19 January, 2025
Digital Detox Day
Friday 24 January 2025 will be a 'digital detox day' at St Teilo's. We are asking all students and staff to switch off their phones and put them away between 8.40am and 3.00pm.
No phones. Anywhere. All day.
A digital detox has many benefits, including:
- To raise awareness of the negative effects of social media on physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health
- To help people form healthier relationships with their devices
- To promote offline activities and reconnect with people in person
- To reduce stress and take a break from constant connectedness
- To encourage people to reflect on how they live their lives online
Comparison, criticism, cyberbullying, a disconnect from reality and real life. All of these things and how often we are scrolling can have such a negative impact on our mental health. This is why I support a Digital Detox Day, to reflect offline about how we live our lives online and to introduce boundaries into our social media usage.
For the week leading to our Digital Detox Day, students will reflect critically on smart phone and social media use and the pervasive and negative impact this can have on human development. We will also consider together the impact of our busy and distracted lives on our spiritual health. We encourage all parents and carers to engage their children in conversation about this topic and to provide their support to the digital detox day. Why not support your child in leaving their phone at home and take away the temptation altogether?
Of course, we already have strict rules about mobile phone use in school. You can read more about this 'non-negotiable' here.
