Gen Z is currently experiencing their monk era.
The screen-obsessed generation is deliberately reducing their time on social media to prioritize a popular trend called “monk mode.”
The addictive nature of the internet has caused young people to become fixated on their screens, constantly scrolling through TikTok and seeking validation from Instagram likes.
But now, #MonkMode has garnered over 76 million views on TikTok, as users advocate for the benefits of taking a social media detox.
Despite the potential withdrawal symptoms like FOMO (fear of missing out), some users are completely quitting social media, contributing to a larger movement of Gen Zers disconnecting from the digital world, even in this device-driven age.
College student Gabriella Steinerman, 20, expressed her experience after deleting social media, stating that it was “toxic” to obsess over her appearance for the perfect online image.
This obsession with social media runs deep.
London-based author and attorney Susie Alegre explained to the BBC that she finds it incredibly challenging to avoid wasting a significant amount of time on her smartphone through willpower alone.
However, not everyone is willing or able to completely eliminate social media. Some, like Alegre, are turning to website-blocking applications for assistance.
One such app is Freedom, which allows users to block social media sites or disable internet access on their phones, enabling them to concentrate without constant notifications.
Similar to Apple’s Screen Time feature, Freedom users can set time restrictions for specific apps or activate “locked mode,” which blocks access to designated applications until the time limit expires.
According to Freedom CEO Fred Stutzman, humans’ shortened attention spans are not an inherent flaw but rather a result of social media’s influence.
He claims that “Meta employs hundreds of Ph.D.s and behavioral scientists to make the app more stimulating,” creating an unfair competition for the average person.
Vladimir Druts, co-founder of the website blocker FocusMe, sees the “monk mode” movement as a response to the current hustle culture, appreciating the attention that device addiction is receiving.
However, he expresses concern that artificial intelligence will further hamper people’s ability to focus by inundating them with more content.
He predicts that “we’re going to see exponential growth of apps vying for your attention,” and monk mode will undoubtedly gain momentum.
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