72,000 Students in Austria Switch Off Smartphones for Three-Week ‘Digital Detox’ Experiment

More than 72,000 students across Austria are set to switch off their smartphones for three weeks as part of a nationwide “digital detox” experiment. The initiative began as a classroom project led by a teacher at Konrad-Lorenz-Gymnasium in the town of Gänserndorf in Lower Austria and quickly gained wider attention after the first trial drew strong interest. Students taking part say they want to see how life without WhatsApp and social media might affect their concentration, sleep and academic performance.

During the three-week period, organisers expect noticeable changes in students’ daily routines. Some participants plan to stop using smartphones entirely, while others are opting for a “light” version that allows only minimal use for essential communication. To remain reachable, many students intend to rely on basic keypad phones and manage tasks such as travel tickets or schedules through printed copies or computers. Participants say they hope to spend the extra time reading, going outdoors, exercising, playing musical instruments or developing new hobbies.

Teachers and parents say the initiative also highlights adults’ own relationship with digital devices. Issues such as the fear of missing out, constant notification checking and the addictive design of some social media platforms have emerged as key points of discussion. For many participants, the real challenge may come after the experiment ends, when they will need to decide how to return to their devices and whether they can maintain a more conscious approach to smartphone use.