Delete Addictive Apps for Mental Health Awareness Month

Since many apps aren’t designed to protect our wellbeing, Remixers are saying bye for now and challenging you to do the same. What’s the app that keeps you coming back? You know, the one you think, “I’ll just go on this for a couple minutes” and then an hour later, you’re still scrolling? The one that makes you feel insecure? The one you are browsing while you’re also watching Netflix? Got it? Ok, time to DELETE it! For Mental Health Awareness Month, Generation Remix teen leaders are challenging our community to create space for joy by taking a break from our most addictive apps.  Our Remixers have so many stories about how deleting that one thing that keeps them hooked has made a positive impact on their lives. After deleting Snapchat at the beginning of this school year, Alex said he cares less about what people think of him, has more energy, makes meaningful social connections in school, and feels a lot more present in the moment for mental clarity. Nick removed all social media, browsers, and games, keeping only productivity apps like Gmail, Google Calendar, AI, Uber and Headspace. He shared that it's had a tremendous effect on his mental and physical health because he is now “living in the moment without being distracted every 10 seconds”. Charli and Jack both deleted TikTok, ditching their “random and mindless scrolling” for better focus and guitar playing. But the reality is, it’s hard to leave these digital spaces and teens shouldn’t have to delete apps to protect their mental health. Our Remixer leaders don't want to disappear from the digital world; they want to be in a world that doesn't prey on their attention for profit. They want agency, not traps. What if digital wellbeing wasn’t a hidden setting but a design standard? Here is the Remix wishlist for a better platform agency: No Algorithm: Default to user control, not algorithm-fed content  No Infinite Scroll: Kill the infinite scroll or let users turn it off or set a limit  No FYP: Friends content only defaults for all platforms  No Streaking: No more pressured, timely daily streaks drawing users back Nudge Exits: Features that interrupt doomscrolling and encourage a break  Limit Notifications: No more constant notifications on posts, comments, likes, & reposts #digitalwellbeing #screentime #mentalhealth #generationremix #teens #mentalhealthawarenessmonth