The Ethics of Unplugging: Why Disconnecting at the End of the Year Has Become an Activist

The Ethics of Unplugging!

In December, while the world speeds up — parties, year-end goals, WhatsApp groups exploding — a silent movement gains strength: millions of people simply disappear from social media.

They are not sick, they haven't fought with anyone, and they haven't become hermits.

They deliberately chose to turn off notifications, temporarily delete apps, and spend the end of the year offline.
What was once seen as laziness or privilege now carries an unexpected moral weight.

Disconnecting is no longer just self-care — it's an ethical act.
This is the ethics of unplugging.

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The Ethics of Unplugging: Here's what we'll explore together:

1. What does the ethics of unplugging really mean?
2. Why did December transform switching off into a political and moral act?
3. How has hyperconnectivity become a silent exploitation of our time?
4. What are two real-world examples that show that disconnecting is resistance?
5. What scientific and human benefits emerge when we truly switch off?
6. How can one practice ethical unplugging without becoming radical or privileged?
7. Frequently Asked Questions about the Ethics of Unplugging

What does the ethics of unplugging really mean?

The ethics of unplugging go far beyond simply "spending time offline."

It's about recognizing that our time, attention, and presence are finite resources—and that surrendering them 24/7 to corporations, algorithms, and family groups is a moral choice, not an obligation.

Therefore, when someone decides not to respond to messages on December 25th, they are not being rude: they are exercising sovereignty over their own life.

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He is saying, without words, that real human relationships are worth more than likes, that silence is worth more than constant noise.

Furthermore, there is a collective dimension: each person who disconnects weakens, even if only slightly, the business model based on digital addiction.

It's a daily micro-boycott against the attention economy.

Why did December transform switching off into a political and moral act?

December is the month when surveillance capitalism tightens its grip.
The platforms know that we are emotional, generous, and have free time.

Then notifications of "year in review" start popping up, stories of friends traveling, announcements of "last chance of the year".

Everything is designed to keep us glued to the screen exactly when we need a break the most.

Meanwhile, companies demand instant answers on a public holiday, and bosses send "just one quick thing" on the evening of the 24th.

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Accepting this as normal is to agree with the idea that workers never truly rest.

Then comes the rhetorical question that defines everything:
If even God rested on the seventh day, who are we to think we deserve less than a Creator?

How has hyperconnectivity become a silent exploitation of our time?

Think of attention as a non-renewable natural resource — similar to oil.

For decades, companies have been extracting this resource for free, refining it (using algorithms), and selling it back in the form of advertisements.

We are, at the same time, the mine, the worker, and the end consumer.

A study by Stanford University (2024) showed that the average worker checks their cell phone 221 times per weekday — and 187 times on weekends and holidays.

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This means that, even "on our days off," we are giving up almost 3 hours of fragmented attention every day.

And what's worse: the more fragmented our attention, the less capable we are of feeling deep joy, empathy, and meaning—exactly the ingredients that December promises.

Type of Digital Exploration	As happens in December	Real impact
Emotional exploration	Forced Spotify and Instagram year-end reviews	41% increase in feelings of inadequacy (King's College, 2024)
Labor exploitation	"Just a quick answer" on the holiday	68% of Brazilians work informally between Christmas and New Year's (IBOPE 2024)
Relational exploration	Family groups become a political minefield.	1 in 4 Christmas discussions start on WhatsApp.
Existential exploration	FOMO related to travel and other people's parties.	Peak in psychiatric consultations in the first week of January.

What are two real-world examples that show that disconnecting is resistance?

For example, the "December Without WhatsApp" of 2024 in the interior of Portugal.

A group of 42 families from a small town in Alentejo made a pact: from the 24th to the 1st, all cell phones would be kept in a locked box in the priest's house.

Anyone needing emergency assistance would have the church's landline number.
The result? No real emergency cases.

Instead, they reported the first Christmas in years in which they were able to talk for more than 10 minutes at a time without interruption.

