The impact of disconnection on digital wellbeing
Society has been transformed by digital media. Constant access to the internet has affected how we work, socialise and stay informed. Many people choose to take breaks from digital media to protect their health and wellbeing, but there is a lack of research regarding the effectiveness of intentional disconnection on said outcomes. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the Disconnect2Reconnect project looks at how voluntary disconnection practices affect wellbeing.
Digital wellbeing and changing norms
Digital media has significantly altered human behaviour. It presents both opportunities and challenges, and it can affect our mental, physical and emotional health. In response to the increasing digitisation of society, the concept of digital wellbeing has emerged. Sustainable digital practices may require mindfulness, digital skills, the ability to disconnect and an awareness of societal norms concerning digital behaviour. Because of the changing digital society, societal norms are changing quickly too. Constant connectivity sets the norm that people will always be accessible, whether to respond to a post on social media, to a text from a friend or to an email from work. In recent years, that norm is changing. Workplaces that once expected employees to respond to emails in the evening or at the weekend may now discourage such behaviour. Rapid changes in the digital society also refocuses attention on digital inequality. In the past, digital inequality meant not having access to devices or the internet. Now it also reflects the advantages for those who have the privilege to disconnect when they choose to do so. For some people, being constantly accessible remains a necessity.
Mobile experience sampling method
The project launched two studies to better understand the impact of intentionally disconnecting from digital media on wellbeing. Since effects can be fleeting, the first study used mobile devices with the experience sampling method to collect data. Over the course of one week, 105 participants filled out six questionnaires each day, yielding a rich dataset of 4 028 responses. Analysis of the data showed that responses varied widely, but on average, taking a break from digital media did not affect how people felt in the moment, or their sense of social connection. Contextualised analysis offered further insight. According to Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions fellow Hao Nguyen: “Our results showed that when people take a break from digital media while being with others (as compared to being alone), it has short-term positive effects on their wellbeing.”
Three-wave panel survey
The second study looked at the long-term connection between digital media use, disconnection and wellbeing. The study collected data three times in one year, with each data collection occurring six months apart. The first wave collected 1 509 responses, the second collected 1 088 and the third wave collected 820 completed surveys. This study examined how people respond to rapidly evolving and contrasting societal norms. Nguyen says: “Results revealed that normative perceptions of being digitally available are still more dominant than norms of digital disconnection, meaning that people feel more pressured to be available digitally than to disconnect from digital media.” Further analyses will give insight into how intentional disconnection shapes wellbeing over longer periods of time, and how digital skills play a role in this. The project provides concrete starting points for promoting digital wellbeing. Insights taken from the studies inform EU initiatives such as the Digital Competence Framework. As digital media continues to evolve, Disconnect2Reconnect helps us interpret its effects on individuals and society.
Keywords
Disconnect2Reconnect, digital wellbeing, digital inequalities, digital disconnection, mobile experience sampling method, three-wave panel survey, Digital Competence Framework
