Academic Bibliography

 Search 200 years of publications by Ghent University researchers.
Advanced search
1 file | 483.24 KB
Add to list
  1. Search results
  2. Digital disconnection as a plight or ...

Digital disconnection as a plight or right? A manifesto to re-imagine digital disconnection as a reasonable accommodation

Mariek Vanden Abeele (UGent) , Marijn Martens (UGent) , Sarah Anrijs (UGent) , Sara Van Bruyssel (UGent) and David de Segovia Vicente (UGent)
(2025) The right not to use the internet : concept, contexts, consequences.
Author
Organization
Project
Abstract
We ask in this chapter to re-imagine digital disconnection as not just a luxury or rational choice, but also a reasonable accommodation for equal participation in society, particularly to those with impaired self-regulation. We substantiate this argument by arguing that impaired self-regulation makes individuals much more vulnerable to the addictive design of digital devices and platforms. Yet, in a digital first society, in which ubiquitous connectivity has become the default, it has become near-impossible to not use them. Caught in this double bind, digital disconnection is likely a necessary aid to individuals with impaired self-regulation to function without significant limitations or difficulties. We therefore argue that failing to recognizse and facilitate digital disconnection as a reasonable accommodation to these individuals is problematic and potentially even discriminatory. We thus plead for a re-imagination of digital disconnection and call for its effective realisation as a right for all.

Downloads

  • Download
    (...).pdf
    • full text (Accepted manuscript)
    • |
    • UGent only
    • |
    • PDF
    • |
    • 483.24 KB

Citation

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:

MLA
Vanden Abeele, Mariek, et al. “Digital Disconnection as a Plight or Right? A Manifesto to Re-Imagine Digital Disconnection as a Reasonable Accommodation.” The Right Not to Use the Internet : Concept, Contexts, Consequences, edited by Dariusz Kloza et al., Routledge, 2025.
APA
Vanden Abeele, M., Martens, M., Anrijs, S., Van Bruyssel, S., & de Segovia Vicente, D. (2025). Digital disconnection as a plight or right? A manifesto to re-imagine digital disconnection as a reasonable accommodation. In D. Kloza, E. Kużelewska, E. Lievens, & V. Verdoodt (Eds.), The right not to use the internet : concept, contexts, consequences. London: Routledge.
Chicago author-date
Vanden Abeele, Mariek, Marijn Martens, Sarah Anrijs, Sara Van Bruyssel, and David de Segovia Vicente. 2025. “Digital Disconnection as a Plight or Right? A Manifesto to Re-Imagine Digital Disconnection as a Reasonable Accommodation.” In The Right Not to Use the Internet : Concept, Contexts, Consequences, edited by Dariusz Kloza, Elżbieta Kużelewska, Eva Lievens, and Valerie Verdoodt. London: Routledge.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Vanden Abeele, Mariek, Marijn Martens, Sarah Anrijs, Sara Van Bruyssel, and David de Segovia Vicente. 2025. “Digital Disconnection as a Plight or Right? A Manifesto to Re-Imagine Digital Disconnection as a Reasonable Accommodation.” In The Right Not to Use the Internet : Concept, Contexts, Consequences, ed by. Dariusz Kloza, Elżbieta Kużelewska, Eva Lievens, and Valerie Verdoodt. London: Routledge.
Vancouver
1.
Vanden Abeele M, Martens M, Anrijs S, Van Bruyssel S, de Segovia Vicente D. Digital disconnection as a plight or right? A manifesto to re-imagine digital disconnection as a reasonable accommodation. In: Kloza D, Kużelewska E, Lievens E, Verdoodt V, editors. The right not to use the internet : concept, contexts, consequences. London: Routledge; 2025.
IEEE
[1]
M. Vanden Abeele, M. Martens, S. Anrijs, S. Van Bruyssel, and D. de Segovia Vicente, “Digital disconnection as a plight or right? A manifesto to re-imagine digital disconnection as a reasonable accommodation,” in The right not to use the internet : concept, contexts, consequences, D. Kloza, E. Kużelewska, E. Lievens, and V. Verdoodt, Eds. London: Routledge, 2025.
@incollection{01JH7TWJ9AJB3YJS3K0HZVZ6YC,
  abstract     = {{We ask in this chapter to re-imagine digital disconnection as not just a luxury or rational choice, but also a reasonable accommodation for equal participation in society, particularly to those with impaired self-regulation. We substantiate this argument by arguing that impaired self-regulation makes individuals much more vulnerable to the addictive design of digital devices and platforms. Yet, in a digital first society, in which ubiquitous connectivity has become the default, it has become near-impossible to not use them. Caught in this double bind, digital disconnection is likely a necessary aid to individuals with impaired self-regulation to function without significant limitations or difficulties. We therefore argue that failing to recognizse and facilitate digital disconnection as a reasonable accommodation to these individuals is problematic and potentially even discriminatory. We thus plead for a re-imagination of digital disconnection and call for its effective realisation as a right for all.}},
  author       = {{Vanden Abeele, Mariek and Martens, Marijn and Anrijs, Sarah and Van Bruyssel, Sara and de Segovia Vicente, David}},
  booktitle    = {{The right not to use the internet : concept, contexts, consequences}},
  editor       = {{Kloza, Dariusz and Kużelewska, Elżbieta and Lievens, Eva and Verdoodt, Valerie}},
  isbn         = {{9781032866314}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  title        = {{Digital disconnection as a plight or right? A manifesto to re-imagine digital disconnection as a reasonable accommodation}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}