Do Not Disturb mode: Gen Z’s helpful friend

BACK in the day, one of the advantages of smartphones was that they enhanced our communication, learning potential, and access to information.

Smartphones have indeed given birth to a new form of communication that has evolved over time.

While mobile phones are convenient, some may even wonder about their disadvantages. Believe it or not, mobile phones have their own downsides, and one of those is the neverending interruption.

Due to the distractions of social media, messaging apps, and incoming calls, Gen Z is putting their phones in Do Not Disturb or DND mode.

However, DND is not just about putting a phone on silent—it is a new way to find peace and reduce the distractions around us.

Digital disturbance restrains productivity

Many people find themselves in important events, business meetings, classes, chatting with friends, or even during “me time,” only to be interrupted by unwanted phone calls, messages, or notifications.

While mobile phones provide an easy way to communicate, they can also interrupt us at the most convenient times in inconvenient ways.

Digital distraction can lead to adverse effects on one’s productivity.

Distractions can also lead to wasted time (when resuming tasks), potential errors, and limited periods of focused work. This decrease in productivity can result in reduced output and income.

DND for Gen Z

Putting your mobile phone in Do Not Disturb or DND mode is one way to reduce digital distractions.

For Gen Z, it helps to reduce their phone time, allowing them to spend more time on “me time” or other physical activities.

Some Zoomers even keep their phones in DND mode for the whole day, as putting them on vibrate is no longer sufficient.

Most Gen Z use TikTok to share how to activate the DND mode feature on their phone, as it contributes to a peaceful and productive life for them.

@just_eliias dnd mode = peace 🌙 #dnd #calm #nightstudy #selfcare ♬ original sound – elias – JustElias

@rotateyourmattress ⚠️ idk if ill ever turn it off at this point #donotdisturb #dnd #fyp ♬ original sound – nav 🍒

Changing a notification setting is indeed powerful, especially when someone dislikes seeing notifications or feels the pressure to respond.

@vicky.owens DND girlies ✨ #donotdisturb #dnd #donotdisturbmode #newyearhabits #dndlife #dndlifestyle ♬ original sound – Vicky Owens

While old people struggle with DND, some may even say “Why even have a phone then?”, it is one’s decision to make to put oneself in that mode.

From Gen Z’s perspective, it’s their phone, their time, and so it’s their choice. It’s on them to make the right to establish boundaries, if necessary.

The trend of Zoomers putting their phone on DND mode is a validation that they are overwhelmed by technology and seeking a more minimalist digital lifestyle.

Helpful friend

Do not Disturb is a feature that has been available for smartphones and tablets for quite some time now.

It silences all the notifications, including phone calls, messages, or even social media notifications.

DND is used to silence the notification, but it does not reduce or change the volume preference, and in some cases, the notification won’t also appear on the lock screen or home screen, not even in the notification bar.

While DND mode silences the notification, it does not block them.

Even though the DND mode is enabled on your phone, you will still continue to receive phone calls or messages; it will only not vibrate, ring, or respond to the notification.

This feature exists to reduce distractions or to stop unwanted notifications.

You might want to use it when you are sleeping, in a movie theater, in your me time, or even when you’re at work.

Why DND?

While Gen Z was born into a world of technology, some may find themselves overwhelmed by its constant presence, experiencing its negative effects.

Putting down their phone or simply activating its Do Not Disturb mode once in a while can be beneficial.

Here are the reasons why most Gen Z use DND mode:

1. Enhances privacy. DND minimizes notifications during a meeting, gathering, or business presentation which ensures that others won’t hear or be bothered by your device’s notification.
2. Improves focus. Sometimes, we are so used to receiving a notification that we are mindlessly grabbing our phone to check it out even when there is nothing new.

This habit often leads us to check our phone apps like Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), or TikTok.

Before we know it, we can find ourselves scrolling for over an hour, causing us to lose focus and interrupt our current tasks.

3. Reduces stress. There are many factors that can contribute to stress, and smartphone notifications are among them, often increasing stress levels and triggering anxiety.

Mobile phones can be noisy. Their beeps or chimes when a notification occurs can disturb you from sleeping.

The phone screen turning on can also leave you and the other people in a meeting flustered.

Additionally, notifications while driving can pose safety risks.

Putting yourself in DND mode can lessen these worries since this feature will mute the notifications you are receiving from your phones.

4. Lessens distractions. A phone notification can be a serious distraction, even if the user does not interact with it.

Putting a phone in DND mode can help reduce these distractions, leading to increased productivity.

While Zoomers are known for openly expressing their opinions and taking firm stands on various issues, they often tend to ignore phone calls.

Despite their tech-savviness, this contradiction highlights a broader attitude that they are normally unreachable by phone.

Hence, it’s generally more uncomfortable for them to decline an invitation in person than to do so via text.

With reports from Rose Cath Ogrimen