Rehabilitation from Digital Addiction a New Trend in Japan

Also called ‘digital fasting’, digital detox programs allow individuals to face themselves for two or three days, alienated from their smartphones, PCs, and portable music devices. (Image : Yonhap)

SEOUL, Feb.2 (Korea Bizwire) – Many individuals, especially young people, start their day by checking their cell phones to see if there are any missed calls or new messages. Workers read the news online during their commutes, and check their SNS accounts before going to bed. Smartphones have become a 24-hour necessity in life, but also create stress or dependency when overused.

According to an investigation conducted by Japanese authorities, Japanese high school students spend an average of 161 minutes every day on their smartphones. Dependency on the internet increases for younger users. Many young people even rely on SNS to make friends, making it even more difficult to get them to let go of their phones.

As part of efforts to ‘cleanse’ the addiction, ‘digital detox getaways’ are becoming increasingly popular all over Japan.

Also called ‘digital fasting’, digital detox programs allow individuals to face themselves for two or three days, alienated from their smartphones, PCs, and portable music devices.

According to a report from the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, a Japanese daily journal, the programs are popular among men in their 30s and 40s, and executives in IT businesses.

The costs are quite expensive, ranging from 25,000 Yen to 85,500 Yen for an overnighter, but various programs help the participants to isolate themselves from their digital devices.

Participants in the programs take walks under the stars, or get massages to sooth their neck and shoulder muscles stiffened by staring at laptop or PC screens. Some programs teach breathing techniques to help with the control of emotions, and in some programs, participants talk to each other while stretching.

Officials at a facility in Shizuoka commented that they provide services to detox digital dependence by creating an atmosphere which allows people of various occupations and age groups to actually communicate. Various people from businessmen in their 50s and housewives to teenagers have been participating in the programs.

Digital fasting programs are also spreading fast across Japan. Some facilities which are located in areas with bad cell reception are using it as an attraction.

The reporter from the Nihon Keizai Shimbun who participated in a digital fasting program prior to writing the report commented that the experience was very refreshing. “Although life went back to digital devices after the few days at the facility, what I felt during the experience was unforgettable. Maybe the refreshing feeling could be an ‘antibody’ that could prevent me from depending on digital devices.”

By Francine Jung (francine.jung@kobizmedia.co.kr)