Just a few years ago, “unplugging” mainly meant putting down your phone, closing your computer, or turning off the TV. Today, the challenge is more pervasive. Content never really stops. One video leads to another, a news feed reloads endlessly, one recommendation leads to another, and artificial intelligence tools add yet another layer of constant availability. We no longer just “consume” content: we navigate an environment designed to remain open, fluid, personalized, and always ready to capture our attention.
This is precisely why many people feel like they can no longer disconnect. Not because they lack willpower, but because their days are now filled with a multitude of brief, enjoyable, easily accessible—and above all, endless—distractions. Recent figures support this trend: MILDECA notes that digital use is becoming increasingly prevalent throughout the day, while Arcom observes that French people aged 12 and older spend an average of 4 hours a day online.
The real change: content no longer has a natural end
In the past, there was a break; today, there is continuity
One of the major differences from how things used to be is that there used to be natural stopping points. You’d finish an article. You’d watch a show, and then it would end. You’d read a few pages, and then put the book down. Nowadays, everything is designed to avoid that sense of ending. The feed goes on and on. The platform suggests “for you.” The next video starts almost on its own. The content seems increasingly relevant, closer to what we like, and better tailored to our mood or habits.
This shift is significant because it changes our relationship with time. We’re no longer just engaging with content—we’re entering a loop. And the smoother this loop is, the harder it becomes to pinpoint the moment when we should stop. Addict’Aide also points out that personalized algorithms, repeated notifications, and endless scrolling are among the mechanisms that significantly prolong engagement on social media.
AI reinforces this sense of total availability
Artificial intelligence further amplifies this phenomenon, not only because it produces content, but because it makes interaction more continuous. We can ask questions, rephrase them, explore, compare, generate, discuss, and start over. The relationship with content becomes almost conversational. And this makes it even harder to stop, because it’s no longer just passive consumption: there’s a sense of an immediate, personalized response that’s always available.
MILDECA already notes that in 2025, 15% of 15- to 34-year-olds reported spending more than 3 hours a day interacting with artificial intelligence tools, compared with 11% of the French population as a whole. This is not a trivial finding: it shows that AI is now joining other forms of attention-grabbing media, rather than replacing them.
What keeps us here isn’t just the content, but what it prevents us from feeling
Many people don’t check their phones because they’re bored with the content, but to fill a void
That’s where things get really interesting. You might think that the difficulty in putting your phone down stems solely from the content’s appeal. In reality, that’s not always the case. Many people open an app, play a video, or start scrolling not because they have a specific need, but because a small void appears. A few minutes of downtime. A wave of fatigue. The end of the day when you don’t feel like thinking. A moment of limbo before falling asleep. The content then fills that void.
Let’s consider some very simple scenarios. Someone comes home from work, sits down on the bed for “five minutes” with their tablet, and an hour later finds themselves still engrossed. Another person watches just “one or two videos” before making dinner, then completely loses track of time. Yet another person opens an app as soon as they wake up, without even knowing exactly what they’re looking for, just to avoid stepping right into the silence of the day. The problem isn’t just the content. It’s what the content helps them avoid: emptiness, boredom, fatigue, and sometimes even turning inward.
Relief is often stronger than genuine interest
The trap is that these habits provide immediate relief. Not necessarily deep, not necessarily lasting, but real in the moment. They satisfy the craving. They divert attention. They give the impression of a breather. They prevent us from being left alone with tension, fatigue, or a vague sense of discomfort. That’s why they slip so easily into the gaps throughout the day.
Addict’Aide rightly points out that difficulty disconnecting, the fear of missing out on information, frequent interruptions, decreased concentration, and sleep disturbances are among the signs of usage that has become all-consuming. The problem, therefore, is not just the amount of time spent online, but the role that these activities play during key moments of daily life.
