We’re Gen Z who pick our battles.

You’ve been here before— frustrated with your screen time and overwhelmed by social media, you post “Taking a break from this for awhile, text me instead!” on your Instagram story for the umpteenth time. With a sigh you delete the app off your phone, getting rid of TikTok while you’re at it.

20 minutes later you’re itching for something— something entertaining, something…engaging. Mindlessly you redownload Instagram and Tiktok and doomscroll like you’ve done since 2010. Rinse and repeat. For many, this is the reality of trying to “self-regulate.” Here at APPstinent we believe that for the majority, a personal social media account is an unnecessary and regressive complication. We believe that the current social media narrative for youth in which “the genie is out of the bottle, there’s no going back” exists through an inherited and resigned presumption that social media necessarily be a fixture in our social lives. It is a belief we think is dismissive of the agency of young people to shape our social lives and the future of our society.

If this scenario familiar, you’re in the right place. Here at APPstinent we reject the common idea that it is impractical to encourage young people not to have personal social media accounts. We believe in picking our battles, one of which doesn’t need to be the complex social games of online life. Ignoring the option of “APPstinence” denies us of a vital point of reference in which to interpet the impact of the digital world, limiting our perception of reality to the warped perceptions of online ecosystems. Much of the digital wellness narrative you will hear promotes “balanced use” but as Gen Z we know that doing that is super hard. Why aren’t we being told that these platforms are optional in the first place? Instead of fighting for “balanced use” why not stay off mainstream social media platforms and use other avenues to compensate the benefits? Even if platforms were to drastically change, the use of 2D interfaces as the anchor for social relationships would remain unnecessary.

Instead, give “APPstinence” a shot. Here’s the philosophy:

APPstinence (n.): voluntarily refraining from owning personal social media accounts. For those that have them, it begins with the phasing out and eventual deletion of said accounts.

This is a big ask, we understand. That’s why our services don’t just give you guides, how-to videos, and tips and tricks. We work with you one-on-one to figure out why APPstinence is the best route for you, and get you living the fullest in-person life you’ve never even imagined. Well, imagine it!

While we specialize in the digital needs of Gen Z and youth, our services are applicable to anyone. Social media touches us all.

The APP Approach:

Agency, Permission, and Proof

Agency: Much of the advice we hear is to control ourselves, that self-regulation is the best way to reap the benefits of social media which avoiding the harms. In practice, these platforms are incredibly good at making that incredibly hard. We want everyone to feel that they have agency over their attention, time, and thoughts. By opting out you’re choosing peace. Fighting with your screen time doesn’t bring agency, it brings anxiety.

Permission: Even for those who are curious about the APPstinent lifestyle, it can be difficult to transcend the social and mental hurdles to even get started. Fear of missing out, worry about friction in personal relationships, angst about being bored, etc. These are all valid, but we are here to inspire you that trying a new lifestyle always incurs certain risks. At the same time, our services and projects are here to show you that others are doing it too (and successfully), and that we are here to guide you every step of the way.

Digital Lifestyle Planning and the Yellow Pages are two of our projects to provide personalized help, build community, and show that our social lives do not have to be in 2D AT ALL!

Proof : In this digital age where “everyone has social media!” we lead by example. Our leadership is APPstinent, in its completeness or are on a successful journey towards it.

Gabriela: Used to have all the social media and a smartphone. Now does not have personal social media, and uses a CAT S22 as her “daily driver" (main phone).

Kaylee: A total unicorn. She and her sister grew up without social media at all. Once they were of age to choose, they both decided to be APPstinent, and have never looked back!

Zhao: Made incredible progress moving off of social media, and replacing it with high quality leisure and slow-living.

Additionally, our clients on their Digital Lifestyle Planning journeys come from different age groups and walks of life. There is a place for you. Welcome.

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