By: Kate Zaffarese, Follow South Jersey Community Journalist
The conveniences our society has gained through the rise of smartphones have greatly reduced the need for single use devices like CD players, cameras, and handheld gaming consoles. While these devices still exist and have a market, they became almost obsolete when they were added as features on smartphones. Similarly, streaming services like Netflix and Spotify have made the process of playing music or watching a show seamless, but it comes at a cost.
While modern technologies have made it easier to access music, TV, and video games anywhere you want, it often comes at the expense of some of the best parts of these media. Shows and movies on DVD usually have special features and extras, allowing the owner to become more invested in the things they love.
Furthermore, owning a DVD rather than streaming the show or movie gives you access to it forever, unlike how streaming services will lose or gain shows over time, never guaranteeing your favorite series will stay on the platform. Many streaming services have also begun to integrate ads on the service, causing further distractions and shifting your focus away from what you want to watch.
Listening to music on Spotify or Apple Music is a much different experience than listening to an album on a record player. With a vinyl, your complete attention is directed towards the music you’re listening to and the focus remains on the music. Vinyl and CDs also have extra material like album notes and artwork which are not present on music streaming services, giving you a narrower perspective on the artist’s work and the album at hand.
These services are often used on someone’s smartphone, where constant notifications and other uses can often distract the user from maintaining focus on the music they’re listening to or the show they’re watching. The ability to switch between all of these uses with a tap or swipe makes it incredibly easy to go on your phone to respond to a text or skip a song, then end up finding yourself half an hour later scrolling on Instagram wondering: how did I get here?
This is where the appeal of analog devices comes in. A DVD player won’t update you on breaking news. An mp3 player doesn’t also work as a way to check your emails. These single-use devices make it so much easier to keep your focus/attention on what you want to do, rather than the other places your mind goes when using a smartphone.
More and more people have started to push back against smartphone use, and have been picking up on the recent trend of “going analog”. The #analog tag on TikTok has more than 250k posts, many within the last year. Posts like this (video by TikTok creator Rosieoko) show how using analog devices have helped the creators engage more intentionally with their hobbies and interests while also reducing screen time.
“Going analog” means making an effort to reduce reliance on digital devices, allowing more time for more productive use of one’s time. In 2026, many have picked up on these habits and given more time to other activities they may not have pursued because of the convenience and comfort of smartphones and other modern devices.
People are instead choosing to devote their time to pick up new hobbies, find community, and give their full attention to the media they consume. Starting an activity like learning an instrument, crocheting, or cooking helps people shift their focus onto something more productive.
Another benefit of the analog lifestyle is its cost. As subscription prices for services like Spotify and Netflix continue to rise, the price of DVDs and CDs remains relatively low. Head to your local thrift store and you’ll find a treasure trove of low-price DVDs and CDs. This also allows you to pick and choose what you want to watch, something that can become overwhelming with the thousands of options streaming services provide.
The world we live in has integrated smartphone use so much into our lives that it is nearly impossible to live in the modern world without one. From scanning QR codes to pay for parking to keeping track of transit schedules and updates, the world has made smartphones the norm.
While it can be quite difficult to eliminate smartphone use entirely from your life, there are steps you can take to reduce your dependence on these devices and strike a balance between time spent on your phone and the rest of your life.
Ways to limit screen time:
-Create “no-phone” times, which is especially helpful before bed.
-Set time limits on apps.
-Have separate devices for things you would use your phone for (alarm clock, calendar, timer), which promotes habits of less phone dependency.
-Put your phone in another room while doing other activities.
According to a 2025 study done by Georgetown University psychology professor Kostadin Kushlev, “Digital detoxes, even in small doses of reducing some of your screen time in a given day, can positively impact your life.”
Whether or not this trend will continue remains to be seen, but even if it does not become a widespread change, the people who make the change will see their life improve as a result. Though smartphones are not going anywhere, you can make an effort to minimize their control over your life through these habits and take back your time.
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