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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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A growing number of young people are putting themselves in "time out"—and they are calling it "rawdogging boredom."
Rawdogging, once slang for sex without a condom, has evolved online to mean doing something without protection, distraction or preparation. Now, Generation Z has embraced rawdogging boredom—using it to describe sitting quietly, without phones, music, or entertainment, for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
The Rules of Rawdogging Boredom
There is one rule: no stimulation. No scrolling, no music, no sips of coffee. Just sit—and feel it. Abbie, 25, from the U.K., told Newsweek she first tried it after seeing the trend on TikTok.
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"I wanted a reason to meditate and get away from my phone," she said. "It was fine—basically meditating, which I did a lot in the past. I’ve done it a few times since. Everyone should do it; everyone’s addicted to their phones. We need to be mindful for at least 15 minutes if we can."
Abbie's clip has joined thousands of others under hashtags like #rawdoggingboredom and #digitaldetox, where people share their experience unplugging for a moment.
Kate, 19, from Maryland, told Newsweek: “I decided to try it because I need to fix my attention span. I did it for five days. I think it’s a great idea and everyone should try it.”
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A Response to Shrinking Attention Spans
While it may seem unusual, these young people may be onto something. A 2023 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study found that teens who spend four or more hours per day on nonschool screen time are more likely to experience worse sleep, lower physical activity and higher rates of anxiety and depression.
Other TikTok users embracing rawdogging boredom have said it is an attempt to get back an attention span they feel they are lacking.
Gloria Mark, a psychologist at the University of California, Irvine, told the Speaking of Psychology podcast that the average attention span has dramatically decreased in recent years.
"Back in 2004, we found the average attention span on any screen to be two-and-a-half minutes," Mark said in the podcast. "Around 2012, it dropped to 75 seconds. In the last few years, it’s about 47 seconds—and the median is just 40 seconds."
Doing Nothing As Self-Care
Mental health experts say trends such as rawdogging boredom may be helping Gen Z reclaim calm.
Michael Dzwil, a licensed clinical social worker and senior director of clinical outreach at Newport Healthcare, told Newsweek: "In a culture that glorifies constant activity and digital stimulation, taking intentional moments to do nothing is deeply restorative. Quiet pauses give the brain space to reset, lower stress and regulate the nervous system."
Dzwil added that, for young people especially, these brief moments of stillness can help "reconnect with their thoughts and emotions," enhancing creativity and focus when they return to everyday life.
"It’s not about self-denial," Dzwil said, "but about becoming comfortable with stillness. Even a few minutes a day without phones or distractions can build resilience against overstimulation and burnout."
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