A study in young adults’ expectations to smartphone detox

Abstract This thesis focuses on digital detox for smartphones, negative effects associated with smartphone overuse and individual experiences when being exposed to digital detox. A digital detox is defined as a period during which a person refrains from using electronical devices such as smartphones or computers, regarded as an opportunity to reduce stress or focus on social interaction in the physical world (Oxford dictionaries, 2019) The purpose of this thesis is to identify how young individuals can cope with disconnecting from smartphone functions as well as their experience and knowledge on terms such as FoMO(Fear of missing out). This means that this thesis will not research a full-scale digital detox where individuals have no access to smartphones or other electronical devices, but rather research individuals undergoing a period without online smartphone-functions. By observing and analyzing their experiences, this thesis aims to gain further understanding on how connected young individuals are to their phones. This includes how they cope with limited usage and what the effect of a smartphone detox will have