Gen Z Holds “Delete Day” Offline Event to Push Back Against Social Media

In New York City’s Tompkins Square Park, about 80 young people gathered for “Delete Day,” a grassroots event where participants symbolically deleted social media apps like Instagram and TikTok. The event was organized by Gen Z-led groups under the Time to Refuse campaign, backed by author Jonathan Haidt, and promoted without relying heavily on social media itself. 

Instead of online ads, organizers relied on word-of-mouth, flyers, and street tabling to spread awareness. During the event, attendees shared personal stories about digital fatigue, participated in a mass app deletion ritual, danced in a no-phones party, and explored alternatives like Light Phones (basic phones without social media). 

Voices from groups like Appstinence, Reconnect Movement, and modern Luddite circles emphasized reclaiming real-world connection, saying social media has eroded attention, mental health, and interpersonal bonds. The campaign plans to expand “Delete Day” globally, with upcoming events in Philadelphia, the UK, and Nairobi. 

This movement reflects a broader backlash by Gen Z against constant connectivity. Many believe that stepping away from screens could help restore deeper, more meaningful relationships and mental clarity in a digital-obsessed age.