OFF February !

January 10, 2026

2026 is OFF to a great start with a new global movement, with which EMR Australia is involved, called OFF.

We hope you’ll get ON to it, too.

The OFF movement is about regaining control over digital technology. The OFF February challenge encourages people to delete social media apps from their smart phones during the month of February – and to focus on living happier, healthier lives instead.

The OFF movement is not opposed to the use of technology. Its Manifesto says, ‘Technology can be a wonderful tool for humanity, one that has allowed it to overcome many obstacles and afflictions over the centuries.’ However, ‘today’s prevailing paradigm of technological development is not entirely aligned with humanity’s interests’, and that includes social media.

Among the many problems the caused by people’s current use of technology are these:

  • reduced attention span

     

  • reduced intelligence

     

  • reduced memory, reasoning and critical thinking abilities

     

  • mental health problems, including anxiety, depression and loneliness

     

  • poorer educational performance

     

  • loss of skills, such as map reading

     

  • negative impact on the environment (greenhouse gas emissions, mining of rare-earth minerals etc)

     

  • the use of manipulative algorithms to encourage user addiction

     

  • vulnerability to hacking and cyber-attack

     

  • potential for surveillance and accumulation of high levels of personal data

     

  • use of social media platforms to manipulate users’ views and behaviours.

     

To those, we could add: the radiofrequency radiation from wireless devices that has been found to damage cells, genes and hormones, to cause oxidative stress, reproductive damage, fatigue, depression, sleep, memory and concentration problems. There is also strong evidence linking it with cancer.

OFF February

OFF February is a month in which people can take part in events that help them and others reclaim their time from social media, knowing that they are part of a global chain of activities.

Here’s one of them.

Recover 54 hours a month

The OFF project shows people how they can reclaim a massive 54 hours a month from social media for the month of February. The recipe is simple. ‘Delete social media apps from your smartphone … that steal more time than the value they offer.’

If that message resonates with you, then make that your mission for February. You can sign up to do this online.

Volunteers needed

Other projects are in the pipeline.

If you’d like to help get the OFF project OFF the ground in Australia, please reply to this email, putting the word ‘OFF’ in the subject line.

There’s so much we can do to raise awareness about this important issue when we work together.

Can OFF work?

Yes. Because what people do in a month, can have a lasting impact on their lives.

‘OFF February is inspired by initiatives such as Dry January, in which millions of people — up to 19% of the adult population in the US — commit to giving up alcohol for a month each year. Many participants report profoundly transforming their relationship with drinking, developing healthier, more mindful habits in the long term.’

You can see details about the OFF February challenge at:

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