As digital media continues to proliferate, there is also a growing focus on its opposite: media non-use, also commonly referred to as digital disconnection. While my PhD project specifically focuses on the possible influence of gender when navigating online and offline life, embarking on this project has also led me to some broader, surprising realisations.
“So, what are your tips and tricks?” – That’s a question I get asked a lot when I tell people that I am researching media non-use. They are quick to ask me for guidance on how to use digital devices less, mistaking my role as a PhD student for a self-help guru and thinking that my interest in that topic must inevitably lead to the conviction that digital media will lead to the downfall of society. Yet for me, I don’t see myself in a position to make harsh judgment calls or give out advice. Rather, I am generally curious about the relationship individuals have with the ever-changing digital media landscape.
“So, what are your tips and tricks?” – That’s a question I get asked a lot when I tell people that I am researching media non-use.
What I find particularly fascinating about media non-use is that it comes in various shapes and forms. The scholarly umbrella term “digital disconnection” refers to a variety of practices, from silencing one’s smartphone during a conversation with friends to not owning a smartphone at all. Some people even spend a lot of money to go on digital detox retreats – a vacation during which no media use is allowed. And then there are those cases where the lines between use and non-use start to blur. Take, for example, a stroll through the forest with music playing in your ears. While the walk itself leans towards the analog side and feels more disconnected, streaming music signals digital connectivity. Consequently, being connected or disconnected isn’t a clear-cut binary – it’s more of a spectrum.
Studying disconnection itself is positioned within this very spectrum. That is because to understand digital disconnection, you paradoxically have to be connected yourself. For instance, you find yourself reading literature – on the websites of journals; you can conduct a survey – online; and sample informants – via mailing lists and social media. And ultimately, your very own study gets published – preferably with digital open access. Accordingly, researching digital disconnection solely on the premises of media non-use simply is not reflective of our era. Just imagine writing an article on a typewriter and sending it to the journal via postal mail: an inconceivable scenario in today’s world.
(…) researching digital disconnection solely on the premises of media non-use simply is not reflective of our era.
Delving deeper into this topic, I naturally not only came to think about the (dis)connectivity of society and academia but also my very own relationship with everything digital. While I am thankful that I don’t have to type out every citation myself, and a program can do it for me, I also get distracted when a notification from my e-mail inbox pops up. Hence, my personal opinion is not that we have to use digital media less in general, but that it is about finding your very own sweet spot in which digital devices take on the roles of little helpers and not intruders in our lives.
Through my project, I want to know more about what this sweet spot looks like for other people. I’m eager to learn if people feel content with their current media habits or if they’re considering adjustments. Specifically, I want to delve into the challenges encountered in managing their media consumption. We often see children receiving rules from their parents about media usage, but even as adults, we face societal norms dictating when and where we should or shouldn’t engage with digital media. Here, I’m especially interested in how sociodemographic factors such as gender influence these norms. Existing literature hints that women tend to be more expected to maintain online relationships, while men may prioritise digital disconnection for productivity. However, this area lacks substantial empirical evidence to support these claims.
To fill this research gap, I am currently working on a quantitative survey to assess the situation regarding Norway. Following this, my project involves conducting qualitative interviews with women in their emerging adulthood, aged 18–29. This demographic, often unmarried and without children, diverges from the conventional expectation of women primarily focused on family care, potentially offering valuable insights into unexplored areas.
And since my preliminary findings are not yet ready for sharing, there is, in fact, one piece of advice I can offer: If you want to learn more about digital disconnection, then just stay connected!
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