Disconnecting for 30 days
Twitter user @eXodes.KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — This Ramadan, a young man decided to up the ante and give up... the Internet.
Sure, any one of us can go offline for a few days eg. if we are on vacation on some balmy beach. And it's easier to not check our smartphones when we are trying out new food in Thailand or shopping at Xi Men Ding in Taiwan.
But Twitter user @eXodes or Exo as he wants to be known is "trying to challenge" himself, abstaining for the one thing most people his age find totally essential. After all, he sends out an average of 100 Tweets a day!
Exo, a student from MMU (Multimedia University) majoring in Business, is currently on a week-long midterm break in his home state of Terengganu.
But would it be hard to keep up with his studies once the university classes resume?
"I've downloaded all my study materials before I started this fast. If there is anything that I require for my studies, I can ask my friends to help me out," he said. His housemates are supportive of his Internet fast and have created a hashtag #OfflineExo as a tribute.
Exo says he is not trying to gain more followers on Twitter through this fast. So far, his followers have been supportive but there were some Twitter users who "tempted" him by saying Exo needs to see a certain update online.
For now, he will get his news from the television or newspapers. When he breaks fast, he meets up with his old friends to catch up on the latest happenings, so he's not left out of the loop completely.
What does this self-profess Internet addict do when he's not online?
"I'll either watch television or catch up on my studies. Sometimes I meet my friends and go out," he said. He admits that the first few days were the hardest because he is constantly on his smartphone, even in class.
Exo has found conversations with friends more engaging now that he is not on his smartphone at the dinner table. There may be a friend or two who will be on Facebook and Twitter when they meet him but for Exo, he doesn't mind.
Check out this video of @eXodes at this link: http://youtu.be/qwiyeeTXBDQ
