In today's highly connected world, itâs easy to feel glued to your phone and constantly distracted. Digital detox may be just what you need to take a step back and recenter your attention.
What is a Digital Detox?
Digital detoxing means disconnecting or unsubscribing from devices, including smartphones, computers, or social media networks. Digital detoxing is meant to limit the use of screens as a means to improve mental health conditions caused by the increasing use of technology in daily living. As a result, people are now taking greater efforts to disconnect from screens.
Why Digital Detox matters?
The increased use of smartphones, social media, and the availability of the 4G network in the last decade altered how people engage with technology. Social media is an area where people used to meet their friends without the intention of marketing or conducting business.
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According to a report by Statista, the number of people using social media rose from under 1 billion users in 2010 to 5.24 billion users in 2025. The number of people using smartphones rose from 20.2% in 2010 to 72.2% in 2020. Based on the report that the majority of people using smartphones at their workplace use their own devices for the job, the lines between personal and professional space are causing people to suffer from burnout.
What are the benefits of a Digital Detox?
Better mental health outcomes: Investing less time on social media includes a reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression. It has been proven through research that continuous exposure to online activity can have adverse effects on an individual's well-being.
Better focus and productivity: Stepping away from notifications boosts concentration. People can finish tasks faster and more efficiently, researches show, when they take breaks from their phones.
Better sleeping: Reduction in screen time limits exposure to blue light and mental stimulation, hence facilitating better sleep.
Lower levels of stress: Time away from all devices at times gives the mind rest and helps to rebuild a true sense of presence in the real world.
How do Digital Detox apps help?
Digital detox apps help users trace screen time usage, block distracting apps, and put achievable limits on it. Many apps use the Pomodoro Technique, promoting usual segments of focused work with scheduled breaks. Key features include app blocking, progress tracking, daily reports, and personalised screen time goals.
Top Digital Detox apps
Flipd
Platform: Android, iOS
Cost: Free, with optional premium features
Key features:
Provides progress reports and summaries to track usage.
Can lock the phone or selected apps for a set period.
Includes a timer to encourage focused work sessions.
Forest
Platform: Android, iOS
Cost: Free on Android (Pro plan available); no free version for iOS
Key features:
Grow a virtual forest and sync progress with friends.
Encourages staying off your phone with interactive tree-growing features.
Offers the option to plant real trees via in-app purchases.
Supports the Pomodoro Technique for focused work.
Moment
Platform: Android, iOS (some features are limited on Android)
Cost: Free, with optional in-app premium features
Key features:
Connects with a community to set challenges and goals.
Let's users set daily screen time limits and track usage.
Offers a âphone boot campâ course to rethink device habits.
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Offscreen
Platform: Android, iOS
Cost: Free, with optional premium features
Key features:
Tracks total screen time and phone pickups.
Allows scheduling of offline periods to encourage device-free time.
Provides detailed insights on usage while moving or stationary.
Can sync usage data with health apps.
Opal
Platform: Android, iOS
Cost: Free, with optional premium features
Key features:
Sends daily reports to help monitor progress.
Offers focus sessions to disconnect for set periods.
Tracks and analyses screen time with clear visual reports.
Let's users set app-specific time limits to stay on track.
