Where do we disconnect from our devices — and what role do physical spaces play in that?

Together with Nils S. Borchers, I have a new article out today in Media, Culture & Society: "Spaces of digital disconnection: A go-along study of dining areas, libraries, and movie theaters."

Using a go-along method, we examined how everyday spaces like dining areas, libraries, and movie theaters shape people's disconnection from digital media — sometimes by social norms, sometimes by institutional rules, sometimes simply by the atmosphere of a place.

Our findings suggest that digital disconnection is not just an individual practice, but is deeply embedded in the spatial and social contexts we move through.

🔗 doi.org/10.1177/01634437261428614

#DigitalDisconnection #MediaStudies #DigitalCulture #NewPublication

Digital media breaks can improve well-being: New study finds short-term mood benefits from intentional digital disconnection – while showing that external pressure to unplug can backfire 👉 https://press.uni-mainz.de/digital-media-breaks-can-improve-well-being/

#DigitalDisconnection #DigitalDetox #SocialMedia #offline

Pausen von digitalen Medien können Wohlbefinden fördern: Aktuelle Studie zeigt, dass bewusster Abstand von digitalen Medien kurzzeitig zu besserer Stimmung führt – und warum Druck zur Abstinenz keine gute Idee ist 👉 https://presse.uni-mainz.de/pausen-von-digitalen-medien-koennen-wohlbefinden-foerdern/

#DigitalDisconnection #DigitalDetox #SocialMedia #offline

Nearly half of 16-21 year olds in the UK would rather live in a world without internet

I’m a little frustrated I can’t find information about how the sample (n=1,293) was recruited but I can’t stop thinking about this finding from BSI research:

This is crying out for qualitative follow up? Do they try and realise this in their own technology use? Does this necessarily lead them to try and reduce their internet use? What barriers do they face in reducing their internet use? Do they have sources of support and insight in such an undertaking? There’s certainly evidence of a desire for support:

Over a quarter (27%) argue phones should be banned in schools – something many campaigners and politicians across the spectrum are calling for – and half back recently suggested ideas of a social media curfew where platforms are inaccessible after a certain time in the evening. A fifth (22%) say their lives would be better without access to online gaming

How can quitting be incorporated into media literacy training? This seems like a good place to start.

#digitalDisconnection #disconnection #internet #mediaLiteracy #phones #sociologyOfYouth #youth