digital detox

plural digital detoxes

1. informalA voluntary break from the use of computer technology, electronic devices and the Internet, intended to benefit people who spend an excessive amount of time using such technology.

   The Nobel committee has been unable to reach a winner of this year’s prize for medicine who is “living his best life” on an “off the grid” hiking foray. […] But the laureate’s digital detox means the Nobel committee has been unable to reach him and break the news.

   2025 October 6, “Nobel committee unable to reach prize winner who is ‘living his best life’ hiking off grid”, in The Guardian, sourced from Agence France-Presse, →ISSN

   2 more examples

   So while I have nothing but respect for Carr, Crawford and the sage wisdom of the ancient Chinese, I am stuck trying to find a way to address the age of annoyance while still earning a living working with technology. A digital detox, while a luxury like a vacation or spa day, is a nice idea and equally clever marketing trick; but, unfortunately, it is not a long-term solution to a growing issue.

   2011, Gavin Jocius, The Age of Annoyance: Managing our Frustrations with Information Overload, page 109

   Meanwhile an explosion of gen Z running clubs, reading groups, in-person singles parties for people exhausted by dating apps, and “digital detox” events where phones are left outside the door, reflect a palpable and touching new hunger for old-fashioned face-to-face connection.

   2025 March 7, Gaby Hinsliff, “It’s the age of regret: gen Z grew up glued to their screens, and missed the joy of being human”, in The Guardian, →ISSN