This qualitative study explored how a weeklong, voluntary social media break affected the social media habits of agricultural communications majors at Oklahoma State who are also digital natives. The study sought to understand participants’ experiences during the social media cleanse and how their perspectives changed as a result of this transformational experience. Data was collected through focus group interviews with students enrolled in a digital media course in Fall 2023, one-on-one interviews with students who had completed the cleanse in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023, and document analysis of reflection essays submitted after the cleanse.

Thematic analysis revealed that during the cleanse, participants experienced shifts in relational dynamics, increased awareness of their social media and technology dependency, feelings of isolation and loneliness, reduced procrastination, and a need to fill the void left by social media. Months after the cleanse, participants reported long-term shifts in their social media habits, a changed stance on social media’s role in their lives, a “new lease on life” with greater presence and intentionality, rearranged and deepened relationships, and a desire to recommend social media non-use to others.

The findings suggest a voluntary social media cleanse can serve as a disorienting dilemma that sparks transformational learning and lasting changes in digital natives’ relationship with social media. By unplugging, participants gained self-awareness, reevaluated priorities, and made more intentional choices about social media’s place in their lives. Educators may consider social media cleanses as a tool to help students critically reflect on healthy technology habits.