Illustrations © by Aśka, from the book Behind the Screens, written by Niraj Lal.
Offtober
Offtober
A global movement to switch off from tech (however you choose), for one month a year. Raise funds for kids mental health and digital literacy.
How does it work?
Choose what to switch off
Choose something you’re keen to switch off from for a while (however you’d define it). Give it a crack during the month of October. Help anyone around you if they want to do the same. Make a pledge to support kids mental health and digital literacy.
Things that can help
Consider what you want to switch on – to replace whatever you might be switching off.
Tell people if you’re going to be offline so they know what to expect.
Switching off together with community.
Get involved
If you’re into it, give it a go.
Sign up to the newsletter. Get your local library, neighbourhood house, café, bookshop or business to be an Offtober hub.
About
Humans across the world have long recognised the value of occasional time away from something. Major religions have periods of fasting through Lent, Yom Kippur, Ramadan and Navaratri. Modern day secular versions of self-imposed abstinence include Dry July, Feb Fast and Movember.
Periods of going without can help provide us better perspective of the things we do have. They can also help identify ill-effects of excess and help temper any tendencies we might have towards addiction.
Today, one of humanity’s biggest addictions is our use of screens – and it’s having a real impact. In Australia, where we started this, the average Australian spends more than 2 hrs on their phone each day – averaging more than 2000 individual touches. We’re hooked! But we’re also more lonely than ever (more than 2 in 5 young Australians feel lonely), more polarised (global political polarisation is at record levels) and more surveilled too (nearly everything we watch, say, buy or see is tracked). It’s the same story around the world.
During Covid, Sally Cunningham and Niraj Lal came up with the ideas of Tech Free Tuesdays and Offtober for their kids – to carve out some time away from screens. It wasn’t always easy (and didn’t always work) but there was some magic in it. They officially launched Offtober in 2024. In 2026, Nij’s book came out – Behind the Screens – illustrated by Aska and published by UQP – exploring how the internet works for young people 9-13 before the get a phone. Check it out here if you’re interested.
Offtober is now raising funds for Headspace in Australia, and taking off around the world.
Switch off together
Jack Johnson knew it, The Beatles too – things are usually better together, and we can all use a little help from our friends. Offtober was born out of the idea that maybe we could all benefit from switching off occasionally – in whatever way works for us– and that doing it together would be helpful.
Remember what it is to be human
As we use digital and AI technologies more and more, there’s maybe an opportunity for Offtober to also help us periodically remember what it is to be human, to remember how we can still live without some of our tech, to reconnect with our communities in the physical world, and to help our mental health.
Support
Thank you for your support
You can donate directly to Headspace here.
Offtober is in the process of becoming a registered Australian charity, in the meantime you can support the movement through Buy Me A Coffee (all payment options). We’re also looking for people to get involved in the org – get in touch if you’re interested.
Get in touch
I'd love to hear from you.
There’s obviously some irony in this movement having a website, with an online newsletter, and an internet-based donations page. But while one day it might be better advertised through hand-written letters with info pinned onto physical community noticeboards, and support for the movement expressed through jars of home-made jam… we figured we’d start here.
If you’re into it, send us a message or tell us how you’re planning to switch off. We’re also looking for people to join the movement – get in touch if you’re interested.
See you offline in Offtober (or not :).
Illustrations © by Aśka, from the book Behind the Screens, written by Niraj Lal.