It seems like a tech detox is in the air, with many young people opting for vintage devices over modern gadgets.
Gen Z is stepping away from high-tech smartphones and apps, instead embracing old-school flip phones, iPods, digital cameras, and even typewriters. The shift is partially motivated by a desire for simpler lives, less tethered to screens.
Parents are also getting in on the act, purchasing retro devices for their children to help them escape the relentless lure of digital distractions.
Take Sonya Saidakova, a graduate student at New York University. A year ago, she traded her iPhone for a basic Nokia 2780 flip phone. “It’s just an incredible feeling—not constantly being available,” the 23-year-old shared.
She has found joy in rejoining life; she joined a movie theater, invested in a digital camera and a CD player, and even ditched Spotify. She remarks that asking for directions instead of relying on Google Maps has enriched her interactions with people.
Saidakova feels lighter and more focused, attributing less anxiety to her reduced screen time. “Culturally, we are at a breaking point—people are just tired of it,” she observed.
In a similar vein, Alex Becker, a 34-year-old mother from a Philadelphia suburb, expressed a desire to keep her kids away from smartphones and tablets. She wants her children to enjoy “the joys of childhood” without the influence of online drama.
“Once the second child gets those devices, childhood innocence fades,” she said. Becker relayed concerns she hears from parents, noting how her daughter used to enjoy classic literature but now spends her time on Instagram.
This low-tech renaissance is seen as part of a broader movement away from constant connectivity and digital burnout, according to Amanda Michel, of Back Market, an online marketplace for refurbished devices.
Michel noted an uptick in demand for simpler, older devices like Wi-Fi-free iPods and vintage gaming consoles.
Additionally, eBay has reported a rise in interest for legacy music devices, projecting that iPods will be searched more than 1,300 times an hour globally until 2025, with prices for certain models climbing 40% to 60%.
Computers Aren’t His “Type”
Dean Jamison, a novelist in Brooklyn, prefers to write on an Olivetti Lettera 32 typewriter, first manufactured in 1964. Though he had contemplated buying one, procrastination held him back—until his girlfriend gifted him a vintage typewriter she found online.
He appreciates the tactile joy of typing on actual paper, saying it allows for more organic editing, unlike the distractions of a computer. Many of his friends share similar sentiments, enjoying less reliance on technology.
Becker too finds a mix of nostalgia and happiness in the retro switch. By using Spotify, she realized her music tastes were narrowing, longing instead for the variety she enjoyed in her youth. She’s now reviving her ’90s childhood for her kids by dusting off old CDs and introducing them to boomboxes.
The push for remanufactured technology also stems from growing concerns about electronic waste. The World Health Organization reported that the global e-waste volume reached approximately 62 million tonnes in 2022, raising environmental alarms.
Rachel Reich, 26, shared her feelings about this waste, aiming to be more mindful in her purchases.
Last May, when her iPhone reached its limitations, Reich decided to downgrade after years of excessive tech use. Once addicted to Instagram, she now embraces a UniHertz Jelly Star 2E, a compact smartphone. It’s a “bite-sized” alternative that helps curb her scrolling habits.
Can We Go Back in Time?
The pandemic has made devices essential for schoolchildren, prompting many parents to seek ways to revert to simpler, less connected times. Elizabeth Mitchell, a mother in Washington, D.C., provided her son with disposable cameras and sourced a used iPod to avoid online distractions.
Younger generations in New York City are also choosing digital cameras over smartphones, and some are experimenting with 16mm and 35mm film.
This resurgence in film photography, shared by 26-year-old Joji Baratelli, is fascinating for those experiencing a non-digital medium for the first time. Baratelli enjoys using cameras dating back to the 1930s.
At a Manhattan deli, a 27-year-old clerk showcased a 1950s Royal typewriter handed down from a neighbor. He reflected on how technology has diminished family connections, longing for simpler mornings spent together without phones.
