Digital detox for a
day? Make it possible
MUMBAI:SP
Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) in Andheri recently
highlighted the need to reduce students’ overdependence on smartphones by
calling for a ‘digital detox day’ on campus.
Students and
staff were asked to switch off their mobile phones and laptops for one day and
connect with each other without the use of technology.
The
institute disconnected their campus WiFi for 10 hours and encouraged everyone
to participate in discussions, sports activities and karaoke sessions.
“The
challenge to refrain from using any form of digital technology is a step in the
right direction. We could always debate on finding better alternatives, but the
problem of smartphone addiction is only going to worsen unless we act now,”
said Dhruv Bhola, a student of the institute.
“Technology
is a positive force in our lives. However, many of us know there are aspects of
addiction which intrude into our ability to have a deep and meaningful
conversation and connection and can create excessive dependence on devices. The
detox helps to make us aware of this dependence,” said Ranjan Banerjee, dean, SPJIMR.
Taking a
break from technology is a concept that city colleges have been adopting
slowly.
The
management of Matunga’s RA Podar College called for their first digital detox
day in January last year. “We didn’t implement a total crackdown on mobile phones,
and requested students and teachers to keep their mobile phones at home on some
days. It was a pleasant surprise when we saw students readily wanting to stay
away from technology for a day,” said Sobhana Vasudevan, principal.
Psychologist
Seema Hingorrany calls digital dependence an “addiction” that most students are
prone to, and which also affects all strata of society. “We see someone as
young as a sevenyear-old to someone in their forties who cannot survive without
their phones or laptops, and most don’t even realise it’s an addiction,” she
said.
“Of late,
many parents have agreed to sit for family-therapy sessions where both parents
and children encourage each other to keep away from the internet, especially
social media. It is important for educational institutes as well as parents to
draw the line, and call for time-off.”
Experts said
youngsters behave aggressively or even resort to self-harm if parents snatch
their devices away. “Youngsters form this compulsive behaviour for many
reasons— loneliness being the main one. Many also use social media to feel
wanted by peers,” said Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma, who runs the Service for Healthy
Use of Technology (SHUT) clinic.
Located at the National Institute of Mental Health and
Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru, SHUT helps deal with technology-based
addictions.
Source
| Hindustan Times | 8th July 2019
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