Offline is the new cool
- Isabela Chieffi
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Introduction
Over my holiday break I had lots of time to sit, relax, and do whatever I wanted. This meant I had lots of time to catch up on my podcasts. One of the episodes I listened to was "Being Offline Is Cool Now?" by Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain. Some of the topics discussed in her episode were many that I had been thinking about for some time now. So taking inspiration from her, I decided to talk about this topic myself.
When did being online stop being cool
I was born in the 2000s, meaning I grew up with all the new technology of the time while also having analog things. Growing up, being on social media was cool. It was a fun place where you could post whatever you wanted to all your friends. However, after COVID quarantine, there was a shift. In middle school I had Snapchat, like everybody else at my school, and it was a super fun thing to send snaps and keep streaks. However, I think where being online wasn't cool anymore started on TikTok. After quarantine we were all seeing the side effects of being chronically online. And the more time passed, the more chronically online people were, and the more visible the effects were. Suddenly, you couldn't hang out with your friend anymore because if the conversation ever got boring, they turned to their phone instead of bringing up a new topic.
I would say that being online stopped being cool when it started affecting our relationships with others. That is when it became apparent that being online was damaging us. During COVID, everyone heard that being on your phone too much was bad, but because no one had actually seen the real consequences, no one cared. After quarantine, we tried to go back to the way things were, finally being able to hang out with friends. But the effects stayed.
Only then, I believe, did we finally wake up to the truth. When so many people were glued to their phones, missing moments to watch other people's moments instead, being present became a hot commodity.
I think many trends have predicted this new belief that "being offline is cool." More recently the "rawdogging boredom" trend has been extremely popular. Before that, it was digital cameras coming back, and before that was the hobby craze. For some time now, we have been wanting to be offline and release ourselves from the grasp that social media and short-form content have on us.
Related
Butter yellow, aesthetic supplies, and how hobbies slowly became more about buying than actually doing.
What does "offline" actually mean?
Being offline isn't about deleting everything and disappearing forever from the internet. I think the definition is more moderate than that. I think it just means being more intentional with the internet. Use it how we used to before. To just post things to our friends, look at what our friends posted and then leave. In the grand scheme of things, it's about having a life. Having things that are more important than doomscrolling.
I think that the reason it's deemed cool is not only does it have a mysterious aspect to it (instead of people just going online to see what you're doing, they have to ask you in person or be left not knowing), but it has also become a status symbol.
Lately, I've seen how many celebrities have been deleting their social media or trying not to be on their phones for too long. I think this trend has begun to trickle down and more people are adopting it. It seems like the new wealth symbol is being rich in life. Hanging out with friends, participating in hobbies, and journaling.
Offline things to do
Here are a few ideas to get you inspired to get off your phone and start living!
🌿 Creative & Hands-On
Scrapbook
Knit
Crochet
Create a vision board
Work on a puzzle
📖 Calm & Reflective
Read
Journal
Birdwatching
🍰 Cozy Home Activities
Cook / Bake
Start gardening
Rearrange or decorate a small corner of your home
Brew coffee / tea
🌊 Outdoors & Movement
Swim
Walk on the beach
Tennis
Dance
🛍️ Leisure & Slow Living
Window shopping
Browse a bookstore for fun (no need to buy anything)
Visit a thrift store
Walk through a local market or farmers’ market
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