Welcome all the Social Media: Technology and Culture Fall 2019 Semester!
During our first week we explored day to day digital connectivity and read danah boyd's Participating in the Always-On Lifestyle. In class, we interrogated the tension of always being connected to our social networks - our smart phones are always with us, and most often always on.
We are at an important historical cultural point. A point where we've observed humanity no longer go "on the internet" but now instead live online. This brought our conversation to the idea of disconnecting. Of unplugging. Would we take a digital sabbatical? Might we live unbeholden to the many alerts on our phones and digital devices?
Given our conversations and reflections, I found this Forbes article, Unplugged: 14 Best Places To Get Off The Grid, particularly relevant.
An excerpt:
"In the past year alone, web searches for “digital detox” have increased by 42%, while a survey found that one in five consumers is taking a digital detox.
And it's no wonder travelers are craving an off-the-grid escape, given that we live in an increasingly high-wired, hyper-connected world. A whopping 96% of Americans own a cell phone, and the average user touches their phone 2,617 times a day. People are looking for ways to separate from their electronics, especially on vacation."
The piece goes on to share a number of digital detox getaways. I remember our class was a bit divided when it came to unplugging. So I ask you now... are you up for a digital detox? Perhaps the "Power Off in Paradise Package" or even the "Camp Grounded"? Why or why not?
Regardless of your answer, what are your thoughts on digital detox tourism? Is it a fleeting trend or will it be around in 10 years in some form or another?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments...
I thought that your article was extremely interesting with all of the different places you could go to detach and get away from your phone. I thought it was an interesting idea and I would like to go do something like that. Although, I can see how it would be difficult considering most college students like me use their phone a lot throughout the day whether it is for social media or just looking something up. We also live in an age where if you don’t post pictures or videos on some sort of social media then it did not happen. I like to document where I go on vacations because it is nice to look back and see what I have done, but there’s also a part of me that wants to put the phone down and live in the moment.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading the article it was really interesting to see that the Lake Placid Lodge in New York would give you the 4th night free if you turned in your phone while you are there. You would also receive more incentives like made to order breakfast, turndown services, and a chef-prepared snack with wine and all the other services already included. Those incentives are amazing and it would be hard to beat but, I feel like as technology continues to expand digital detox tourism will suffer since everyone would be so dependent on their technology. I would love to do something like this, but I don’t know if I would be able to go four days without my phone. If it was only one or two days I could do it, but more than that I am not sure. It is a well thought out idea though!
First, I'd like to say that I think it's ironic that we have to research these escapes from technology USING that technology.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I would love to participate in a digital detox, but not necessarily one marketed so forcefully as its own experience. I like to think I can go out and detox on my own, without being sold something, without relying on complete commercialization of something that is viewed increasingly as an addiction we can't solve by ourselves. In this vein, I liked Amelia Stewart's statement that "you don’t need to journey to the ends of the earth if you can just practice a little willpower." I think the idea of a digital detox can be carried out in a more individualistic, less commercial way and that it would be just as healthy as digital detox vacations that are professionally organized.
I do, however, like the idea of "Vacation with an Artist," as it seems like it would support local artists in communities across the world; I think this would be one of the most valuable trips/packages because not only are you allowing yourself to detox but you would also be supporting the worldwide community of artists. Also, art has a reputation of being healing in and of itself, so practicing it with someone who really knows what they're doing would be a productive, enjoyable use of a digital detox vacation.
However much I dislike the trend and see it as taking advantage of people in an increasingly consumerist society (the society that led us to become "addicted to our phones" in the first place, as objects of status and of usefulness), I think this trend will continue. I think it's marketed to the upper-middle to upper classes and will continue to be marketed this way. From a business standpoint, it's genius, but from an ethical standpoint, it seems questionable.
Personally i think taking a digital sabbatical is a good way to take a deep breath and practice mindful activities to help you bounce back from always having to be in the loop with what’s been going on around the world. But that being said, in our current age of media, especially being a content creator during this time it becomes harder and harder to have a digital sabbatical due to the need of being relevant. Especially if you need to stay relevant in order to make a profit off of your content, so you cannot afford to be part of taking a digital detox at some vacation destination. While it’s entirely possible to have a digital detox and still be able to produce content, such as doing a day to day vlog. But that kind of content might deter your usual viewers away from watching it since it’s unusual from your daily and or weekly videos.
ReplyDeleteWith that article you linked in your blog post is interesting just due to the fact how the author could’ve just given simple ways of unplugging from our society. Such as turning your phone on airplane mode, and temporarily deactivate your social media. But they decided to post some experience offered by hospitality services that give you a chance of digital detox by offering some mindful experiences in exchange for your phone. I for one hope this trend ends with in the next few years, because I view it as unethical especially since our society in the United States is obsessed with having a quick fix to our problems.
Growing up in a less technologically advanced country, I can't relate as much to the inability to detach oneself from the internet and the Always-On lifestyle as the average American.
ReplyDeleteThis inability to relate would most likely eliminate me from the list of potential follower of the digital detox tourism trend. While I can understand the novelty value of this marketing approach, it simply seems impractical to use digital detox as a main selling point for any tourist destinations, unless there is a clear incentive such as in the case of Lake Placid Lodge. Digital detox tourism, for a lack of better words, reminds me of weight-loss massaging machines seen on infomercials: consumers will be attracted to the novelty value, then spend the next few weeks convincing themselves that it’s working.
