OFF February

The OFF February challenge: Delete social media apps from your phone for 28 days and regain 50 - 160 hours of your time! 

In February 2026, communities from around the world are committing to this month-long challenge to regain time and improve their quality of life. Will you join them? 

Here are some ways you can participate in the OFF February movement in Australia.

Individuals

  • Join the February challenge to go for 28 days without any social media in your pocket. Delete social media apps from your smart phone that steal time and don’t offer value. If you need to use an app, access it from a computer.

  • Contact your friends and let them know why you're supporting OFF February and invite them to support it, too.

  • Share this information with the groups you belong to.

Friends and family

This February, organise a device-free activity with your friends or family, such as:

  • a picnic in a park

  •  a walk along the beach

  • a coffee or lunch catch-up

  • a visit to the zoo etc.

Think about what differences you notice from the absence of devices. Do you see improvements? Do people communicate more effectively? Do they enjoy themselves more?

Communities

Organise a device-free community event, such as a BBQ, at the local park. Take along balls and volleyball net etc.

  • Invite people to come along and leave their devices at home.

  • Make sure your invitation includes information about why you’ve decided to make this event device-free and that they have a link to the OFF website for more information.

After the event, send photos to the local paper and send them a media release.

Schools and sports clubs

  • Did you know that every day, the average users scrolls the equivalent of 180 metres on their screens? Get kids walking instead of scrolling.

  • Join the thousands of people globally who are taking part in 5.04km device-free walks. Why 5.04 km? That’s because people scroll the equivalent of 180 metres each day. Multiply that by the 28 days of February and you have a distance of 5.04 scrolled in February alone.

  • Get the kids walking 5.04km, too. Make sure they understand why.

  • OR you could organise a 5.04km swimathon: take turns in swimming 101 laps of a 50m pool.

  • Share information about what you’re doing with parents, friends and the local paper and radio stations, too. It’s a great way to get publicity.

Walking groups

  • On 14 February , people around the world are coming together to walk 5.04km – leaving their devices behind. That’s the distance that people scroll each day (180 metres!) multiplied by the 28 days of February.

  • Organise a 5.04km deviceless walk for your group and invite the local community to join you. Make sure they know why you’re doing it.

  • On the day, invite the local paper to take a photograph and run a story. You can give them a media release for more information. It’s a great way to share the OFF message with the wider community and to get publicity for your group.

Book groups

Read The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.

Ask members not to bring their devices to the February meeting.

At the meeting, discuss:

  • What are the harmful effects Haidt presented from kids’ use of smart phones? 

  • How does parents’ use of smart phones affect kids?

  • What positive actions does Haidt suggest?

  • How does Haidt’s book make you feel about your own use of devices?

  • Are you prepared to turn OFF your devices more?

  • What plans do you have for doing it?

During the meeting think about what differences you notice from the absence of devices. Is it better? Do people communicate more effectively? Do they enjoy themselves more?

Are you willing to commit to the February challenge?

Please let us know at: Join Us | OFF: A Manifesto

More Information

See Lyn McLean in conversation with Diego Hidalgo, social media expert and founder of OFF February here.