Tonight at sundown marks the beginning of National Day of Unplugging. From March 23rd at sundown until Saturday March 24th at sundown, people are encouraged to refrain from using any technology. In its 3rd year, this day is supposed to help people reconnect with loved ones with personal contact rather than always being entrapped in modern technology.
The pledge from the non-profit, Reboot, reads as follows: "Shut down your computer, turn off your cell phone. Stop the constant emailing, texting, tweeting and Facebooking to take time to notice the world around you. Connect with loved ones. Nurture your health. Get outside. Find silence. Avoid commerce. Give back. Eat Together."
Let's think about this. Is it really possible for people in 2012 to go 24 hours without a cell phone, social media use, and email? Sounds like quite the task to me. Email and social media are one thing, especially being a weekend, but no text messages or phone calls?! If one were to embark on this courageous journey be it advised that a heads up to all close friends and family is in order to ensure they refrain from calling the police putting out a missing person's report. Let them all know you plan to be alive and well for a full 24 hours and will let them know when you venture back to the 2012 way of life.
Sources say 66% of all Internet users claim they are addicted. That number will only grow if everyone were hooked to a lie detector. I bet a great number of that remaining 34% don't have what it takes to admit that the Internet has gotten the best of them. They love those comments on Facebook and news updates on Twitter more than they think! Did they forget about the Foursquare specials they use every Friday? Uh oh.
These addicts can use a little personal interaction for 24 hours, since they might have forgotten what their friends and family look like after constant tweeting and status updates. Sometimes people like the ole smile on one's face over their current location update. Sometimes.
This detox initiative also has some friends with similar motives. This Day of Unplugging has some high profile friends at that, namely St. Vincent. Not the saint, the country. St. Vincent encourages its visitors to leave their cell phones and laptops behind, and as a reward they will grant you with a guidebook on how to enjoy and get around the beautiful island.
I don't know about you, but at times it can be refreshing to be without a cell phone. Unless I'm in dire need to contacting someone for plans, it becomes a nice break when my cell phone runs out of battery. I'm going to see how the night goes, but a full day without the straining eyes staring into the bright screens can be a vacation within itself.