Why Scroll Less September?
Real Life is Waiting
In Australia, we're estimated to spend around 17 years of our lives looking at our phones. This estimate is based on Australian research into average daily phone use and life expectancy. It’s not because we choose to spend 17 years staring at a screen, but because reaching for our phones has quietly become a habit. We check notifications while we're waiting, scroll while we're eating, glance at our screens while our children are playing, and interrupt conversations to answer a message that could have waited.
These moments may seem small, but over weeks, months, and years, they add up. Scroll Less September is here to encourage Australians to pause, become more intentional with their phone use, and create more room for the people and moments that matter most. It isn't about ditching the phone altogether; it's about making one small change that can lead to more presence, connection and real life.
Source: Reviews.org Australia (2021). Aussies spend almost 17 years in a lifetime staring at their phones. Based on a survey of 1,000 Australians and an estimate using reported daily phone use, average age of first smartphone ownership and Australian life expectancy. Read the full research and methodology here
Why I Started Scroll Less September
Hi, I'm Gia, Founder of Scroll Less September. I'm a former television journalist, mental health advocate, podcast host, and mum of three from Adelaide.
Like many Australians, I reach for my phone far more often than I'd like. I notice the small moments it steals from everyday life - constantly distracted, checking a message while one of my boys is talking to me or asking me to play, scrolling mindlessly at night, watching other people's reels while my own real life quietly passes by.
I feel addicted to my phone.
I want to build healthier phone habits, be more present with my family and friends, and set a better example for my boys. I know I'm not the only one looking for an excuse to change.
I hope this campaign inspires people to reclaim the small moments, build healthier habits, and create more room for the people and experiences that matter most.
Because life isn't happening on our screens. It's happening all around us.
I hope you'll join me this September as we scroll less, live more, and proudly support Beyond Blue.
Proudly Supporting Beyond Blue
Scroll Less September is proud to support Beyond Blue.
Every donation made through the campaign helps Beyond Blue continue supporting Australians experiencing anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges.
For more information, visit: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
Ready to spend less time on your phone and more time living?
Make one pledge. Support Beyond Blue. Together, let’s reclaim our time.