On the Saturday during Fall Break I decided to complete my digital detox project. I had driven to my uncle’s beach with my uncle and cousins the day before and now was ready to go 24 hours without technology. To be honest I probably wouldn’t have used my phone or other devices all too much that day anyways, but this project allowed me to think critically about the role that such devices and the media play in my life.

I started off the day with a surf session with my uncle and cousins (my main reason for being out at my uncle’s place). Seeing people on their phones as I walked down to the beach was really weird. It reminded me of the movie Wall-E in which an inhabitant of a futuristic space resort realizes for the first time that the spaceship has a pool after her mobile computer turns off. Likewise these people are missing out on the opportunities offered by their surroundings by being so enraptured by the media on their screens.

After getting back from surfing I filled my day with lots of different exciting and engaging activities. I played games with my cousins, jammed out on guitar, and chilled out in the evening sharing stories. The only times during those 24 hours that I really thought of technology was while I was working on this project.

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