In the digital age, you’re kidding yourself if you believe smartphones aren’t BAE. We live in a world where people risk certain death (courtesy texting while driving) rather than leave a message unchecked for a few minutes. So it can be quite curious to see what would make you ditch your beloved smartphone for a year. Vitaminwater seems to think a $100,000 (approx INR 72 lakh) cash prize ought to do it.
Before you jump the gun and refuse this blasphemous request, hear them out.
You’d still have a basic phone that facilitates calling. What you would give up is access to Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and all the other exciting applications that make your smartphone so addictive!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrTc-CgnxBm/
“We don’t think there’s anything more boring than mindlessly scrolling through your phone.
This is an opportunity to take that stance against routine and give someone $100,000 to do something uniquely awesome with their time,” says Natalia Suarez of Vitaminwater.
Can you Really Stomach a Digital Detox?
The company will announce a selected contestant on January 22 and offer them a 1996-era cell phone. For the next 365 days, you live without smartphones and tablets (not even those belonging to friends). You can, however, use laptops and computers or home applications such as Google Home or Amazon Echo.
However, the company will keep track of whether or not you are able to commit to the task. This includes participating in a lie-detector test at the end of the contract period! Make it 365 days and you earn $100,000 (approx INR 72 lakh); cheat at six months and you get $10,000 (approx INR 7 lakh). Not a bad deal, eh?
Barely announced, this challenge is all the rage on Twitter and has a lot of takers!
Yes I would turn my phone off for year! No better way to start 2019. This is a great opportunity to rejuvenate the intrinsic things in life. Establish better communication habits with love ones and co-workers. Enjoy spending time with others with out the distraction of a phone.
— Joey Robertson (@24_Robertson) December 13, 2018
Some are college students who hope to use the time to study for classes..
As a college student, I would love to be a part of the #NoPhoneForaYearContest because i'll have all the time on my hands to really study for my classes & ace them, less online shopping with money that I dont have and also interact more with family and friends. @vitaminwater pic.twitter.com/Wm2ZFQLKum
— Amelia🇯🇲😏 (@Amillie18) December 13, 2018
Other are moms who wish they had more time with their families and intend to use the challenge to spend more time with loved ones.
#nophoneforayear will be a great challenge I am a stay at home mom of 2 toddlers and I would put my extra time and phone bill money towards my babies…I was without a phone for 7 months cuz I couldn't afford one…I can do it again…for my kiddos#contest pic.twitter.com/00sQyeLBFk
— Amanda Smith (@AmandaS33596332) December 13, 2018
This sarcastic bloke is certainly game!
My phone keeps me up more than my cats running across my face at 3 in the morning. #NoPhoneForAYear #contest pic.twitter.com/QCBZeWMlkn
— Ash (@tickertocket) December 13, 2018
Smartphones play an out-sized role in millennials’ daily lives. About eight in 10 of them use them to accomplish everyday tasks, such as managing their finances, paying bills, shopping online, and watching or listening to online content. Those between the ages of 18 and 34 spend over two and a half hours a day just consuming entertainment content on their smartphones, according to the latest 2018 Nielsen Total Audience Report, as per CNBC.
And a poll earlier this year found that 43% of millennials say they check their phone at least every 20 minutes. Making it even more unlikely that a millennial could win is this caveat from vitaminwater.
Despite a keen interest in the challenge, statistics say many shall fail at this insurmountable task. This begs a grave question as to whether ‘Smartphones have indeed ruined a generation?’