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Global Day of Unplugging 2025

March 7-8

GDU 2025: 24-Hours of Global Reconnection

Our Biggest Year Yet!

Global Day of Unplugging 2025 was our biggest year yet, proving just how powerful it is when people across the world pause their screens and gather with intention. With the support of our sponsors, Hinge and UScellular, we fueled 181 Unplugged Gatherings across 6 continents, adding up to more than 1,150 collective hours unplugged.

From classrooms in California to community centers in Cameroon, our Gatherers created moments of joy, rest, and real connection, redefining what it means to be present in a hyper-connected world. Whether it was a tech-free dinner, a silent hike, or a school-wide screen break, every gathering helped spread the message that unplugging isn’t about going without, it’s about tuning back in.

GDU 2025 wasn’t just a day. It was a movement powered by everyday people choosing to show up for themselves and their communities—one unplugged moment at a time.

How we measure impact

To understand the true reach and resonance of our movement, we track three core metrics:
Gatherings (events), Gatherlings (guests), and Hours Unplugged per Gatherer (host).

These data points help us answer big questions:

How many people are unplugging?
How meaningful are their experiences?
How does our programming scale across diverse communities?

By analyzing this impact across all Gatherer Types, from classrooms and community centers to solo participants and global partners, we’re able to fine-tune our resources and grow intentionally. It’s all part of our mission to make unplugging more accessible, meaningful, and community-powered.

The Unplugged Map: A Global Snapshot

Our Unplugged Map is live year-round, helping people share their own Unplugged Gatherings and discover local events in their area. It’s part directory, part inspiration board, and part living record of how far the Unplugged Movement travels.

During GDU 2025, the map saw 110+ gathering submissions, showcasing the creativity and commitment of our global community.

13 Global Gatherers hosted 20 Unplugged Gatherings across 17 countries and 6 continents.
Europe led with the most gatherings, while Africa made the greatest impact, with high gatherling (guest) turnout and the highest average Unplugged Hours per Gathering.

From schoolyards to cities, our map tells a powerful story: unplugging is everywhere, and it’s only growing.

The Gatherers (hosts)

When Gatherers host an Unplugged Gathering with GDU’s support, it can take many forms: from one-on-one virtual coaching and activation brainstorming to intention-setting and resource guidance. When the Gathering is complete, we ask Gatherers to fill out the Gatherer Wrap-Up Form to share feedback and reflect on the meaningful impact they created. Our priority is to build lasting relationships with all of our Gatherers.

Human Connection Metrics — Gatherers

The Impact of Hosting with GDU

Hosting an Unplugged Gathering is a deeply connective and empowering experience; nearly all Gatherers walk away feeling more connected to themselves and their fellow humans, walking away fulfilled, and eager to unplug again. This positions current Gatherers as a powerful engine for community growth, mentorship, and peer-to-peer recruitment.

We will amplify our reach by activating this group more intentionally through leadership tracks (Super Gatherers), referral programs, or storytelling campaigns for GDU 2026.

Gatherer Testimonials

“Bringing Sip & Chat to life as part of the Global Day of Unplugging was nothing short of transformative. The partnership created the perfect foundation for what we hoped to build—a space where people could truly disconnect from the noise, reconnect with themselves, and engage in meaningful, heart-centered conversation.”

Antonio Stephens — Los Angeles, CA

“We are incredibly grateful for the invaluable support from Global Day of Unplugging during our recent ATLWriteParty event. Their commitment to fostering human connection over digital engagement was pivotal in creating a unique and immersive experience for our participants.”

Brooke Sonenreich — Atlanta, GA

“Organizing and hosting an Unplugged Gathering was a truly rewarding experience. Taking time to disconnect from devices and engage in real, face-to-face conversations felt powerful and refreshing. Though I was unsure how people would respond, everyone became fully present — laughing, playing games, sharing stories, and building meaningful connections that might not have happened otherwise.”

Charity Simwenyi — Nairobi, Kenya

The Gatherlings (guests)

In addition to hearing from our Gatherers, we also hear directly from Gatherlings (guests). Though we receive fewer Gatherling Wrap-Up Forms from this group, the responses we do collect still reveal powerful outcomes and a strong sense of connection sparked by the experience.

Connection Metrics — Gatherlings

The Impact on the Gatherling (guest)

GDU Gatherings significantly boost participants’ sense of connection to their communities and have high return interest, validating the power of the experience. Proving that our unplugged moments aren’t just meaningful they’re shareable, a powerful reflection of the emotional impact and intentionality behind each unplugged moment.

Gatherling Testimonials

“Spending time unplugging with others was such a refreshing and eye-opening experience. In a world where we’re constantly attached to screens, taking intentional time to disconnect and truly be with people felt powerful. ”

Sonja Hanson — Chicago, IL

“It’s such a beautiful thing to be fully present with other fully present amazing humans...just real, deep, raw, and fun conversations about anything and everything you don’t even think about ur phone. i love love love it always ”

Sheer Ben David — Los Angeles, CA

“There was so much laughter, openness, and joy — something we don’t always experience in our daily, tech-filled lives.”

Samuel Gitonga — Nairobi, Kenya