Why a Weekly Digital Detox Could Help Students Refocus: Insights from Jonathan Haidt

What We Learnt from The Anxious Generation and the World Economic Forum

At Venture UWA, we support students in preparing for the changing world of work — not just through technical knowledge, but also by building habits that support focus, wellbeing, and adaptability.

In a recent episode of the World Economic Forum’s Radio Davos, psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt shared his views on the link between technology use and young people’s mental health and academic performance. Drawing on ideas from his latest book, The Anxious Generation, Haidt offers a practical suggestion to help individuals regain their focus: the “digital sabbath.”

Technology and the Drop in Academic Performance

Haidt points to a noticeable shift that began around 2012, several years after smartphones became widely available. Since then, there has been a steady decline in academic performance across several countries, along with an increase in anxiety and depression, particularly among teenagers.

According to Haidt, the increased time spent on screens — particularly on social media — has played a role in reducing face-to-face interaction and interrupting important developmental experiences.

“Kids became less likely to go out with friends, more likely to stay home and scroll. That’s when we saw an explosion of anxiety and depression,” he notes.

The Case for a Weekly Digital Detox

One of Haidt’s recommendations is to introduce a weekly “digital sabbath” — a set day each week where screen time is limited as much as possible. The idea is not to eliminate technology entirely, but to create regular space away from it.

“You’ll find yourself just much more open to actually having a long conversation or a long meal and not rushing off to check something,” Haidt explains.

For university students, setting aside a day without phones or social media could:

• Help improve concentration and reduce distraction

• Support mental wellbeing by reducing overstimulation

• Encourage more in-person communication and downtime

• Allow for more sustained reading, thinking, or creative work

These outcomes are increasingly relevant not only to academic success but also to employability and long-term professional skills.

Encouraging Healthier Digital Habits

At Venture UWA, we see value in exploring approaches like this alongside broader student support. While it may not be realistic to expect complete disconnection, starting small can make a difference:

• Turning off non-essential notifications

• Setting screen-free hours during study time

• Having one low-tech day each week to focus on other activities

These changes can help students create a more intentional relationship with technology — something employers and educators alike are recognising as important in the modern workplace.

Further Reading and Listening

You can listen to the full episode of Radio Davos here to hear Haidt’s interview in full.

For those interested in the research behind these ideas, The Anxious Generation offers a broader look at the data and arguments around smartphone use and childhood development.

Looking Ahead

As part of our commitment to helping students develop skills for the future, Venture UWA will continue to explore topics like attention management, digital wellbeing, and sustainable tech use. These aren’t just individual concerns — they shape how we live, learn, and work in a connected world.