Managing Social Media Use in an “Always-On” Society: Exploring Digital Wellbeing Strategies That People Use to Disconnect

Abstract

As digital media have become an integral part of many people’s everyday life, challenges also arise for people to cope with the constant connectivity and exposure to communication and information. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 30 adults, this study explores the strategies they use to disconnect from social media platforms and messaging apps, and how such disconnection relates to their sense of wellbeing. Participants employed strategies ranging from complete disconnection to nuanced ways to manage their connectivity (e.g., disconnecting from devices, social media platforms and apps, or from specific content and social connections). They also drew on features of technology to disconnect; however, such strategies were more common among those with greater digital skills. Finally, digital disconnection practices could benefit people in their everyday life activities and sense of wellbeing. By shedding light on people’s multifaceted and ever evolving relationship with digital media, this study informs future research on digital media use, digital disconnection, and wellbeing.

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