You may have seen it, ironically, all over social media already. In 2026, many are saying that they’re cutting back on streaming, scrolling and their social media presence altogether.

I have seen this consensus primarily in college-aged, Gen Z individuals who are sick of the prevalence of AI in our day-to-day lives and who are frustrated with the number of subscriptions and paywalls that are locking everything down.

An interesting phenomenon that I have noticed is a general sense of nostalgia for a time when technology wasn’t really a thing. We rely on technology so much in our daily lives, yet we yearn for a time when we didn’t have it to depend on.

In a 2023 study conducted by GWI, researchers found that 40% of Gen Z long for eras they never lived through, while 70% regularly consume media from earlier decades. What is it exactly that’s drawing us towards an earlier time? Is it the fact that we’re so dependent on instant gratification that we wish we had a time where we had to wait? Could it be that the media from previous generations was just better?

Forbes recently posted an article detailing how Gen Z is starting to shift more analog. We’re slowly, with some resistance, realizing the damaging effects that technology has had on us. We can feel our brains practically turning to mush every time we scroll for a few hours or have to use ChatGPT to help us with an assignment. It’s not healthy, and it’s good that we, as a generation, are learning that.

In 2026, lean into “going analog.” Limit your screen time; just a few hours will do. Buy physical CDs or vinyl records. Check out your local thrift store to see if your favorite movies and shows are on DVD. Own music and movies, don’t just stream them. Streaming may be convenient, but it’s impermanent.

And if you’re thinking about how to fill your time once you’ve freed up 3-4 hours of scrolling, check out crafts. I guarantee there is at least one you can do.

Turn off your phone! Live a little in the moment.

Lauren Douda is a sophomore English and secondary education major from Lexington, South Carolina. Lauren can be reached at [email protected].