# Phone-Relinquishing Challenges BuzzFeed Challenges Six Millennials to Go Week Without a Phone By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2015-05-26 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/week-without-a-phone References: [designtaxi](http://designtaxi.com/news/376067/Watch-Six-Millennials-Try-Living-Without-Their-Phones-For-A-Week/) & [youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=18&v=GMs9GzY6vkE) Forgetting a smartphone somewhere often leaves avid phone users feeling like a limb has been cut off—so [BuzzFeed](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/buzzfeed-island) challenged a group of six young Millennials to voluntarily go a week without a phone. After the young tech-savvy participants locked away their devices in BuzzFeed's "phone jail," many of them found themselves reaching for [phantom phones out of pure habit](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mobile-device-addiction). Early on, one participant panicked: "I have a doctor's appointment later this week and I think I'm going to have to print out a map." Despite concerns like this, at the end of the week-long experiment, the participants found that they had a newfound appreciation for life by [unplugging from the constant bombardment](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/muto) of incoming texts, calls, messages and photos. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.5/10 - Popularity: 9% | Activity: 29% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Mobile](https://www.trendhunter.com/mobile) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Digital Detox:** The trend of voluntarily disconnecting from digital devices for a period of time to foster a healthier relationship with technology. - **Mindfulness:** The trend of being present and fully engaged in the current moment, without distractions from digital devices. - **Technological Dependency:** The trend of becoming overly reliant on digital devices, leading to feelings of anxiety and discomfort when not using them. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Wellness and Self-care:** The industry that focuses on promoting physical and mental well-being, including services and products related to digital detox and mindfulness practices. - **Technology Addiction Treatment:** The industry that provides solutions and support for individuals struggling with excessive use of digital devices and technology addiction. - **Offline Experiences:** The industry that caters to individuals seeking offline activities, events, and experiences to disconnect from digital devices and reconnect with the real world. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Phone Breakup Newsletters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reclaim-your-brain.md) - [Minimalist Smartphone Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dumb-phone-app.md) - [Smartphone Detox Lockboxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smartphone-lock-box.md) - [Digital Detox Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/detox-challenges.md) - [No-Internet Couples Challenges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kahluastiritupchallenge.md) - [Low-Tech Smartphone Interface Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blank-spaces-app.md) - [Minimalist Co-Branded Mobile Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/boring-phone.md) - [Gen Z IRL Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hinges-phonebook.md) - [Uncomfortable Anti-Tech Rings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/uscellular.md)