digital detox

[dij-i-tl dee-toks]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of digital detox¹

First recorded in 2010–15

Example Sentences

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

The nascent “digital detox” sector is a hard one to triangulate.

From Slate

The one market research report I could find pegs the digital detox industry as a growing market, but still a tiny one, doing around half a billion dollars in worldwide sales per year.

From Slate

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

From Slate

But because of the largest tech companies’ incentives, the digital detox space is one of the most ripe for new entrants.

From Slate