The Pleasure Of Missing Out is spreading in our country, with 12.7% of young people leaving social media in search of a more balanced lifestyle.
The ‘SPCial Generation Study on digital disconnection habits of young Spaniards’ reveals that disconnection is associated with feelings of calm for 41.4% of respondents, while 39.2% say they feel anxiety and distress.
The consumer electronics brand SPC teams up with Jorge Flores, an expert in safe and healthy technology use, to offer the keys to a healthy relationship with screens this summer.
In a world where FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) has become widespread, leading people to feel the need to be constantly connected on social media, a new movement is emerging among those seeking to disconnect, valuing peace and simple activities like watching series at home or spending time alone without the pressure of always being online. POMO (Pleasure of Missing Out), with a more balanced lifestyle focused on well-being, is spreading among young people in our country. This is confirmed by the ‘SPCial Generation Study on digital disconnection habits of young Spaniards’, which reveals that 12.7% of young Spaniards between 18 and 35 years old have permanently left social media in search of a healthier lifestyle.
This research, conducted by SPC, a Spanish consumer electronics brand, also delves into the feelings caused by digital disconnection. Currently, Spaniards spend an average of 5 hours connected, and although 41.4% of respondents state that if they couldn’t interact with their smartphone for a week they would feel calm, 39.2% would also feel anxiety and distress having to give it up during that time.
Whether you identify more with POMO, feeling that calm as you join the growing digital detox trend, or with FOMO, having a healthy relationship with technology is key nowadays. That’s why SPC, together with Jorge Flores, founder of PantallasAmigas and expert in safe and healthy technology use, offer five tips to help you achieve a good relationship with technology this summer.
- Set schedules and use screen time control apps: define specific times to avoid using your phone and social media, steering clear of them during meals and before bedtime. Smartphones allow you to monitor which apps you use most and how much time you spend on each. In fact, according to the SPC study, one in three Spaniards regularly uses these features.
- Turn off notifications: notifications from social media, emails, or messages trigger an effect in our brain that is the main cause of FOMO, as receiving them breaks our concentration and we seek the dopamine reward released when opening them. Nowadays, apps and devices allow you to manage notifications and set schedules to avoid distractions.
- Implement a digital disconnection plan: dedicate at least one hour a day to completely disconnect from electronic devices that connect you to the Internet. At first, this may seem like a long time, but gradually you will find it very rewarding to do other things with the time saved from scrolling through social media and content platforms, reading and replying to WhatsApps, or spending more time than planned playing online games, among others.
- Explore other types of devices like dumbphones: consider using a phone without internet during certain hours of the day to reduce distractions and focus on the here and now. This trend is increasingly popular among Spaniards; 19.5% of those surveyed by SPC know someone who has chosen a There are different options on the market, such as the internet-free SPC WILD phone, which will be available soon, or SPC TITAN, to enjoy connecting with the present.
- Create tech-free zones and balance screen time with non-screen activities: establishing areas in your home where electronic devices are not allowed, such as the bedroom or dining table, will enhance the quality of your connections with family and those you live with. Likewise, it is essential to dedicate time to hobbies and activities that don’t necessarily involve screens, such as reading, cooking, exercising, or going for a walk.
In a hyperconnected world, the true luxury lies in knowing when to be available and how to disconnect. Enjoying a healthy relationship with technology not only allows us to reap all the benefits of staying connected and up to date but also to have moments of greater calm where our well-being is central and we can rediscover the pleasures of the little things.
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