Do you remember the last time you looked into someone’s eyes, or stayed engaged with someone for a long period of time without the glow of a screen reflecting back at you? In our heavily tech driven world, where smartphones often feel like extensions of our hands, the answer for many of us might be “not recently.” At Digital Discipline, we believe it’s time to change that narrative.
Our initiative, 828 Sundays, invites families and individuals to disconnect from social media for just one day a week, from 8am to 8pm. And the results have been nothing short of transformative. One participant shared, “I didn’t realize how much I’d been missing. A simple trip to the park with my kids felt like a gift.” Another admitted they had been using social media to fill quiet moments but, after unplugging, discovered the joy of being truly present.
The emotional cost of social media
It’s not just personal stories that paint a sobering picture of social media’s grip on our lives, Dr. Jonathan Haidt, a leading social psychologist, observed:
“By 2015, everything's different. The great majority of teens have a smartphone with a front-facing camera, and platforms like Instagram require it. This changed the way we interact as a species, creating an environment where social media drives anxiety, depression, and constant comparison” (Haidt, 2023)
.If this sounds uncomfortably familiar, you’re not alone. Our studies revealed that many young people mimic the screen habits of their parents, their mentors and peers, leaving families disconnected and emotionally distant. Children watch us as the adults check emails during dinner, scroll mindlessly through TikTok or Instagram in the living room, or bring phones to bed. What does that teach them? That screens matter more than the people sitting right in front of us.
Small Changes, Big Impacts
So how do we break free?
Simple acts like setting aside the preparation of and dinner time to be screen-free, meaning, don't bring your devices at the dinner table or in the kitchen. This can have ripple effects on family dynamics, the more we set aside screen-free areas in our homes, the more we will engage with one another without the devices. Imagine your kids telling you about their day, uninterrupted, or sharing a laugh with your partner without the buzz of notifications pulling you away. Let's get back to sharing our day, laughing and sharing memories together over the dinner table.
At digital discipline, our 828 Sundays Initiative are proof that small steps can make a huge difference. This is our small change, big impact initiative that a select number of individuals and families have tried and tested. It's an opportunity to reset, reflect, and rebuild the connections that truly matter. It’s not about demonizing technology—it’s about reclaiming control.
An Invitation to Change
Ask yourself: How often do you choose your phone over a conversation? How much time have you lost to endless scrolling? The answers might sting, but they’re also the first step toward change.
Start small. Try 828 Sundays. Set Sunday as the day you will disconnect from the hum of your devices. Seek to disconnect from the tech and rediscover the joy of real face to face connection. Your family deserves it. You deserve it. Let’s rebuild together, one unplugged moment at a time.
Reference:
Haidt, J. (2023, December 14). How smartphones and social media impact mental health and the realistic solutions [Audio podcast episode]. In Huberman Lab Podcast. Podkee. https://www.podkee.com/pods/huberman-lab/dr-jonathan-haidt-how-smartphones-and-social-media-impact-mental-health-and-the-realistic
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