Gen Z is ditching their phones this summer for outdoor digital detox
Searches for digital detox have tripled since 2023 as young people recognize constant screen time is making them unhappy.
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Young Torontonians are increasingly unplugging from their devices and embracing outdoor time as a growing summer trend, driven by mounting digital fatigue.
Searches related to digital detoxes have tripled since 2023, according to Brock University Associate Professor Garrett Hutson, whose outdoor education research tracks the shift. Hutson notes that youth report their entire lives are online—and many wish they weren't. Research from the UK shows young people say time spent online is no longer making them happy.
The shift is visible even among university students. Where instructors once faced resistance to phone-free multi-day outdoor trips like backpacking, many students now welcome the opportunity to disconnect. Hutson observed that resistance has turned to enthusiasm: "Students are just welcoming it and saying, 'That sounds great. I would love to not have my phone for a few days.'"\n Experts say unplugging offers real benefits: restored attention, reduced stress, improved mood and sleep, and stronger social connections. Small steps work—disabling notifications, creating tech-free zones, or silencing phones during time with friends and family can help. For outdoor plans, limiting activity during unsafe conditions (extreme heat, wildfire smoke, poor air quality) keeps the detox healthy.
