One month without a smartphone, against $10,000, the challenge launched by an American brand

It is a New York company, which manufactures yogurts, which is enjoying a publicity stunt with this initiative. Participants must be a resident of one of the 50 US states, be over 18 years old and write an essay.

In the list of good resolutions for the new year, there are the classics “quit smoking” or “do more exercise”. An American company offers another: no longer touch your smartphone for thirty days. And she has a great argument for taking up the challenge since she is donating a sum of 10,000 dollars. It is above all, obviously, the opportunity to treat yourself to a little publicity stunt at a lower cost for the yogurt brand, Siggi, based in New York, whose specialty is skyr, a rather thick Icelandic yogurt.

The average American spends more than five hours a day on their smartphone, a statistic given by the brand. This sort of detox seeks to remind people that they can do something else with all that time. “The spirit of our brand is to get rid of what is not necessary”said his press secretary. “We believe life is more fulfilling with fewer digital distractions”, she adds. Hence this variation of “dry January”, the month of January without alcohol. The magazine Fortune cites an equivalent example: last year, Gymbird, a fitness application offered $10,000 to an employee who would walk 10,000 steps daily for a month.

10,000 dollars and… 60 pots of yogurt!

To participate, you must be a resident of one of the 50 American states and be over 18 years old. And then, above all, you must send, before January 31, an essay of 100 to 500 words. The theme, the brand’s website describes, is to explain why this digital detox is important to you and how it will positively impact your life in a way that aligns with the brand’s philosophy. It is expressly requested to be specific.

The text will be judged 70% on how it demonstrates that in life, less makes you freer. Creativity and originality will count for 20%. The remaining 10% corresponds to the authentic expression of one’s commitment to respecting the challenge. Important point of the regulations, it is prohibited to write with the assistance of ChatGPT and other forms of artificial intelligence.

There will only be 10 winners, who will undertake on their honor not to use their smartphone. They will be notified by email normally in mid-February. They will then receive their $10,000. They will also receive a safe to keep their smartphone, an old-fashioned mobile phone, without Internet access, with a one-month prepaid card, so as not to be completely cut off from the world. And another gift: 60 pots of Icelandic yogurt. This is a good reason to get some exercise with all that free time, away from screens.