I personally think that digital detox tourism will continue to exist for a long time, but not as something with enough presence to be a “trend”. Even at present, I wouldn’t have known about this “trend” if I hadn’t come across this article. The “technology is leading us into another Dark Age” sentiment will always appeal to a niche market, and remains applicable to every aspect of our daily lives.
I should start by saying I sleep like a weirdo. I sleep talk and I sleep walk but in true 2019 fashion I actually have texted in my sleep. I have texted about the FBI and about buying cheese at 4 in the morning and other illegible words that must connect to my dream. yup, you read that right, I am so addicted to my damn phone that I somehow let it interrupt my dreams of cheese and crime fighting.
ReplyDelete"Disconnecting to connect" is a phrase I use often in my college apartment. My roommates and I are your typical screen addicted 21 year olds. We rarely leave the house with out a screen and seem to out of habit check it constantly. Last year at dinner I noticed we were all in front of a screen. We had the TV on, some of us were doing homework and some of us were snap chatting our meal and texting with friends back at home or at other schools. This is when we decided we needed to disconnect to connect. When we are sitting at a table together we should be able to have a conversation. I became the annoying mom yelling at everyone to do, although I am really just as if not more guilty of it then they are. This year we have promised to get out of the house and leave our phones behind at least once a week, whether its on a hike, on a drive or simply on a walk around campus. With online assignments, moms and grandmas looking to check in, and certain Netflix shows being taken away from us soon, I do not see my self taking a full digital detox. However if a week hours a week we put the screens away and let our eyes see some nature I am content with that.
I loved that the article about digital sabbaticals was central to what we’ve been discussing in class—I feel that these ideas are essential in a society of continuously growing technology. Our class has discussed thoroughly how much technology interferes in our daily lives and how much of this involvement affects our everyday mental processes. “A whopping 96% of Americans own a cell phone..”—this statistic in the article was no surprise to me considering how prominent technology has become in western culture. What did surprise me was the fact that on average these cell users touch their phones over 2,000 times per day. I feel that among these users, there are those who are always-on 24/7, feeling disconnected if they do not have their phones with them. I also feel that there are those who are “always-on”, meaning they do have their phones with them at all times yet do not feel the need to check as frequently. To be honest, I feel that I am with those of the ladder group. In my friend group, I am the one who is known to lose their phone the most. I don’t know why this is, but I don’t feel that I need to be connected all the time. I feel that this may be dependent on the environment I am in. At home, I don’t have my college friends around me. This makes me feel the need to stay connected with them, simply because we are in different states. I feel that when I’m at school, I am always around people that I would rather prioritize that face-to-face interaction. Reading the article, I was not aware of how many places would offer so many opportunities for digital sabbaticals. The one that I liked the most was the Lodge in Lake Placid, New York. You are given the option to give up your phones and in return the lodge rewards you with a free fourth-night stay, plus other included added benefits. This is something that I would love to do with friends! I feel that sometimes our phones tend to hold us back more than they help us when we are trying to spend quality time with each other. I remember speaking in class about how I didn’t feel that digital sabbaticals were necessarily realistic, especially being a college student. This inspired the class to speak about ways in which, we can disconnect ourselves from technology in smaller ways. I know that the only digital sabbaticals I take are not voluntary, like when I lose my phone after not being responsible or careful. This is another reason why I do not consider myself to be a part of those who are obsessively “always-on”, because I do not feel as much of a connection with my phone as I feel my friends have. There are ways that we can realistically partake in a digital sabbatical by making small changes to the amount of technology we use per day. Even if this requires us to force ourselves to have the willpower to do so.
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ReplyDeleteThe digital kickback. As the pendulum swings, I truly believe that society will begin to crave being disconnected. Unfortunately, every aspect of life is tied into being constantly online. Try attending college without a cell phone, or a laptop. Would success be a possibility? When you are applying for a job, tell them that you do not have a phone number, and can only be contacted via mail. The digital age has inserted itself into every possible corner of the functional society. That being said, if you have actually disconnected for a brief, or even long, period of time, you will understand how important that is. How many of your everyday stressors and anxiety’s stem from social media, and the constant bombardment of information you are absorbing from being always on. People will realize that this is the primary catalyst to the heightened levels of depression, suicide, and anxiety that is rampant throughout the developed world, and people will move to fix this in the only fixable way. Reduction of being on, and technology in moderation. Take a break! Turn off. Relax, and increase your face to face human interactions. You will find out what things in life truly hold importance.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of a digital detox vacation sounds amazing to me. I would love nothing more than to get away and have some time to myself, or to be with someone I love without the distraction of technology. Personally, the only device I would want with me is a camera. It could be any camera though, it does not have to be my IPhone camera, I would actually prefer using my good old Kodak camera. Although, this is something I would love to do, I don't believe it is something many would like. People go on vacation nowadays and document their time in paradise live. People love to show off your vacation, because if you don't, did you even really go? It's crazy we live in a time where, “pictures or it didn’t happen”, happens to be a phrase I often hear.
ReplyDeleteTouching on whether I believe digital detox tourism will be around in 10 years or not, I do not. I believe this is just a trend, and like any other trend it will disappear. Technology is only going to grow stronger and larger from here, so I think we have less of a chance of cutting it out. I believe digital detox tourism would be great for everyone to try out, but we all know those people who truly can not be without their phones. For example, my mother. She works a full time job and owns two businesses, so she can never be without her phone for that reason. Even when we go on family vacations, she never gets a break from the work life. We all have emails, phone calls, and text to answer but I think at times we all need a break and to unplug for some time.