Moarula Pongen
Are you a gamer? Or maybe just a boss-level scroller stuck in an infinite loop of reels, tweets, and late-night likes? What if I told you that logging off could be your biggest power move yet? Sometimes it is exciting to view challenges as a simple game you have to win, instead of viewing it as a burden. Welcome to a new kind of game, where the enemies are endless notifications, the boss fights are boredom, and the reward is you. A more focused, more present, and more powerful individual. This is your digital detox challenge, log out to level up. Ready to hit start?
The first stage is the introduction to the game. Let us break down what type of game we are going to play.
In today’s digital age, people of all ages have access to electronic devices. As technology continues to advance, social media has become an integral part of life. We find most teenagers immersed in the use of social media in their daily routine. Instead of reading newspapers, users have delved into their morning routine by checking their media ‘feed’. Peaceful toilet moments have evolved into a rather humorous activity, where individuals find it as a timepassing opportunity and spend extra time there, scrolling through their feed or watching videos or memes, etcetera. And special moments of meal time have turned into more waste on screen time. Social media has turned into a serious issue, it is high time to bring a change to this current generation of addicts. Yes, social media connects the world, but as a saying by Edna Ferber goes,”Perhaps too much of everything is as bad as too little.” Here is a little reminder to check your screentime in your own cellphone. How many hours and minutes of screen time have you spent today? If it is beyond your expectations, maybe fate brought you here. This game is a journey, a challenge and we will get through it together.
Your first level of the game is shooting an army of troops. In terms of the current situation, it implies shooting down the group of social media. Spend hours doomscrolling on Instagram? Take the shot. Lost in YouTube Shorts? Fire away. Endlessly searching Pinterest for outfit ideas? Clear the board. Obsessed with celebrity gossip on X? Mute the noise. Set yourself limits for all these, although it may not be necessary to uninstall the app. The first step is your guide to your final achievement. It is important to stay consistent if you are willing to complete the challenge.
Your next level opens curtains to the “Overcoming Puzzles” stage. In this stage, you navigate yourself through the problems of wasting time on the screen. Scrolling through the screen is unhealthy and although it entertains, it costs your mental and physical well-being. Late-night scrolling can mess up sleep patterns, comparison with others can lead to low self-esteem and false self-image, and you also develop FOMO (Fear of Missing Out); a feeling like you’re missing out on experiences. Even though you’re “connected” you may neglect real-world relationships leading to isolation and excessive use can create misunderstandings, jealousy, or lack of quality time. Like figuring out the messed-up puzzles in a game, this stage allows you to figure out your problems due to excessive screen time.
The third challenge is “Aligning The Missing Pieces.” This time your task is to fill in the gaps in your life. Without the use of social media, what do you do now? Discover a new hobby. Like painting, writing, dancing, sports, etc. There are many alternatives, you just have to find one, or you may choose to do multiple things. It’s up to you. The sky’s the limit! During this process you may use the “add friends” button. Like how a game allows you to partner up in order to complete a task, you can spend time with family and friends. Face-to-face interactions are always fulfilling. You can also join clubs or groups, like how a player joins ‘squads’ in a game. Like book clubs, community events, or even volunteering. A dedicated Christian youth can help out in church activities. It’s never too late.
The fourth stage is “Upgrading Inventory.” After completing the previous stages, you gain useful items; like how you collect items in games. It’s an item storage and you may use the items however you want. The Focus Blade cuts distractions and is unlocked by focusing on one task for 30 minutes without checking your phone. The Journal of Clarity improves self-awareness through daily journaling. The Mindfulness Amulet protects against the scroll trap. The Screen Time Shield reduces social media pull by setting screen time limits or removing apps for a day. Lastly, the Shard of Self-Worth strengthens confidence that comes from within, not from likes or comments.
The last stage is the final boss called the “Scroll Reaper”. This boss was born from moments you questioned your worth based on the number of likes, followers, reactions. It feeds on comparison, distractions and the urge to prove. As the final boss, this monster blows fatal strikes like the ‘Comparison Strike’ which shows you someone else’s perfect life to weaken your self-image. He also releases ‘Scroll Hypnosis’ which lures you into the thought of “just five more minutes of scrolling”. Be sure to dodge his Phantom Notifications, which will pull your attention back with false urgency. And lastly avoid the Fog of FOMO with which it’ll release clouds which will cover your joy with what you think you’re missing out on. In order to defeat this monster, you must remain consistent with your hobbies; drape your hobbies like armor. It can reclaim your self-worth and protect you from unwanted screen time. You can also summon the spell called “Ally Power” by scheduling quality offline time with people who see you, not just your highlight reel. You must combine all the things you learned in order to defeat this boss. The finishing and K.O. (knock out) move is the ‘silent victory’ with which you must remain in your stillness; undistracted, and powerful. The boss fades because it only had power when you gave it your attention.
Lastly, you enjoy the rewards earned after completing the challenge. You can unlock a special character skin called the ‘true self’ skin. A version of you that’s aligned, grounded, and no longer seeking external approval or wasting time on digital toxicity. You earn a top title called social sovereignty; you use social media intentionally not habitually. You’re no longer owned by it, but you choose how, when, and why you engage. After much anticipated wait and patience, you stop performing and start living.
Moarula Pongen
BA 4th semester,
Mass Communication,
Tetso College