The Age of Analog

In 2026, a growing number of us are trading algorithms for analog, swapping the infinite scroll for time to read a book, doing arts and crafts, going for long walks, or taking digital photos with friends. It’s a quiet shift happening across campus: people choosing activities that feel slower, more intentional, and more human.

Welcome to the Age of Analog, where owning something or being somewhere without a screen between you and the moment is starting to look less like a throwback and more like the future.

So what’s actually driving it? 

1. We don’t own anything anymore

Our generation grew up online, and somewhere along the way we realised something: we don’t actually own much of anything digital.

Music, movies, storage and shopping increasingly exist through subscriptions, platforms and online accounts. We have access to more than ever before, yet increasingly, we own less of what we consume. As more of our playlists, photos and memories become tied to digital platforms, losing access can mean losing connection to the things we thought were ours.

That's why analog feels different. A film photo is something you can physically keep. A journal exists independently of any app and a printed book doesn't need a subscription to read. There’s something reassuring about having things that are tangible, lasting and entirely your own.

Analog isn't just an aesthetic. It's a response to digital impermanence, a way of reclaiming ownership in a world where everything feels rented.

2. Social media was supposed to be an escape. Now, we’re escaping from it.

Social media once felt like a playground, chaotic and full of possibility, but it has slowly shifted into one of the most emotionally draining spaces we spend time in. The algorithm shapes what we see, how we feel, and how long we stay, turning expression into performance and connection into comparison. The rise of analog spaces isn’t about rejecting technology, it’s about rejecting the pressure that comes with it. 

People want connection that isn’t ranked, creativity that isn't a performance, and community beyond the constant presence of likes, comments and metrics. There is a growing desire for spaces where we can participate rather than perform, create rather than document, and connect without feeling constantly observed.

Analog activities offer an alternative: spaces where our attention isn't being measured, our experiences aren't being quantified, and our presence doesn't need to be shared.

What “going analog” looks like in 2026

This isn’t about throwing your phone completely away. It’s about choosing activities that let you step outside the digital noise. 

• Film & digital cameras: slower, more intentional, and the memory actually feels like yours.

• Analog bags: A growing trend of carrying physical essentials such as a camera, book, journal or sketchbook, rather than relying on your phone to fill every spare moment.

• Arts & craft sessions: Painting, collaging, knitting and clay work offer a creative outlet without algorithms, notifications or metrics, allowing us to focus on the process rather than the outcome.

• Fitness without apps: Running without tracking every kilometre, practising yoga without monitoring progress, or simply moving for the sake of feeling good. Exercise becomes an experience rather than another statistic to measure.

• Board games: Sitting around a table, laughing, negotiating, competing, and collaborating creates a kind of connection that digital spaces can’t replicate. Board games force presence. They make you look at people, not screens. They remind you what real‑world interaction feels like.

None of these replace our digital lives. They simply make parts of life tangible again  something you can hold, something that lasts.

Where this goes next

If 2026 keeps moving the way it’s started, expect the analog movement to grow rather than fade. Not because people are quitting their phones, but because more of us are noticing the gap between what social media promised connection, community, escape and what it actually delivers.

Analog is one way of closing that gap. It’s a way of building real, human moments instead of renting digital ones.