Filmmaker Karan Johar recently sparked massive speculation when he unfollowed several high-profile celebrities, including Shah Rukh Khan, Alia Bhatt, and others on Instagram. The move quickly became national
news until Karan clarified the reason behind it. In his Instagram Story, he wrote, “It’s a DIGITAL DETOX!!!! Am unfollowing everyone to reduce my time and energy spent on the gram!!!”
In a world where most people wake up checking notifications before even speaking to another human being, stepping away from social media has almost started to feel radical and when a personality like Karan Johar does it, it just leaves the audience curious.
But this announcement also helps highlight a growing awareness among public figures about the impact of constant social media use on mental wellbeing.
What is a Digital Detox?
A digital detox involves consciously choosing to step back from electronic devices and social media apps to curb the compulsive habit of “doomscrolling”, the act of endlessly scrolling through negative or comparative content online. For high-profile individuals and everyday users alike, social media feeds can quickly mutate from entertainment hubs into significant sources of anxiety, sleep deprivation, and psychological exhaustion.
By intentionally cleaning up his feed and drastically reducing the number of accounts he monitors, Johar took a proactive step toward protecting his emotional energy. When your feed is crowded with the curated highlights of hundreds of people, your brain is continuously subjected to passive comparison, overstimulation, and the subconscious pressure to constantly stay updated.
Why Doomscrolling Feels So Mentally Draining
Mental health experts have increasingly linked excessive screen exposure and compulsive scrolling with anxiety, reduced concentration, disrupted sleep cycles, emotional burnout, and heightened stress levels.
Social media also creates a constant comparison environment. People are endlessly consuming updates about other people’s holidays, bodies, achievements, relationships, careers, and lifestyles, often without processing how emotionally overwhelming that stream can become.
What makes doomscrolling particularly addictive is unpredictability. Algorithms continuously feed emotionally stimulating content, keeping users locked into an endless cycle of swiping for the next emotional hit, whether it is outrage, gossip, entertainment, or validation.
Over time, this hyper-stimulation can leave people mentally fatigued even when they have physically done very little.
Why More People Like Karan Johar Are Quietly Logging Off
Interestingly, digital detoxing is no longer limited to wellness influencers or meditation retreats. Increasingly, celebrities, professionals, students, and even corporate employees are experimenting with screen boundaries to improve focus and mental clarity.
Some people are muting notifications. Others are removing social media apps temporarily, limiting screen hours, avoiding phones before bedtime, or creating “no-scroll mornings.”
The goal is not necessarily to reject technology altogether but to stop technology from constantly consuming emotional attention.
Why You Should Try ‘Digital Detox’ Too
Experts agree that regular digital detoxes offer multiple health benefits:
Reduced Anxiety & Stress: Constant exposure to curated lives and negative news can increase anxiety. A break helps reset your mind.
Better Sleep: Blue light from screens disrupts melatonin production. Cutting screen time, especially before bed, improves sleep quality.
Improved Focus & Productivity: Without endless notifications, concentration levels rise significantly.
Stronger Real-Life Connections: Less time online often leads to more meaningful face-to-face interactions.
Mental Clarity: Stepping back helps gain perspective and reduces comparison-driven feelings of inadequacy.
