International Day WITHOUT the Internet (30/01)

As you know, in a series of holidays there is such a holiday as Internet Day, but you should not ignore another, albeit very unusual holiday, – International Internet-Free Day. It is celebrated by the global Internet community annually on the last Sunday of January.

The main goal of this – holiday is to completely distract people from computers and the global network for at least one day in order to live this day exclusively in the «real» world, communicate with other people exclusively «live» or dedicate it to your favorite hobby (of course, not related to the Internet).

This holiday dates back to the early 2000s, and the initiator of its establishment, according to some sources, is the «British Institute of Social Inventions», and according to others, the British non-profit online project –DoBe.org«. The only thing that is known for sure – is that the organizers of the International Day WITHOUT the Internet were active, advanced Internet users.

Of course, a lot has changed since then in the global network world. Obviously, at that time there were significantly fewer Internet users and it was easier to « them out of the World Wide Web» just to really communicate with friends. The number of Internet users is constantly growing, and the Internet itself has firmly entered the lives of most residents of developed countries, penetrating all spheres of life. Business, communication, education, and leisure came under his rule. In addition, the average speed of an Internet connection has increased more than 30 times over the years, which has significantly expanded the boundaries of Internet capabilities.

The Internet has firmly entered the lives of most residents of developed countries, penetrating all spheres of life... (Photo: lassedesignen, licensed from Shutterstock.com)

Every day, millions of people start their morning by watching news or mail on the Internet, and some are there almost around the clock, since their work is connected with the Internet. Someone sits in chats, forums or social networks for hours, someone watches movies or programs on the Internet, someone buys or orders something there without leaving home... Things that make our life easier and more interesting, force you to be dependent on yourself, including the Internet. Many people never part with their phones, smartphones, tablets, laptops, paying more attention to their virtual friends and acquaintances rather than loved ones…

Of course, no one disputes the fact that the Internet today – is the most important source of information and work for many people. But it is important to know when to stop in everything, because Internet – is not your whole life. Moreover, it cannot be denied that «abuse» leads to consequences such as – wasting time and harm to health. Over the past 10 years, not only have Internet speed and the number of users increased, but terms such as «cyberaddiction», «setegolism», «infomania», «social isolation», etc. have also appeared. Unfortunately, the virtual environment turned out to be much more comfortable and cozy for many than the real world. And the dependence of young people on social networks causes serious concerns among many specialists and parents.

Therefore, in the current situation, today the question reasonably arises – is a modern user, so deeply bogged down on the World Wide Web, capable of completely abandoning this great benefit of civilization for at least one day, and how now with great pleasure can he replace the benefits that the omnipotent and omnipresent Internet provides him?

There are still so many interesting and pleasant things in the real world... (Photo: Ground Picture, licensed from Shutterstock.com)

I would like to hope that everything is not as bad as it might seem at first glance. Annual events taking place in various countries around the world on Internet FREE Day indicate that the topic is becoming increasingly relevant over the years. After all, the organizers of these actions emphasize that they are not fighting the World Wide Web and do not consider the Internet to be something bad. They just want to draw the attention of people again, and especially young people, that there are a lot of interesting and exciting things in the real world. And that you can spend at least one day with your loved ones, dedicate it to your hobby, go to a museum or exhibition, or even just take a walk in the park…

Currently, International Day WITHOUT the Internet has adherents in many cities around the world, including Russia, where educational institutions do not stand aside on this day, for example, libraries, which invite you to visit various cultural and educational events in honor of the holiday.

Try to celebrate International Day WITHOUT the Internet offline, but the way you want it, and most importantly – is a pleasure. After all, in the real world there is still so much interesting and unknown, undone and forgotten, pleasant and loved...



Postcard «Last Sunday of January — Day without Internet»

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