Social media and endless content drain our attention far more than we realize
The brain remains on alert even when we think we’re “relaxing”
Many people feel that scrolling or consuming short-form content helps them unwind. However, this sense of relaxation is often misleading. We quickly jump from one topic to another, from one emotion to another, from one face to another, from one message to another. The brain doesn’t really get a chance to rest. It remains engaged, stimulated, and active. It jumps from one thing to another. It compares. It reacts. It waits for what comes next.
That’s also why some people feel more tired after spending time on their phones than they did before picking them up. They haven’t really recovered. They’ve mainly just switched the type of stimulation. Arcom notes that online usage continues to increase, while Addict’Aide points out that screen time before bed or repeated interruptions from notifications take a toll on attention, sleep, and mood.
At night, the trap is even stronger
The end of the day is a particularly vulnerable time. We’re tired, less alert, and more prone to falling into automatic habits. It’s often at this time that the phone becomes a natural extension of the bed, the couch, or “me time.” However, MILDECA reports that a significant proportion of French people continue to communicate, watch videos, or stay informed at bedtime, and that one in two users finds it difficult to stop their digital activities.
This point is crucial because it shows that the problem isn’t limited to teenagers or heavy social media users. It also affects adults who, night after night, slip into habits that seem harmless but ultimately erode their sleep, concentration, and the quality of their rest.
Influence no longer comes solely from advertising, but from the overall atmosphere
Content ultimately shapes our desires, our rhythms, and sometimes our moods
Social media and constantly updated content don’t just influence us by selling us things. They also shape our relationship with time, success, our bodies, leisure, information, and how we compare ourselves to others. MILDECA points out that a large proportion of users view content from influencers, and that younger people as well as those who report having fragile mental health are more likely to say they are influenced in their lifestyle and way of thinking.
That changes a lot of things. It’s no longer just that it’s hard to disconnect because the content is enjoyable. It’s hard to disconnect because it feels like you’re staying connected to a certain atmosphere, a conversation, a norm, a flow in which you’re afraid of losing your place.
It’s not just the youngest who are affected
Of course, certain platforms account for a huge amount of teenagers’ time. Arcom notes, for example, that Snapchat and TikTok—along with Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp—account for nearly three-quarters of the time 12- to 17-year-olds spend online. But it would be a mistake to limit this discussion to young people. Adults, too, are increasingly structuring their breaks, their relaxation habits, and their downtime around these digital environments.
Taking back control doesn’t mean cutting everything off
The first step is to figure out what the screen is really used for in your daily life
It’s easier to step away when you understand what you’re looking for the moment you open an app. Is it a genuine desire? A habit? A way to avoid silence? A way to put off going to bed? A little relief after a day that’s been too hectic? As long as we don’t ask ourselves this question, we’ll just keep going on autopilot.
What helps isn’t necessarily a radical “detox.” It’s often something simpler: bringing intention back into the mix. Opening an app for a specific reason. Turning off certain notifications. Creating real screen-free time. Avoiding endless scrolling right before bedtime. And above all, rediscovering other ways to unwind that don’t always involve a screen.
The goal isn’t to be perfect, but to rediscover real breaks
Addict’Aide recommends some very practical strategies: setting time limits, turning off notifications, scheduling screen-free periods, identifying the emotion that triggers the urge to check your phone, and incorporating screen-free activities into your day, such as walking, reading, listening to music, or meeting people in person.
Ultimately, this topic is less about technology than it is about mental fatigue, constant availability, and the growing difficulty of accepting emptiness. That’s why it resonates with so many people today.
What This Topic Says About Our Times
It’s becoming harder to disconnect because content is more abundant, more fluid, more personalized, and faster-paced—but also because it’s woven into our already overloaded days. It promises an immediate break, but often takes the place of true rest. It gives the impression of relaxation, even though it sometimes prolongs a state of alertness. It seems to require no energy, yet it costs us attention, sleep, and mindfulness.
That is precisely what makes this topic so relevant today. It’s not just about screens. It’s about our relationship with emptiness, rhythm, fatigue, and the growing difficulty of simply being in the moment without immediately filling it.
