Going Phone-Free in Tangier: A Digital Detox Experiment

A couple in their late twenties recently returned from a five-day trip to Tangier, Morocco, where they intentionally left their smartphones at home. The experiment, described as a way to cure their addiction to mobile devices, involved using basic 'dumb phones' and analog tools like maps. While the trip initially made them feel more adventurous and less reliant on technology, the effects proved short-lived.

One month later, the author has stopped using the basic phone, and their partner, Marina, has yet to consistently wear the simple Casio watch she bought to avoid checking the time on her iPhone. The experience highlighted how deeply dependent their generation is on smartphones for navigation, translation, and boarding passes, but the return to normal life saw a quick reversion to old habits.

The decision to travel to Tangier without mobile devices was an attempt to disconnect from the constant connectivity of modern life. The travelers, aged 27 and 28, described the trip as an experiment to cure their addiction to WhatsApp and other mobile applications. To facilitate this, they purchased basic 'dumb phones' to use during the trip, allowing them to avoid the temptation of their iPhones.

The motivation for this trip stemmed from a desire to reclaim a sense of adventure and self-reliance. The author noted that the experiment was partly a way to see how much their lives had been altered by mobile technology. It was a chance to test their ability to navigate the world without the crutch of digital assistants, a skill their parents possessed but which their generation had largely lost.

Despite the initial enthusiasm and the perceived benefits of the trip, the long-term changes have been minimal. One month after returning, the author admits to having stopped using the 'phone patata' purchased for the trip. The device, intended to allow for disconnection from WhatsApp after 7:00 PM, has been abandoned.

Similarly, Marina, the author's partner, has struggled to maintain the habits formed during the trip. She purchased a Casio watch specifically to avoid looking at her phone for the time. However, after a week of wearing it on her wrist, she has still not adjusted to using it, indicating a quick return to pre-trip behaviors.

The experiment provided a stark realization of the couple's dependence on technology. The author reflects that they are part of a generation that remembers their parents struggling with paper maps on the side of the road, yet they themselves have never traveled without Google Maps. This reliance extends beyond navigation to essential travel tools like digital boarding passes, maps, and translators.

The experience of traveling without a smartphone revealed a loss of confidence and resourcefulness. The author noted that the absence of their devices made them feel more disoriented, fearful, and less capable. The experiment to complicate their lives for the sake of adventure ultimately proved just how much the world—and their ability to function within it—has changed due to mobile technology.