Call for Proposals for Special Issue

Digital Detox: A Semiotic Techno-Critique

Guest editors:

Remo GRAMIGNA (University of Turin)

Giuditta BASSANO (University of Rome, Lumsa)

Piero POLIDORO (University of Rome, Lumsa)

Margaux CERUTTI (University of Rome, Lumsa)

The aim of this special issue, Digital Detox: A Semiotic Techno-Critique, is to critically investigate the range of discourses and practices associated with the concepts of “digital detox”, “digital well-being”, “digital minimalism”, “digital decluttering” and related terms. In a time when intellectual work increasingly leads to overexposure to digital artifacts—such as emails, screens, the internet, social media, and AI-driven technologies—discussions about disconnection and unplugging have gained significant popularity (Radtke et al. 2022; Purser 2019; Murphy 2018). However, these narratives often conceal deeper contradictions. The simultaneous encouragement of digital dependence and detoxification—particularly in the workplace— reveals a structural paradox: individuals are expected to remain constantly connected while also managing their digital well-being. This paradox manifests, for example, in corporate initiatives that push employees toward extreme productivity while simultaneously offering mindfulness workshops, wellbeing apps, or digital detox retreats as tools for mitigating burnout.

Call for Papers here