Are we reaching a breaking point with AI? In 2026, a growing number of people are embracing the analog lifestyle, not just as a fleeting trend, but as a deliberate shift away from the digital overload that defines our modern lives. But here's where it gets controversial: is this a genuine cultural movement, or just another fad fueled by the very technology it seeks to escape? Let's dive in.
As our homes become increasingly populated with AI-powered gadgets, virtual assistants, and chatbots, a quiet rebellion is taking shape. Unlike a temporary digital detox, the analog lifestyle is about reclaiming time, creativity, and tangible experiences in a world where generative AI platforms are doing more of our thinking and doing for us. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not about rejecting technology entirely, but about finding balance and intentionality in how we engage with it.
While it’s hard to measure the exact scale of this movement, certain offline hobbies are experiencing a renaissance. Take Michael’s, the arts and crafts retailer with over 1,300 stores in North America. In the past six months, searches for ‘analog hobbies’ on their site surged by 136%. Sales of guided craft kits jumped 86% in 2025, with projections of another 30% to 40% increase this year. Even ‘grandma hobbies’ like knitting are making a comeback, with yarn kit searches skyrocketing by 1,200% in 2025. Stacey Shively, Michael’s chief merchandising officer, notes that the company is expanding its knitting materials section to meet demand.
Here’s the bold part: many are turning to crafting as a mental health escape from the endless doomscrolling that’s become all too familiar, especially post-pandemic. ‘It’s a really big cultural shift happening right now,’ Shively told CNN. But is this shift sustainable, or just a reactionary blip in our tech-driven lives?
Intrigued by the trend, I decided to try it myself. For 48 hours, I ditched my three iPhones, MacBook, Kindle, Alexa, and the Gen-Z instinct to constantly switch between them. Before starting, I sought inspiration from dedicated analog enthusiasts like Shaughnessy Barker, a 25-year-old in Penticton, British Columbia, who relies on a landline and a ‘dumb phone’ app for communication. Barker, who grew up with vinyl records and cassettes, hosts tech-free craft and wine nights, writes letters, and limits her computer time. ‘Everything on the internet is meant for profit now,’ she says. ‘Nothing is just for enjoyment anymore.’
But here’s the irony: even Barker struggles to go completely offline. Her vintage shop and ‘snail mail club’ rely on the internet for outreach. ‘I’m a walking oxymoron,’ she admits, ‘wanting to get off my phone while making TikToks about it.’
So, what’s driving this movement? For many, it’s fatigue with ‘AI slop’—repetitive, unoriginal content churned out by tools like ChatGPT. Avriel Epps, an AI researcher, calls it ‘fatiguing, both in viewing and in its lack of originality.’ Others are simply frustrated by how AI is replacing human creativity. Here’s the thought-provoking question: are we outsourcing our humanity to machines, and if so, what does that mean for our future?
Going analog doesn’t mean abandoning technology altogether. Some swap Spotify for an iPod, trade digital photos for film, or replace smartphone alarms with physical clocks. As Epps puts it, ‘It’s about cutting the internet off from the information about me,’ not cutting myself off from the internet entirely.
My own analog experiment had its challenges. While I enjoyed journaling, reading ‘Wuthering Heights,’ and attending a screen-free knitting circle in Brooklyn, I couldn’t shake the feeling of performing for a digital media piece. Yet, even in those brief moments, I noticed the world around me more vividly—the tourists gazing at the Empire State Building, the warmth of shared creativity in the knitting circle.
Here’s the final question for you: Is the analog lifestyle a genuine path to reclaiming our time and humanity, or just another trend perpetuated by the very technology it aims to escape? Let me know your thoughts in the comments—I’m genuinely curious to hear your take.
