KarunaNews Story

The island of Ulko-Tammio, described as “the jewel of the Eastern Gulf of Finland,” has declared itself phone-free this summer. Visitors are asked to voluntarily switch off their smart devices, take a break from social media, and enjoy the national forest, ocean views, and rare flora and fauna. “We encourage visitors to put their phones away voluntarily and to focus their senses on nature rather than on their phones,” says Joel Heino, a manager at Parks & Wildlife Finland. “People are not meant to be glued to screens all the time. Even a short digital fast can be useful and improve our well-being and help relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression,” says Terhi Mustonen, a psychologist and program manager of the Limitless Gaming and Limitless Social Media programs at the Sosped Foundation.