TikTok, Instagram and Facebook dumped by Gen Z and Millenials for febfast

Instead of ditching alcohol or sugar, younger Sydneysiders have quit Instagram, Facebook and TikTok in record numbers for febfast.

It used to be that alcohol and sugar were the go-to vices on the list of things to give up — but it seems social media is fast catching up with them.

Millennials and Gen Zers have quit social media in record numbers for the month of February to support disadvantaged youth.

As part of febfast, in which participants give up a vice of their choice for the entire 28 days to help young people in need, those who signed up have ditched apps such as Instagram, TikTok and Facebook in droves.

Hana Wotherspoon has given up social media instead of booze for febfast. Picture: Gaye Gerard/Daily Telegraph

Among them is 24-year-old Sydneysider Hana Wotherspoon, who said she made social media her vice of choice “to improve my overall emotional wellbeing’’.

She said she was using her time away from her phone as “positive motivation and reinforcement of healthy habits rather than my current use of scrolling through the never ending search page of barely relatable TikToks’’.

“Quitting has absolutely been challenging,” she added.

“It had become my mini habitual source of hourly dopamine hits.’’

More young people are seeing febfast as an opportunity for a digital detox. Picture: Lionel Bonaventure

Andrew Bruun, the CEO of the Youth Support and Advocacy Service, said at least 4000 participants signed up for febfast this year and while two thirds gave up alcohol, a record number gave up their beloved social media apps.

“This year we’re seeing (more) young Australians take a digital detox,” Mr Bruun said.

“This upward trend of Gen Z and Millennial participants pledging to end their social media binge is very interesting.”