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In a world full of connections, more and more people are deciding to cut the cord and go analog. This emerging trend means returning to simpler ways of doing things with the goal of having fewer distractions, improving concentration, and having a more tactile or sensory experience in life.
One of the top ways Canadians are going analog is by trading their smartphones for earlier ones such as flip phones. The mass ownership of smartphones is a relatively new phenomenon as it really wasn’t that long ago when landlines were dominant. By switching to simpler phones with primary features only being voice calls and texts, people are able to spend less time on social media or shopping online, and focusing more of their time on what they feel matters the most.
Smartphones have become so entrenched in our lives that many people even take them to bed and use the alarm function to wake up in the morning. Another way of going analog is returning to the use of alarm clocks instead. Many stores still sell old fashion alarm clocks operated by batteries and set off by the ringing of bells. They are also relatively inexpensive and an easy way to use your smartphone just a little bit less.
Returning to physical media is also becoming more popular as growing number of Canadians are purchasing vinyl records, cassettes and CDs. While streaming sales continues to drive growth in the music industry, data from Statistics Canada shows sales of vinyl records, CDs, downloads (both singles and albums) and other formats outside of streaming totalled $136 million in 2023. Within the vinyl and other format category, sales were up by just over one-third (or 34.5 per cent) from 2021 to $84.9 million in 2023.
Other ways people are going analog in recent years include using notepads and pens instead of a note app and recorder, using an analog watch instead of a smartwatch, and reading printed books instead of e-books.
There’s a growing desire among many Canadians for a digital detox, even it means only including a couple of things from this list in their daily lives. Some people are going analog as a means of slowing the pace of life, reducing their screen time or as a reaction against constant connectivity.
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Photo Credit: ID 188703183 © Elizaveta Galitskaya | Dreamstime.com
