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Digital minimalism is a way to engage with consumer technology that prioritizes focused, intentional use of technology to limit distraction.

Digital minimalism is a strategy to help people optimize their use of technology and keep from being overwhelmed by it.

The term was popularized in a book by Cal Newport called Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World. In the book, Newport helps readers determine which digital activities provide value.

A successful digital minimalist focuses their time on a small quantity of optimized activities. They approach technology with a set intention for using it. This approach could have beneficial effects on digital wellness and reduce burnout at work.

Challenges of digital minimalism

There are challenges to digital minimalism. Many types of technology are designed to attract and reinforce engagement. Many businesses profit on it in what some have dubbed the attention economy. Some of the challenges of digital minimalism include the following:

Sticking to values

There must be a reason to declutter and cut back. Decluttering for the sake of decluttering might work in the short term, but it isn't sustainable if there's no positive reinforcement. When it comes time to redownload a low-value app, there will be no reason to refrain from it.

Drawing the line

It can be difficult to map technologies to values -- deciding whether a technology truly serves a value and at what point a technology stops providing value.

Fear of missing out

Cutting back on applications or internet connectivity in general might cause FOMO. It can be difficult to rationalize missing out on the unknown when it could be potentially more valuable.

Tech dependence

Some technology is necessary for everyday activities. For example, in Sweden, a personal identity verification application called BankID is the preferred method of logging in for many services -- including healthcare and government services. This makes a smartphone necessary and makes removing or decluttering the technology more difficult as people are regularly compelled to use it for basic tasks.