Last Friday night, a gathering of nearly a hundred people assembled in New York City’s Tompkins Square Park, sharing a space lit by candlelight and united by a shared goal: to delete their social media accounts. This unconventional event, far from a typical evening in Manhattan, marked the launch of the “Time to Refuse” campaign, a global initiative spearheaded by Gen Z to promote “appstinence”—refraining from using technology deliberately designed to be addictive.
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The Limits of “Intentional Use”
The growing desire to disconnect highlights a rising concern: that simply limiting social media usage isn’t enough to address the effects of persuasively engineered apps. It’s become clear that mere reduction isn’t the answer when platforms are fundamentally built on the premise of extracting user attention and engagement. Trying to consciously reduce time spent on these platforms feels inadequate against systems built to maximize usage.
A Global Campaign Gathers Momentum
The NYC gathering served as the official launch event for “Time to Refuse,” a campaign set to expand internationally with events planned in Kenya, Finland, Canada, and various locations across the United States, including Philadelphia. The movement’s central idea—appstinence—reflects a growing skepticism of the so-called “attention economy.”
The evening was energized by participants enthusiastically declaring the accounts they were abandoning, creating a palpable sense of shared liberation. Two of the campaign’s founders, Gabriela Nguyen and Nick Plante, co-hosted the event, leading participants through a process of both reflection and action.
The Founders’ Personal Journeys
Gabriela Nguyen, 24, founded the “appstinence” movement after experiencing firsthand the impact of technology on her life. Growing up in Silicon Valley, she spent over a decade “chronically online,” starting with a smartphone at age nine and a social media account at ten. Now, she is actively working to unlearn the habits and perspectives fostered by addictive technology.
Nick Plante, just a year older, similarly struggled with self-control around video games and apps before recognizing the potential for a different way of living. Following a challenging period during the COVID-19 pandemic and experiences working in the tech industry – including a role in social media marketing – Nick committed to removing addictive technology to prioritize in-person connections. His work now focuses on advocacy, education, and community organizing to promote alternatives to screen-based life.
Beyond a Last Resort: Rebuilding Agency
The movement views its efforts not as a desperate measure against Big Tech, but rather as a step toward reclaiming agency and rebuilding lives. The act of disconnecting from addictive technology is seen as a crucial first step in a broader process of rebuilding and fostering creativity, strengthening social connections, and allowing for the development of more beneficial technology tools.
A Call to Action
The need for an in-person event simply to delete a social media account is a clear indication of the depth of the problem. Conventional advice to take breaks or simply shut off phones hasn’s proven effective. A more robust solution requires a collective decision to opt out. The space created by disconnecting from social media will offer the opportunity to discover alternative ways of connecting and engaging with the world.
The founders encourage anyone interested to participate, offering resources and support for those looking to disconnect. Anyone can create a similar event, big or small, to inspire others to take action.
Quitting addictive technology is a gateway. The act is necessary to do all the important work that remains: it frees us up for more acts of agency.
The movement’s founders emphasized that there’s no need for a complete vision of the future—just a commitment to taking the first step. This movement offers a tangible example of how individuals can reclaim control of their lives and foster a healthier relationship with technology.
