The last week has taught us, among a great many other things, the value of looking up and away from our screens.

Social media platforms have (rightly) become the target of frustration and anger – particularly Facebook. The global giant has been called out by our Prime Minister for doing far too little, far too late to stop the spread of that hateful video of the Mosque shootings.

There is a call for a Facebook blackout for 50 hours this weekend, starting at 1.40pm tomorrow and observing an hour for every victim killed in the incident. There is a stronger call to get off the platform for good.

My challenge to you, Cityscapers, is to adopt the 50 hours and see how it goes. See if you can do it. Put your phone in your pocket or leave it on the table, face down, when you go out with friends. Order that coffee tomorrow morning, but instead of surfing through your feed while you wait, have a conversation with the person next to you. You might find a new friend!

Plenty of people have already removed social apps from their phone, and that’s a great start. On a desktop computer, it’s easier to manage the intrusion into your day. So begin there, if that’s easier.

Whatever you choose – even if you decide you can’t live without it for a single hour – simply raising your awareness of the time you spend on your phone, staring at a screen or engaging with people who aren’t actually there can be enough.

Be present in your day. Be present with your friends and family. Interact with people, engage with what’s around you - it’s a whole lot more rewarding than a little blue thumbs up.