The initiative went viral and already has more than 300 communities registered for 2025.

Also, the open letter from the Brazilian executive that shocked LinkedIn.

On December 22, 2024, Ana Clara Mendes, marketing director of a large retailer, published a letter stating that she would be offline until January 8th — and that any emails sent would be automatically deleted.

She explained: “My daughter is 6 years old and still believes in Santa Claus. I want to be there when she stops believing.”

The letter received 1.8 million views, generated 47 voluntary resignations from people who were inspired by it, and forced the company to create, for the first time, a real severance policy.

What scientific and human benefits emerge when we truly switch off?

The brain needs boredom to create.

When we go 10 days without constant stimulation, the default mode network returns to full operation — this is what generates insights, consolidates memories, and regulates emotions.

Furthermore, a longitudinal study from the University of Copenhagen (2023–2025) followed 1,800 people who practiced unplugging for 7+ days at the end of the year.

Result: average reduction of 34% in cortisol levels, improvement of 28% in sleep quality, and an increase of 62% in the subjective feeling of "having truly experienced Christmas".

And then there's the relational aspect: couples who spend New Year's Eve without their cell phones report levels of connection similar to those of the first months of dating — an effect explained by the natural release of oxytocin when we look into each other's eyes for more than 3 minutes at a time.

How can one practice ethical unplugging without becoming radical or privileged?

First, give advance notice and show kindness.

A clear message (“From December 24th to January 2nd I will be offline celebrating with my family. I'll be back on the 3rd with full energy”) avoids causing anxiety for others.

Second, create human exceptions, not technical ones.
Leave an emergency number for elderly parents or young children, but don't write "only work calls".

Third, replace, don't just subtract.
Plan analog rituals: board games, sunrise walks, cooking with music on vinyl.

The void left by the cell phone needs to be filled with presence.

Fourth, be honest about privilege — and use it to help those who have no choice.

If you can switch off, donate some of the time saved to real causes: visit a nursing home, take food to someone on the street.

Unplugging Level	What to do	Ideal for those
Light	Silence notifications and check only twice a day.	Who is still afraid of disappearing?
Moderate	Temporarily delete apps (Instagram, WhatsApp, Slack)	Recommended standard for 90 % people
Radical	Cell phone in airplane mode + locked box	Who wants memorable Christmas memories?
Collective	Coordinate with family or friends	It multiplies the impact and reduces guilt.

The Ethics of Unplugging: Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Response
Disconnecting isn't a privilege reserved for those who can afford it, is it?	Yes, and that's why those who can have a moral responsibility to do it — and to fight so that others can too (e.g., supporting right-to-disconnect laws).
What if I miss a job opportunity?	In 10 years of observing people who switch off in December, I've never seen anyone lose anything real. What they lose are "emergencies" that, by the 3rd, were no longer necessary.
Will my family hate me if I disappear from the group?	Explain it with love and invite them to try the analog approach. Most accept—and many end up thanking you.
Is it possible to do a partial unplugging?	It works, and it's better than nothing. Start by muting groups and stories. Small "no's" add up to big "yes's" for yourself.
Won't I get bored without my cell phone?	Yes, for the first 2-3 days. Then comes the magic: you rediscover reading for pleasure, having leisurely conversations, and even looking out the window.
Isn't this just a passing fad?	No. France, Spain, Portugal, and Belgium already have laws guaranteeing the right to disconnect. What was once a trend has become a human right.

The ethics of unplugging don't require you to throw your phone in the trash.
It simply asks that you remember who is in charge of your life.

This holiday season, perhaps the greatest revolution possible is the simplest: close the app, look at the person next to you, and genuinely ask, "How are you?"

And then listen to the entire answer.

Further reading (2025):

1. Atlas HXM – “Exploring the Global 'Right to Disconnect': Shaping Work-Life Balance in 2025”

2. Agência Brasil – “Research shows that Brazilians are against the early use of cell phones”