How digital minimalism can help break your social media addiction

Minimalists don’t unplug from the internet, but they believe its use should be intentional, not compulsive

- Sribala.Vadlapatla @timesgroup.com

Freedom, Cold Turkey, RescueTime, Toggl, S tayFocusd, FocusMe, SelfControl, AntiSocial… They are not random words pulsed together in a blender, but names of some of the top apps that, ironically, help you stay away from your digital addictions. As Thakur said in Sholay, “loha lohe ko kaat-ta hai”, so now we need apps to stay away from apps.

This farcical situation hides a deeper reality – too many of us are spending too much time online. So, amid the launch of 5G and other high-speed tech, a growing army of people doesn’t want to be addicted to social media and googling. They aspire to live frugal, almost ascetic, digital lives without completely switching off from the internet.

It’s a trend called ‘digital minimalism’, and it is different from a ‘digital detox’ where you unplug completely.