time include anxiety, sleep disruption, reduced attention span and poor memory.

Scientific evidence also relates heavy screen exposure to increased alienation and depression among people, particularly youth. As digital dependence deepens, so do the associated problems. As such, the idea of observing a National Detox Day emerges as a worthwhile measure. Such a day would not demand abstinence from digital usage but encourage awareness about the serious repercussions that its overuse leads to. By stepping away from devices for even a few hours, families could reconnect, communities could revive shared activities, and individuals could rediscover the restorative power of physical presence. Educational institutions and other workplaces could mark the day with outdoor activities and group discussions about the mindful use of technology. This does not mean governments should police screen time. Digital tools remain essential for education, employment, and communication. The role of the state should be to guide public awareness, not impose rigid controls. People need to self-regulate their screen-time to more judicious use. However, if a National Detox Day were established as a day of purposeful digital disengagement, perhaps there would be a decrease in doom scrolling. A day offline may help us reconnect with what truly matters.

Asma Majid, a post graduate in English Literature. She is a participant in Multimedia Bootcamp at GKSC.