We are in the middle of analog technology resurgence
As our tech advancements become faster, there is a growing movement towards embracing the concept of slow living. Trends such as brewed, drip filter coffee and playing vinyl records align with this way of life. Once written off as the victims of the digital age, analog devices have been experiencing a comeback. And it’s not older people feeling nostalgic who are driving this trend.
Younger people who never experienced the joy of analog technology the first time around are discovering these devices for themselves. In 2023, vinyl record sales were the highest they had been this century, a trend which has seen them rising for the 16th consecutive year.
Vinyl LPs have a rich, warm sound that can’t be replicated, and encourage a kind of deep listening as opposed to the skip-and-shuffle stream beat. The presence of a turntable and the ritual involved to play music demands a certain kind of respect that differs wildly from streamed music.
The growing demand has also created a resurgence in the number of independent record shops. In the UK, there are a third more stores than a decade ago. Maybe our digital world has become so frenetic that ‘slow’ hobbies are now more appealing than ever, offering a break from the digital world. Many people seem to believe there’s more than enough room for both.
Have we reached peak digital? It appears a natural balance is being sought out by younger generations, who are reaching out for something they can touch. Some 15 years ago, it seemed like everything analog was on its way out. Fast-forward to the 2020s and here we are in the middle of an analog tech resurgence.
As adults today, we’ve never lived without the internet. But the bulk of our childhood was internet free. We used clunky computers to play Carmen Sandiego, practice typing, and make WordArt. Nowadays, using a computer or device is pretty much synonymous to using the internet…and people are connected almost 24/7. The internet is a noisy and often exhausting place. And not surprisingly, many people are beginning to miss the analog days of the past, when internet usage was just a small sliver of our day–or even week!
There’s a growing body of people who are thinking along these lines. People who are embracing a slow approach to life, practicing digital decluttering, and deleting their Facebook accounts. It’s encouraging and eye opening to hear from people like this, who remind us we don’t need to be glued to our phones. We don’t need to have Yelp and Instagram and weather apps on tap.
If you feel like you spend too much of your time online, or relying on digital, here’s how you can throwback to old-fashioned, analog practices: Read physical books; Wear a wristwatch; Be social without social media; Play board games; Use real film in taking photos; Write things down on paper; Get information from people and books.
