digital detox

American  

[dij-i-tl dee-toks] / ˈdɪdʒ ɪ tl ˈdi tɒks /

noun

Informal.

1. a period during which a person refrains from using digital or electronic devices in order to break a pattern of excessive or compulsive use, and instead prioritizes face-to-face social interactions, mindfulness, harmony with nature, etc.: Teen girls commonly suffer damage to their self-image with exposure to social media and may require a digital detox to address depression and other mental health challenges.

   If being connected 24/7 makes you feel stressed, anxious, or burned out, it’s time to put down the smartphone and get serious about a digital detox.

   Teen girls commonly suffer damage to their self-image with exposure to social media and may require a digital detox to address depression and other mental health challenges.

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Etymology

Origin of digital detox

First recorded in 2010–15

Example Sentences

Dickson estimates that her digital detox has saved her roughly $300 to $500 a month, now that she is no longer tempted to buy new things or try new restaurants every day.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 10, 2025

And while high-schoolers may be forced into temporary digital detox, eventually they will graduate and enter college or the workforce, where no one is going to take their phone away.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 2, 2025

State TV in Vladimir spun the shutdown as "digital detox", showing residents who said they now enjoyed more walking, reading and spending time with friends.

From BBC • Sep. 5, 2025

The industry is also small because its biggest players aren’t really in the digital detox business.

From Slate • Sep. 5, 2025

And yet, unplugging felt like more than just a digital detox.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2025