Digital habits and social etiquette in the age of constant connectivity

Modern technological habits are reshaping social etiquette and mental health. The concept of ‘dopamine fasting,’ popularized by clinical psychologist Cameron Sepah, involves periodically withdrawing from artificial stimuli—such as social media scrolling, push notifications, and online shopping—to regain mental focus and reduce the constant need for instant gratification.

Simultaneously, the rise of mobile data usage and 5G networks has fueled the phenomenon of ‘loudcasting,’ where individuals play music, videos, or engage in loud phone calls in public spaces like buses and trains without headphones. While many find this behavior disruptive, experts like David Ellis from the University of Bath suggest that new technological habits often face initial social resistance before becoming normalized, similar to the introduction of portable music players in previous decades.