Dopamine fasting is the practice of temporarily abstaining from addictive technologies such as social media, listening to music on technological platforms, and Internet gaming, and can be extended to temporary deprivation of social interaction and eating. The term's origins are unknown; it was first widely promoted by a life coach in November 2018 on YouTube. It is based on a misunderstanding of how the neurotransmitterdopamine, which operates within the brain to reward behavior, actually works and can be altered by conscious behavior. The idea behind it is to take a break from the repetitive patterns of excitement and stimulation that can be triggered by interaction with digital technology, and that the practice of avoiding pleasurable activities can work to undo bad habits, allow time for self-reflection, and bolster personal happiness. According to Cameron Sepah, a proponent of the practice, the purpose is not to avoid dopamine but rather to reduce impulsive behaviors that are rewarded by dopamine. One account suggest that the practice is about avoiding cues, such as hearing the ring of a smartphone, that can trigger impulsive behaviors, such as remaining on the smartphone after the call to play a game. The practice of dopamine fasting is not clearly defined in what it entails, on what technologies, with what frequency it should be done, or how it is supposed to work. Proponents argue that it is a way to exert greater self-control and self-discipline over one's life, and New York Timestechnology journalistNellie Bowles finds that dopamine fasting makes everyday life "more exciting and fun". Detractors suggest that the overall concept of dopamine fasting is nonsensical since the chemical plays a vital role in everyday life; they argue that trying to reduce it is not good for a person, and that periodic breaks from technology will be ineffective overall. There is not much scientific research to ascertain its effectiveness as a therapeutic regimen. It has been described as a fad and a craze associated with Silicon Valley. An account in Vice: In one sense, dopamine fasting is a reaction to technology firms which have engineered their services to keep people hooked. Dopamine fasting resembles the fasting tradition of many religions, except that instead of being applied to activities such as eating and sex, it is applied to the use of technologies such as smartphones and computer screens.
