When is National Day of Unplugging?
This year’s National Day of Unplugging is March 6-7 from sundown to sundown.
What is National Day of Unplugging?
Internet addiction might be the most overlooked compulsion these days. Even those of us without a genuine obsession probably spend more time on our devices than is healthy. National Day of Unplugging is a 24-hour break from technology, from sundown to sundown.
The origins of National Day of Unplugging were Jewish, but anyone can participate. It’s based on the custom of turning off electronics on the Jewish Sabbath. Cutting the digital cord for 24 hours lets people spend focused time with friends and family, or just by themselves, to remember what matters in life.
The internet has brought so much good into the world. It also wastes a lot of time we could spend getting to know people we love, like our kids or spouses. Americans spend 24 hours a week online, and 17 of those hours happen at home. Whoa.
National Day of Unplugging gives us a breather from the physical effects of digital saturation, and it reminds us to engage with our community.
Fun facts about National Day of Unplugging!
- In 2016, internet users used a zettabyte of bandwidth. That’s a trillion GB, and that’s a lot.
- Internet access is actually a legal right in Finland.
- YouTubers uploaded 400 hours of video per minute as of July 2015.
- The Chinese government offers treatment camps for citizens struggling with internet addiction. Even in the U.S. you can find internet addiction rehab centers.
How to celebrate National Day of Unplugging:
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REGISTER YOUR EVENT: Use the form on the bottom of the page on our website to officially register your event. This way we know the number of sleeping bags you will need. Limit is 100 for individuals hosting events and 500 for schools and larger organizations.
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TAKE THE PLEDGE: Encourage individuals your community to each take the pledge to unplug here so we can stay in touch.
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SPREAD THE WORD: In the next few weeks leading up to March 6, ask people in your community to post photos of themselves on social media with a sign “I unplug…” When posting, please tag @nationaldayofunpugging.
What’s the hashtag for National Day of Unplugging?
Before you unplug, get the message out by using #Unplug and #NationalDayOfUnplugging on social media.