I gave a TEDxTalk on breaking digital boundaries but I still feel trapped in my own digital world. Glowing screens hold us back from our true potential. Can digital detoxes break this illusion and help us find purpose?
Most of us can’t remember the last time when weren’t glued to our screens. I couldn’t. I realized even when I would spend quality time with family and friends, digital noise would interrupt us. We were together but not truly present. Technology and social media have built barriers between us, hindering us from reaching our potential with others and ourselves.
According to Common Sense Media, teens spend nine hours per day consuming digital media via entertainment platforms like social media and television. Nine hours is more time than some of sleep every night. This statistic felt like a wave of sadness inspiring me to speak about the issue at TEDxYouth@ChavisWay this April. But it’s hard to admit that I still feel like I am glued to screens and I feel especially guilty in doing so.
Additionally, the time investment that so many of us put into digital media, pales when faced with the mental health issues that we are currently facing. The CDC reports that youth who spend even four hours a day on digital devices are more likely to reports symptoms of anxiety and depression. What’s worse is body image and self-esteem issues that come from digital media are especially prevalent in adolescent girls and those with a lower socioeconomic status. Cultural and mental health factors play a significant role too.
Our minds are constantly overwhelmed, distracted, and overstimulated. Some teens don’t even have access to alternative activities other than their screens. This makes for difficult social interactions, sleep deprivation, and cyberbullying. Even though we feel especially connected with others on social media; in reality we are disconnecting from our reality and the potential that each of us has to bring change in the world. The algorithm is designed to keep us glued to our screens and we have to find a way to combat this.
And one day, sparking the idea for my TEDx talk, I decided to dry a digital detox. Just 24 hours of no constant notifications and mindless scrolling. I realized that whenever I was bored or afraid of the silence it was a reflex to reach for my phone. But as I tried to digital detox more and more, my days became more peaceful. I started rediscovering parts of myself that I had forgotten existed. I reconnected with my cultural roots through an Indian classical dance form, Bharatanatyam. I also wrote thoughts, not texts; read books, not captions on the television; and had time to sit alone with my thoughts and enjoy the company of the people around me.
I realized that the silence that came with a digital detox wasn’t empty, like you might expect. It was full of clarity and purpose. It might seem radical to go without devices for a day. However, you can start small. You can set phone-free zones, unfollow accounts and delete apps that don’t serve you right, and replace your screen time with activities that give you energy.
Our generation has the power to create, innovate, and lead. We can’t do that unless we unfollow the digital noise and tune into our own minds. Everytime we step away from the noise we reclaim our potential and creativity, and slowly the world around us changes, one idea at a time. A world where our worth isn’t measured by likes, and controlled by technology is just on the horizon. We just need to be brave enough to reclaim it.
A digital detox can break the hollow illusion that digital media and our devices display, leaving more room to follow our hearts, passions, and purpose. By breaking free from the digital noise we focus on creating groundbreaking impact and learn that the digital silence that follows, unlocks unique potential. Your potential.
This piece is part of Project Awaaz (founded by Aditi Ediga,) a teen-led series on mental health and culture.
