Image taken from Amazon.com
We are a generation filled with technology; the latest mobile phone, tablet or gaming devices are released annually to improve their predecessors. The boom of social media through the last 10 years can be viewed a good and bad thing. Relatives and friends around the world can connect with each other via Facebook/Instagram and the development of Whatsapp and the likes means sending a message can be ever so easy whilst avoiding the awkward wake-up to coincide a time zone.
The downfall, people are more reliant on their technology. Majority will have an internet capable device; most will have an account to the main social media giants, and everyone has mindless scrolled through a page. Parents are worried that exposure to technology at a young age can affect children’s development. The social and cognitive skills learnt whilst spending the playtime running around and playing with Velcro vegetables and plastic cars could be gone. As they approach adolescence the increase stress of trying to fit into the norm is apparent. Being online is becoming the new standard – texting, sharing, trolling to scrolling, everyone is filling every minute of time on the world wide web. As social media grows the mental wellbeing issues are growing as well. Mental wellbeing issues will affect everyone at least once in their lives.
With a click of a button we can find out about the latest news, weather and what celebrity ate for dinner. The digital world is an incredible but dangerous thing. A lot of people are now trying to wean themselves of social media – people are now deleting their Facebook accounts, reducing time spent on phones and mobile tech companies including screen time analytics.
Some are giving themselves digital detoxes. Removing themselves of the digital world for a period to clear their mental and physical states. In Logging Off by Nick Spalding we find Andy doing that exact thing. Andy freelance graphic designer is addicted to the digital world but after countless health issues, his remedy a digital detox as prescribed by his GP. Remove every digital thing in your life for 60 days unless it is essential for work. This will not be an easy ride, but can Andy complete a mere 60 days?
This book is so relatable on many different levels, I found myself reflecting on Andy’s character and questioning myself on my daily habits and becoming aware on the time spent on social media. Nick writes with ease and I was able to get into the books very quickly. I hope everyone will read this book, it’s a great story and also a reflective one, especially in this social era.
I received an advance digital copy of this book from the author, publisher and Netgalley.co.uk.
All opinions expressed in this review are my own.