Europe’s Youth Unplug: Are Smartphones Losing Their Grip?

A growing movement across Europe suggests that young adults are increasingly seeking refuge from the digital world. A recent British survey revealed a surprising sentiment: nearly half of young adults express a longing for a pre-internet era.

This desire for disconnection isn’t just wishful thinking. The Offline Club, a Dutch startup, is actively catering to this trend by organizing offline meetups in cities like Amsterdam, London, Paris, Milan, Copenhagen and Berlin.

The Offline Club: Reclaiming Real-World Connections

The Offline Club, with a sizable Instagram following of over 530,000 (the irony!), encourages individuals to consciously disconnect from social media and embrace real-time experiences. Founded by Ilya Kneppelhout, Jordy van Bennekom, and Valentijn Klok, the company promotes “swap screen time for real time.” Their meetups ban smartphones and laptops, instead encouraging attendees to engage in activities like reading, games, arts and crafts, and relaxation. They even host Digital Detox Retreats spanning several days.

“We envision a world in which phone-free spaces and offline communities are the norm,” the founders stated on their website.

The Allure of a “Boring Phone” and Digital Curfews

While attempts to replace smartphones with simpler “boring phones” haven’t gained significant traction, the desire for digital limitations is evident. According to German industry association Bitkom, young people aged 16-29 spend over three hours daily on their smartphones, the highest of any age group. However, many desire a change.

The British Standards Institution (BSI) survey found that nearly 70% of young adults aged 16-21 feel worse after spending time on social media. Half support a “digital curfew” restricting access to apps and websites after 10 p.m., and 46% would prefer a world without the internet. Similar sentiments were echoed in a late 2024 Harris Poll, where many young people wished platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X had never existed.

Policy Changes and Rising Concerns

The growing concern over the harmful effects of excessive smartphone use, including mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, is prompting policy changes. British Technology Minister Peter Kyle hinted at considering mandatory curfews. Norway aims to raise the social media age limit from 13 to 15, while Australia has already raised it to 16. Denmark bans tablets and smartphones from schoolyards.

A Growing Trend Towards Digital Detox

A study in BMC Medicine revealed that reducing smartphone use for three weeks led to a 27% decrease in depressive symptoms. The OECD also reports a dramatic decline in young people’s mental health over the past 15 years, a trend potentially exacerbated by increased digital media use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Offline Club’s growing popularity and the increasing number of restaurants and clubs requesting phone-free environments indicate a rising desire for digital detox. In early April, over 1,000 people in London participated in an Offline Club meetup, marking a new record. As more young people seek refuge from the digital world, initiatives promoting real-world connections are likely to gain further momentum.