Should I Try a Digital Detox? Here’s What Made Me Consider It
As the title suggests - should I, or shouldn’t I?
I’ve noticed that quite a few people lately have been gravitating toward some form of digital minimalism or detox in one way or another. And it got me thinking. We initially started out genuinely believing that technology would improve our lives, and in many ways, it has - from chunky TV to a flat screen TV and from flip phones to our smartphones, but here we are, having conversations about how to limit our tech consumption and trying to go backwards. That’s not quite how anyone imagined it going, is it?
The Algorithm Problem
A big part of what’s been sitting on my mind is how social media platforms have evolved. Shorts, Reels, algorithmically curated feeds that somehow always know exactly what to show you next - it’s all designed to keep you scrolling just a little bit longer without a “stop”. And after a while, that stops feeling like entertainment and starts feeling like a drain. A slow, quiet drain on your mental energy that you don’t always notice until you’ve already lost an hour to it.
That’s what I wanted to call a social media compulsion - and I think a lot of us have it to some way or another without fully realizing it.
What I Actually Miss
I miss the earlier days of social media, honestly. When it was a place to reconnect with old friends, stay in touch with family abroad, post a photo because you wanted to share a moment and follow YouTube channels you enjoyed watching - not because you were chasing an algorithm or trying to keep up with a trend. It felt lighter back then. More human.
And I think that’s what a digital detox is really about, at least for me. Not switching off technology entirely, but finding a way back to something that feels more intentional and less compulsive.
So here I am, genuinely weighing it up and thinking about what a realistic version of this could look like for my life. I don’t have all the answers yet, but I think asking the question is a good place to start.
What do you all think? Have you ever tried any kind of digital detox or minimalism approach? I’d genuinely love to hear about it - feel free to email me here, and share your thoughts. No pressure at all, but I genuinely enjoy hearing from people and will do my best to reply when I can 😁.