12 Step Recovery From
The Compulsive Use of All Media
MAA Closed Back-to-Basics Step Study Program
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Media Addicts Anonymous (MAA) offers several monthly Back to Basics Step Studies, which allow members to quickly get sober from compulsive media use in a safe, stable, small group setting. Back to Basics (B2B) is an intensive study of the Twelve Steps using the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous and is designed to help media addicts (a) understand media addiction, (b) fast from all unnecessary media, (c) gain personal sobriety, (d) develop a Media Withdrawal and a Media Replacement Plan, and (e) complete all Twelve Steps of MAA with the support of a sponsor.
MAA Tradition Nine states, "MAA, as such, ought never to be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve." The creation of Back-to-Basics falls under this Tradition. Group Sponsors, we are organized as administrators to serve their groups.
MAA Tradition Three states, "The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop compulsively using media." MAA’s Closed Back to Basics Action Groups welcomes all who want to stop using media compulsively, and we also ask that members fast from media while in this group. Back to Basics requires participants to meet specific commitments, not included in open MAA meetings.
Program Purpose and Structure
Our purpose for Back-to-Basics is to provide a safe, structured environment where participants learn the principles of recovery, take the Twelve Steps, and have a life-changing spiritual awakening.
These month-long sessions are led and sponsored by recovered members of MAA. Daily meetings are designed to help members get sober from media addiction and stay ahead of the disease.
Group Sponsors: Each B2B meeting is run by Group Sponsors. These are two or more recovered members of MAA who have completed three cycles of Back to Basics and whose mission is to safeguard group integrity, cohesion, and safety. They are tasked with ensuring that meetings run smoothly, coordinating various group activities, solving problems, and offering support to participants and individual sponsors as needed.
Individual Sponsors: Each incoming member will be matched with an individual sponsor, who will meet with them a few times per week to assist them in working the Twelve Steps, review written assignments, and answer any questions.
B2B members form a supportive group. Together, they maintain a month-long media fast; share their experience, strength, and hope via outreach calls or during fellowship time; and take all Twelve Steps of recovery.
Schedule
Back-to-Basics Step Studies meet every weekday at the same time for four weeks. Meetings run for approximately 45 minutes, Monday through Thursday, and approximately 75 minutes on Friday. This includes 15 minutes of fellowship time before each meeting begins, where members get to know their fellows, grow in mutual support, and build group cohesiveness.
The four-week cycle repeats three times with a one-week break between cycles (except following the last session of the year, which typically has a longer break). Members are required to commit for only one month at a time. The media fast is maintained throughout the three-month cycle and during the breaks.
We currently offer 5 sessions based on US Eastern Time (ET) and 1 session based on Australian Eastern Time (AET)*. Here is the list of our sessions: 12:30 am ET, 7:00 am ET, 10:00 am ET, 1:00 pm ET, 7:00 am AET, and 8:30 pm ET. To find the exact time for each daily meeting in your local time zone, please carefully review the Closed B2B Meeting Calendar
All sessions begin their monthly cycle with a mandatory 90-minute Commitment Meeting. Participants who commit to being “All In” at the end of this Commitment Meeting will meet with an assigned sponsor over the weekend. They will then begin the first of four weeks of the B2B program on the following Monday.
*Please note that the 7:00 am Australian Eastern Time session will meet Sunday through Thursday for those in US time zones, and that daylight saving time in Australia changes on different weekends than in the US.