Far, Far, Beyond the Mountains, Beyond the Seas… Perception of Quasi-Involuntary Internet Detox by Young Participants in a Long Sea Voyage

Research on digital detox focuses on voluntary, less often involuntary process. Meanwhile, there are situations where the disconnection is partly unforced and partly coercive. This is the case of long-distance travel, where the primary goal is to have unique experiences, digital detox being a secondary benefit. Such situations rarely involve young people, as they show a unique attachment to technology. This study focused on young users (15–18 years old), staying in the unusual conditions of almost complete cut-off from the internet during a 2-month long-haul voyage. The aim was to determine their perceptions of the quasi-voluntary internet detox and its effects in areas such as social relationships, education and wellbeing. To this end, individual, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted. The research showed that digital detox did not pose a major challenge for participants. They presented a high awareness of the influence of technology and digital disconnection on their lives.