VIRTUAL FATIGUE, REAL SOLUTIONS: ADDRESSING DIGITAL FATIGUE AND RECLAIMING WELL-BEING IN THE ERA OF ONLINE LEARNING FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

Abstract

The adoption of online learning among college students has greatly risen in the past decade. This trend was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which made it necessary for education to be completely digitalised (Maloney et al., 2023; Romero-Rodríguez et al., 2023). The rise in online learning has transformed education and has provided several benefits, such as greater flexibility and accessibility, for college students (Kamraju et al., 2024). However, the excessive use of digital technologies necessitated by online learning has led to a rise in digital fatigue. Digital fatigue refers to the feelings of exhaustion that are caused by the overuse of digital technologies (Romero-Rodríguez et al., 2023). This book chapter explores the causes of digital fatigue including technological overload, increased screen time, increased eye contact and self-awareness during virtual meetings, sleep deprivation, and physical inactivity. It also discusses the various symptoms and constructs associated with digital fatigue and its impacts on physical, mental, and academic well-being of college students.