Vialle, Stephanie J. (2021) Understanding the Digital Detox. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Despite a lack of empirical evidence, many popular press articles promote the benefits of undergoing a digital detox for people who use screen-based digital platforms and devices but see this technology as harmful to their well-being. This qualitative study aimed to better understand the experiences of people who have undertaken a digital detox, with a focus on the meaning and motivations of this practice. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five women and two men (aged 34 to 50 years) who self-identified as undertaking a digital detox. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis and two main themes were generated: (1) the digital diet and (2) actual versus ideal self. The findings indicate the digital detox is a diet-like practice where an individual restricts their use of digital devices and/or platforms they consider tempting but harmful. The motivations to undertake a digital detox centre around a discrepancy between who the person would like to be versus the way in which they experience themselves when using digital technology. Here, digital technology, especially smartphones and social media, are seen as a threat to values, self-regulation, and self-esteem. The digital detox is a way to reduce self-discrepancy. However, people living in Western societies have adopted digital technologies as a vital tool to manage their work and social lives. People experiencing self-discrepancy may benefit from greater exposure to research articulating the benefits of digital technology to shift their perception of abstinence being ideal when some consumption is almost inevitable in modern life.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Tanya Machin; Susan Abel |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 11 Aug 2025 22:54 |
| Last Modified: | 11 Aug 2025 22:54 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | digital detox ; social media detox ; qualitative ; self-determination theory ; thematic analysis |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52843 |
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