In class there was talk of having a media fast. These are my thoughts on the possible benefits of a fast and why you might approach such a venture. :)
Full Fast for Mindfulness
A media fast is a great way to reinstate mindfulness while using the media. In the book Net Smart, Rheingold champions mindfulness as the best way to make the Internet a useful tool. By fasting from the media, you can see more clearly what is a productive use of the Internet and what you could cut back on. Taking a step away can also give you perspective to help you decide how to proceed when you start using media again. A full fast can be useful in clearing your mind and breaking habits.
My roommate decided to do a Facebook fast because she would find herself turning to it whenever she was bored or had a spare moment. A cold turkey fast helped her break the habit of logging in all the time.
Semi-fast for Perspective
Like doing a juice fast, you could decide what kinds of technology are necessary to make your life run reasonably smoothly (cell phone for calling, car for driving, online calendar to keep your commitments, email to stay current in your job), and then cut out everything else. Or you could set parameters on your interactions with different media, like a time limit or a priority list or something.
My family made a time limit for computer and TV use, and that made my sisters prioritize what they used it for.
A semi-fast allows you to continue life as normal but still provides an opportunity to take a look at your habits and re-define your relationship with technology. Limiting or defining your use of media also lends itself to becoming a part of your lifestyle, whereas a full fast isn't really sustainable for a long period of time.
I think the approach you take depends on what you want to accomplish with a media fast.
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