Authors
Mariek MP Vanden Abeele, Heidi Vandebosch, Ernst HW Koster, Tom De Leyn, Kyle Van Gaeveren, David de Segovia Vicente, Sara Van Bruyssel, Tim van Timmeren, Lieven De Marez, Karolien Poels, Ann DeSmet, Bram De Wever, Marijke Verbruggen, Elfi Baillien
Publication date
2024/2/1
Journal
Communication Theory
Volume
34
Issue
1
Pages
3-17
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Description
Digital disconnection has emerged as a concept describing the actions people take to limit their digital connectivity to enhance their well-being. To date, evidence on its effectiveness is mixed, leading to calls for greater consideration of why, how, when, and for whom digital disconnection works. This article responds to these calls, presenting a framework that differentiates four key harms that contribute to experiences of digital ill-being (time displacement, interference, role blurring, and exposure effects). Using these four harms as a starting point, the framework explains: (1) why people are motivated to digitally disconnect; (2) how specific disconnection strategies (i.e., placing limits on time, access, channels, and contents, interactions and features) may help them; and for whom (3) and under which conditions (when) these strategies can be effective.
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