The Great Tech Boycott of February 2026: Every Subscription People Are Canceling Right Now

🤖 #QuitGPT: The ChatGPT Cancellation Wave

The #QuitGPT movement exploded in early February 2026 after OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman's political donations became "the straw that broke the camel's back" for many subscribers. What started as scattered frustration turned into an organized boycott covered by MIT Technology Review, Tom's Guide, and major tech outlets.

The movement urges consumers to cancel their subscriptions to Big Tech platforms — starting with ChatGPT — as a protest against companies "driving the markets and enabling our president."

How to Actually Cancel ChatGPT

Canceling ChatGPT is straightforward — if you know where to look:

1. Go to chat.openai.com → click your profile icon
2. Select Settings → Subscription
3. Click "Manage my subscription"
4. Click "Cancel plan"

Subscribed through iPhone? You must cancel through Apple: Settings → your name → Subscriptions → ChatGPT → Cancel.

Subscribed through Android? Google Play Store → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions → ChatGPT → Cancel.

📖 Read our complete #QuitGPT cancellation guide →

📖 Cancel ChatGPT Plus step-by-step →

⚖️ FTC Kills Click-to-Cancel Rule (February 12, 2026)

The rule would have required companies to make canceling a subscription as easy as signing up. After the Eighth Circuit Court struck it down, the FTC formally withdrew it rather than fight.

What this means for you: Companies can continue using dark patterns, phone-only cancellation, and multi-step cancellation mazes. The burden is on you to navigate the cancellation process.

That's exactly why we built JustCancel — we've documented step-by-step cancellation guides for 1,100+ services, including the ones that make it intentionally difficult.

📖 Full breakdown: What the FTC rule withdrawal means for consumers →

📱 The Broader Tech Boycott Wave

#QuitGPT isn't happening in isolation. February 2026 has seen a surge in cancellations across tech platforms:

Why February?

February is historically the second-biggest month for subscription cancellations (after January). New Year's resolutions fade, credit card bills from the holidays hit, and people reassess their spending. Add a political boycott movement and the death of consumer protection rules, and you get a perfect storm.

🔍 How to Audit All Your Subscriptions in 5 Minutes

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📚 Related Guides

• Complete #QuitGPT Cancellation Guide
• FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule: What It Means
• I Canceled Everything for a Month and Saved $1,613
• Dark Patterns Hall of Shame: 15 Companies Ranked
• Subscription Fatigue in 2026: The Breaking Point
• Browse all 1,100+ Cancel Guides →