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Appstinence Academy

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Appstinence Academy

If you're struggling to stop doomscrolling or rotting on the Internet, or are curious to explore other ways of living in a tech-saturated world, you're in the RIGHT place! Appstinence Academy is a free online educational resource offering two ways to participate:


Join us for our weekly Office Hours, where experienced Gen Z educators from our team will answer any questions you might have about reclaiming your life from tech. We want to help YOU help yourself. Come discuss alternative phone options, ideas for filling your time, and help your peers with the knowledge from your own trial-and-error.


or…if you need private, 1:1 help, sign up for Digital Lifestyle Planning and we'll customize a new digital lifestyle for you according to your values, emotional and physical needs, and budget. Think of it as your own very private tutor to help you beat brain rot!


To ensure safety, all participants of Office Hours are required to verify their age (18+ using proof of ID) prior to being enrolled.

*please note that appstinence academy is not an accredited institution Nor formal online educational institution. It's for fun and to help people. Thanks!*

What is Appstinence Academy?

What do you get when you cross Harvard-trained educators with Gen Z brain rot? Appstinence Academy! This is your first free online educational resource to kick your phone and social media habit for GOOD! Using our experiences growing up chronically online, we want to help you get free of doomscrolling on TikTok, wasting time on Youtube, or any other bad tech habit you might have. Come learn with others going through the same journey— we're all in this together. You don't have to be Gen Z to participate (just 18+)!

The 2025-2026 School year Starts on September 1st. Program schedule—>

Office Hours are held twice a week (Wed and Sat) every week for one hour on Zoom. The 2025-2026 Office Hours programming will commence on Wed. September 3rd at 6pm PST/2am BST, then on Sat. September 6th at 12pm PST/8pm BST. Example schedule:


9/3 at 6pm PST/2am BST

9/6 at 12pm PST/8pm BST

9/10 at 6pm PST/2am BST

9/13 at 12pm PST/8pm BST

Learn more
about the Academy

So, is this like therapy for my TikTok brainrot or something?

Not therapy— an education. You can come to office hours as much or as little as you want. We are not licensed therapists, psychologists, nor medical professionals of any kind. The service is peer to peer to help you re-design your relationship with social media and your phone and get you as far as you want, whether that's full appstinence or not. Bye bye brainrot.

So, is this like therapy for my TikTok brainrot or something?

Not therapy— an education. You can come to office hours as much or as little as you want. We are not licensed therapists, psychologists, nor medical professionals of any kind. The service is peer to peer to help you re-design your relationship with social media and your phone and get you as far as you want, whether that's full appstinence or not. Bye bye brainrot.

So, is this like therapy for my TikTok brainrot or something?

Not therapy— an education. You can come to office hours as much or as little as you want. We are not licensed therapists, psychologists, nor medical professionals of any kind. The service is peer to peer to help you re-design your relationship with social media and your phone and get you as far as you want, whether that's full appstinence or not. Bye bye brainrot.

How do you verify my age?

Before enrolling in Appstinence Academy, participants must sign a waiver. For Office Hours, we require all participants to verify their age using proof of ID. The ID must be government issued (school ID's are not accepted). No exceptions! Don't worry, after we verify you we delete the information. We do this to ensure maximum safety for all participants.

How do you verify my age?

Before enrolling in Appstinence Academy, participants must sign a waiver. For Office Hours, we require all participants to verify their age using proof of ID. The ID must be government issued (school ID's are not accepted). No exceptions! Don't worry, after we verify you we delete the information. We do this to ensure maximum safety for all participants.

How do you verify my age?

Before enrolling in Appstinence Academy, participants must sign a waiver. For Office Hours, we require all participants to verify their age using proof of ID. The ID must be government issued (school ID's are not accepted). No exceptions! Don't worry, after we verify you we delete the information. We do this to ensure maximum safety for all participants.

What if I am not Gen Z?

As long as you are 18+, you are welcome!

What if I am not Gen Z?

As long as you are 18+, you are welcome!

What if I am not Gen Z?

As long as you are 18+, you are welcome!

How much does it cost to enroll?

It’s free for the time being! We may ask you to fill out a feedback form so we can keep improving the Academy for future students.

How much does it cost to enroll?

It’s free for the time being! We may ask you to fill out a feedback form so we can keep improving the Academy for future students.

How much does it cost to enroll?

It’s free for the time being! We may ask you to fill out a feedback form so we can keep improving the Academy for future students.

Do you offer this service in other languages?

Office Hours will be hosted mainly in English, but help in Spanish is available. Digital Lifestyle Planning is offered in either English or Spanish.

Do you offer this service in other languages?

Office Hours will be hosted mainly in English, but help in Spanish is available. Digital Lifestyle Planning is offered in either English or Spanish.

Do you offer this service in other languages?

Office Hours will be hosted mainly in English, but help in Spanish is available. Digital Lifestyle Planning is offered in either English or Spanish.

  • "I have absolutely loved this new system. It has empowered me so much that I genuinely feel like a different person... it's still early days but I feel proud and very excited for what's to come."

    Billal Patel, 35

    United Kingdom

  • "[my coach] was really dedicated in helping me with taking back control for my digital life, AND my attention! She took a detailed look at my digital life now, and consulted me about my major concerns. SO, after doing the first tailored step for the last couple of days, I felt a sense of liberation already, and I am getting more work done!"

    Haiyan, 25

    China

  • "I had a wonderful experience working with [my coach]. She was understanding of my concerns and talking to her felt like talking to a friend. I feel like we were able to relate on many levels and she gave me actionable steps with encouragements of my own."

    Charlotte, 28

    United States

  • "I have absolutely loved this new system. It has empowered me so much that I genuinely feel like a different person... it's still early days but I feel proud and very excited for what's to come."

    Billal Patel, 35

    United Kingdom

  • "[my coach] was really dedicated in helping me with taking back control for my digital life, AND my attention! She took a detailed look at my digital life now, and consulted me about my major concerns. SO, after doing the first tailored step for the last couple of days, I felt a sense of liberation already, and I am getting more work done!"

    Haiyan, 25

    China

  • "I had a wonderful experience working with [my coach]. She was understanding of my concerns and talking to her felt like talking to a friend. I feel like we were able to relate on many levels and she gave me actionable steps with encouragements of my own."

    Charlotte, 28

    United States

  • "I have absolutely loved this new system. It has empowered me so much that I genuinely feel like a different person... it's still early days but I feel proud and very excited for what's to come."

    Billal Patel, 35

    United Kingdom

  • "[my coach] was really dedicated in helping me with taking back control for my digital life, AND my attention! She took a detailed look at my digital life now, and consulted me about my major concerns. SO, after doing the first tailored step for the last couple of days, I felt a sense of liberation already, and I am getting more work done!"

    Haiyan, 25

    China

  • "I had a wonderful experience working with [my coach]. She was understanding of my concerns and talking to her felt like talking to a friend. I feel like we were able to relate on many levels and she gave me actionable steps with encouragements of my own."

    Charlotte, 28

    United States

Join Today!

To enroll, fill out this form and we will be in touch. If you have questions please email henry_m@appstinence.org

Join Today!

To enroll, fill out this form and we will be in touch. If you have questions please email henry_m@appstinence.org

Join Today!

To enroll, fill out this form and we will be in touch. If you have questions please email henry_m@appstinence.org

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