Are you among the users dependent on four or five networked devices on a daily basis? These devices provide endless opportunities and can also create addictive behaviors. Nevertheless, some of us might benefit from a bit of “digital detox” during our vacation as we recharge for the fall.
A survival question for application developers is to offer their applications on a variety of platforms, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, PCs and TVs. It is also about the seamless transition between them and to allow for dual-screen use cases. This creates an application availability opportunity for users to take advantage of or to use excessively.
Many users have adopted a multiscreen and multi-social media lifestyle without putting boundaries for when their URL life should stand back for their IRL life experiences. Both business communications and excessive social media use could become a stress factor to wind down from during the vacation.
The digital detox industry is growing quickly and offers everything from initial seminars to advanced programs. All with the purpose of finding your own wellbeing during a period without or with reduced device access. It is not about dropping the devices but finding the right balance between your networked and your physical/mental life. Both are an essential part of life in the Networked Society in the same way as a great meal requires both food and drinks in order to be well-balanced.
My suggestions for vacations this summer:
* Reflect on your personal usage patterns and decide which screen and app combination makes you relax and enjoy life, without causing stress.
* If you are a heavy user of both business communication and social media, consider dropping one of them during your vacation this year.
* Elaborate with shifting content consumption patterns to a new media/device combination allowing you to free up time. For example, stop reading full books and shift to audio summaries of the same book.
* Determine which stimuli reactions, for example, responding, pinning, liking, re-tweeting you see as adding value to your important life accomplishments.
Networked Society Insights 