By Fatima Salinas

Jack Cantorna, a University of Iowa student studying economics and philosophy, brought the "APPstinence at Iowa" club to campus to help students rethink their relationship with technology and find more fulfilling social lives without smartphones. After deciding to delete his own social media accounts, Cantorna said the change made him more productive, less anxious, and happier overall.

Now, he hopes the club will give students a supportive space to build meaningful connections with others and experience the benefits of being more present in their daily lives.

The club was originally founded at Harvard University by graduate student Gabriela Nguyen as a way to help people step back from constant digital use. The focus is on providing people with tools and structure to reduce their reliance on apps while also building a community around those shared goals.

For Cantorna, this wasn’t a new experience; he often found himself deleting social media apps, only to return to them later.

“I had always been off and on with social media,” Cantorna said. “But I had never seriously considered deleting my accounts. Eventually, I made the leap.”

That decision, he said, ended up reshaping his daily routine and how he spent his time. It also made him realize that other students might be looking for a similar change but unsure where to start.

Cantorna first learned about "APPstinence" through his father, who shared information about the movement with him. From there, the idea stuck, eventually leading him to bring the organization to Iowa.

Looking for connection

The club is still getting established, but Cantorna said its focus has shifted toward helping students build happier, more fulfilling social lives by creating opportunities for connection without smartphones.

The group will begin this semester with student activities and social events designed to encourage students to put their phones away and focus on the people around them.

Cantorna calls these "APPstinent events"—referring to socializing without smartphones. Students will be asked to power their phones off completely or put them in their backpacks during activities.

The idea comes from a simple challenge Cantorna sees in everyday student life. For example, a student walking into the dining hall on their first day might want to introduce themselves to someone new but instead choose to sit alone and scroll on their phone. Looking around, they may see that everyone else is either already in a group or looking at a screen, making even the people they might want to approach seem unapproachable.

The cycle can continue when other students see someone on their phone and assume they don’t want to be bothered.

“You might both be looking for connection, but neither of you makes the first move,” Cantorna said.

The club supports those connections by creating spaces where students can socialize without the distraction of smartphones.

The club’s main focus this semester is based on the idea that human connection is necessary for a happy life and that creating more opportunities for face-to-face interaction can help students feel more connected.

One activity the club will consistently offer this semester is "APPstinence, Deep Work," a weekly study group held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sundays in the Main Library. Other activities will be decided by student members, allowing students to help shape the events they want to participate in.

While these events will be the club’s main offering, Cantorna said students will still have opportunities to learn practical ways to manage their digital habits.

The club will continue offering digital management tools, tips, programs, and workshops for students who want additional support. Cantorna said the group still believes taking control of one’s attention is important, but those resources will now serve as a secondary focus.

“We still think it is extremely important to take control of your attention and, by extension, your life,” Cantorna said. “But our main goal is to help Iowa students be happier through leading more fulfilling social lives, without the negative influence of smartphones.”

Cantorna said one of the biggest challenges is how normalized screen use has become, making it harder for people to even recognize it as a problem.

“For some reason, addiction to your smartphone is not a common conversation topic,” Cantorna said. “It is so widespread that it is normalized. It can feel lonely, choosing to step back from social media when friends don’t understand or share your perspective.”

By creating a community centered around shared goals, he hopes the club can make that process feel less isolating and provide students with more opportunities to connect with others.

Cantorna also envisions a peer-led model where students support each other in building healthier habits. He said the group plans to implement a program similar to Harvard's “APPstinence Academy,” where members work together to redesign their relationship with technology.

Becoming more present

Looking ahead, he hopes members will begin to notice changes not just in how they use their phones, but in how they feel overall.

“I hope that members will find that they are happier,” he said. “More productive, less anxious, and more satisfied with life.”

Cantorna said he has already experienced those changes since deleting social media. He described feeling a sense of relief and becoming more present in his relationships and everyday life.

“I’m happier in my day-to-day life,” Cantorna said.

As the club continues to grow, Cantorna plans to collaborate with other student organizations and spread awareness across campus through events and outreach. Students may see the group tabling or sharing information in high-traffic areas.

“I hope that our presence on campus is the little push that turns into a big change in someone’s life,” he said.

Students interested in joining APPstinence at Iowa or learning more about upcoming activities can fill out the club’s APPstinence interest form.