Behind the scenes

Digital detox: how Europe is switching off

9.12.2024

Translation: Patrik Stainbrook

Smartphone off, clearer mind? A representative survey commissioned by Galaxus shows that while France and Austria in particular tend towards digital withdrawal, Switzerland rarely goes offline. However, everyone does it for the same reasons: people who switch off their phones or put them away are looking for more time with their family, friends and hobbies.

Guides, workshops and hundreds of thousands of hashtags across social media are clear evidence that many users are looking to slow down. One remedy is called digital detox. This means temporarily giving up computers, tablets and, above all, smartphones. But in a world where smartphones are almost omnipresent, many struggle to do without one.

But how often do Europeans consciously take time out from the digital world? What motivates them to do so? What challenges and strategies play a role? As part of a representative study conducted by market researcher YouGov Switzerland on behalf of online retailer Galaxus, over 1,000 participants from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy and France answered these questions.

Offline? Not an issue for many

In Switzerland, the urge to be constantly available and to access entertainment as well as information is particularly pronounced. Four out of ten users surveyed said they never take a digital break. In France and Austria, on the other hand, a quarter of respondents claim to be offline for at least a while every day, and just under half are offline at least once a month. Italy and Germany are somewhere in the middle.

There are also differences in age groups: young people in particular often deliberately go offline. And while more than half of 45- to 79-year-olds rarely or never deliberately do without digital devices, a quarter of over-60s say they take a break every day.

Although Swiss users do less digital detoxing than their neighbours, when they go for it, they do it properly. Eight out of ten respondents from Switzerland who say they take digital time out go offline for several hours to several days. In the rest of Europe, seven out of ten users take time out for more than an hour. The trend towards multiple-hour breaks is also reflected in the age distribution, with digital breaks generally being shorter for young respondents than for older ones. And, the less frequent these breaks are, the longer they tend to be.

Time for hobbies, friends and family

Motivations for taking a digital break are varied, and yet the main reasons are the same across the board. For many, it’s all about temporarily giving up digital devices to allow more time for family, friends and personal interests. In Austria and France, a particularly large section of users are also looking for better sleep and improved concentration, while in Italy stress is a comparatively common reason for digital detoxification.

Across all generations, more time to spend with family, friends and hobbies are the most important motivations for going offline. Among younger people, the desire for better sleep, less stress and less digital consumption as well as increased productivity also often play a role.

Out of sight, out of mind

What strategies do Europeans use to implement their digital breaks? In Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy, most respondents simply put their mobile phone aside or lock it away. In France, on the other hand, more than a third of users switch off their devices. A quarter of Germans use fixed «offline times», and «offline zones» are popular in Austria, where digital devices are deliberately banned from certain rooms, for example.

Between FOMO and family

However, going digital also has its pitfalls: a third of French and Italian users struggle with digital time-outs because they want to remain available to friends and family. In Germany, many are also plagued by the fear of missing out, or FOMO for short. In the German-speaking countries, one in five people simply lack the discipline to really switch off, while around four in ten say they have no problems with digital downtime.

Even for 15- to 44-year-olds, the main challenge of a digital detox lies in wanting to be available for friends and family. Around a quarter lack discipline, and one in five admit they find it difficult to fill their time without digital devices. Just as many don’t want to miss out on anything. In contrast, people aged 60 and over are more relaxed – half of them have no problem taking a break from the constant digital wildfire. And when they do, they want to be available for their loved ones.

Incidentally, people who stated they never take time out don’t actually stay online primarily because they lack the motivation to do so.

*How about you? Do you regularly take a digital time-out, or do you struggle putting your smartphone or tablet aside? Share your experiences, tips or challenges in the comments – we’re excited!

Header image: Shutterstock

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Catherine Barth

Communications Manager

Catherine.Barth@digitecgalaxus.ch

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