San Francisco Nonprofit Calls For A Day Away From Technology

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – While it may be difficult to do, a nonprofit is asking people to put away their cell phones, computers and not use social media sites for a day.

The second annual National Day of Unplugging is spearheaded by Reboot and is an ambitious effort to encourage people around the world to take a one day digital detox.

KCBS' Jeff Bell Reports:

"To tune back into the real world around them that they're missing in this deluge of technology," said Tanya Schevitz with Reboot.

Schevitz said last year's inaugural event changed a lot of lives.

"We've had people who say it's made such a difference in how they connect with their teenagers," said Schevitz "Taking some time to actually sit down and talk over dinner, instead of everyone being on their cell phone and texting and tweeting each other."

The event was so successful that Reboot is bringing it back on Friday and Saturday, even introducing a smartphone app to spread the word.

"Believe me, we get the irony of using a high-tech app to announce a low-tech day," she said. "But there's not a better way to tell your followers that you won't be on Twitter of Facebook."

Reboot is also teaming with San Francisco-based VolunteerMatch, as a way for those participating to give back to the community.

The National Day of Unplugging starts at sundown on Friday, March 4, to sundown, on Saturday, March 5.

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