Young People Embrace Analog Hobbies as Digital Detox Trend Grows

A growing number of young adults are rediscovering traditional crafts and analog hobbies as a deliberate escape from the digital world, with activities like needlepoint, mahjong, pottery, and even blacksmithing gaining popularity among Gen-Z and millennials.

Emma MacTaggart, a 26-year-old former investment banker, represents this trend. After long workdays spent staring at screens, she and her roommates sought an offline hobby and became "hooked" on needlepoint - a craft she had briefly learned as a child but hadn't practiced in years. "It was a really therapeutic way to kind of distract yourself from either work or stress, but also just do something with your hands instead of doomscrolling," MacTaggart said. She has since founded What's the Stitch, a needlepoint business that sells canvases, accessories, and digital designs, complete with cheeky humor and occasional profanity.

This analog movement has found an ironic home on social media, where many of these activities have been dubbed "grandma hobbies" online. The trend accelerated during the pandemic when people had more free time, but unlike many pandemic-era fads, these hobbies have persisted and even grown in popularity.

Psychologists note the mental health benefits of such activities. Jaime Kurtz, a professor of psychology at James Madison University, explains that hobbies requiring focus and concentration can reduce anxiety and stress while providing a sense of accomplishment. "Hobbies are really important, and a lot of us have lost them, or we just don't prioritize them enough, or we think we're too busy," Kurtz said. "But just finding little bits of time to carve out to do these kinds of things is a really wise use of time."

For some, the appeal goes beyond simple relaxation. Birdwatcher Isaiah Scott, 22, compares his hobby to the Pokémon games he loved growing up: "It feels like a video game, but in real life." Using apps like eBird to track observations, Scott has seen about 800 different species and has turned his passion into conservation work, founding the nonprofit Rookery and Roots Conservancy and purchasing 16 acres of land in Georgia to protect wildlife habitats.

Others are finding community through these shared interests. Clara Sherman co-founded So Bam Fun to introduce mahjong to younger generations, describing the experience as reaching a "zen state" where players can "shut off the rest of the world." Kristie Landing created Verse & Sip, a platform for poets and paper craft enthusiasts, and recently launched a pen pal matching service after followers expressed interest in connecting with others who appreciate physical correspondence.

Some hobbyists are even building successful businesses around their crafts. Anna Weare, known online as AnvilAnna, is a full-time blacksmith and farrier whose TikTok videos have attracted an international following. Her one-piece spurs, recognized for their durability and rarity, have a waitlist of about a year. Weare believes the renewed interest in blacksmithing reflects "fatigue over a hyper-digitalized world and poorly made products."

While some young people use technology to enhance their analog hobbies - through tracking apps, online tutorials, or social media communities - many are drawn to the tactile, hands-on nature of these activities as a counterbalance to screen time. The trend represents a more intentional embrace of the analog world rather than a temporary fad.

As MacTaggart puts it: "I joke with my friends that I have been a grandma my whole life, so it's only fitting that this is now my career."

The movement suggests that for many young adults, the appeal of traditional crafts and offline activities lies not just in the activities themselves, but in what they represent - a slower pace of life, a connection to tangible creation, and a break from the constant digital stimulation that defines modern existence.