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It seems that a growing number of young individuals are eager to step back from the ever-increasing digital realm.
This desire to disconnect is precisely what drew 31-year-old millennial Keely Jover to embrace the movement.
“It’s all about crafting a whimsical lifestyle,” she shared with nine.com.au.
“It’s about finding joy in the everyday, creating enchanting experiences for my kids, and cutting down on screen time.”
For many Millennials and Gen Z enthusiasts joining this trend, analogue bags are packed with everything necessary to maintain their offline lifestyle.
According t o the Millennials and Gen Zs jumping on the trend, analogue bags are full of everything you could need to stay offline.
Popular items include books, crosswords, sudoku and other puzzles, knitting or crocheting supplies, journals and crafts.
Many of the items are just ‘analogue’ versions of things you can do on your phone anyway, like physical books or crosswords instead of mobile puzzle apps or e-books.
The idea is to fill the bag with things that will keep you entertained without having to use your phone.
They’re also portable by design, so you can take them on the go and avoid spending hours scrolling on your daily commute or between appointments.
How do analogue bags work?
Jover discovered the trend through Siece Campbell (@siececampbell), a US TikTok creator widely credited with popularising analogue bags.
“She came up with the concept of an analogue bag as a way for people to keep occupied while lowering their screen time and reconnecting into their physical life,” Jover said.
“I absolutely loved it; having something on hand that would encourage me to be present in the moment.”
The Queensland mum of two spent a modest $80 on a suede tote bag from Target to create her own analogue bag soon after.
She filled it with things she already owned, including art supplies, a journal, novels, and card games.
Since creating her analogue bag, Jover’s screentime has dropped dramatically and she’s been able to connect with her family over shared activities.
“There’s also a lot of personal satisfaction in my life as I’ve been spending time learning a new skill or hobby,” she said.
“It’s been really easy to incorporate into my life at home.
“Whenever there’s’ a moment of downtime, it’s the perfect thing to reach for.”
Why are analogue bags trending?
Analogue bags are the latest addition to the growing trend of young people seeking ways to reduce their screentime and get offline.
Despite being raised in the digital age, some Millennials and Gen Zs long for a time when life didn’t revolve around social media feeds, algorithms and AI slop.
Some have swapped out their smartphones for ‘dumb’ or ‘brick’ phones – basic devices that facilitate calling and texting without the high-tech cameras, apps and internet capabilities we’ve come to expect from mobiles – to slash their screentime.
Some have started collecting physical media like CDs, DVDs and physical novels instead of paying for streaming services.
And some have adopted analogue bags as an alternative to scrolling social media or watching hours of short-form video content on platforms like TikTok.
The popularity of ‘offline’ trends has been attributed to digital fatigue among young people.
Many Millennials and Gen Zs have reported negative mental health impacts as a result of spending too much time online; analogue bags offer a positive alternative.
It also seems fitting that the trend has gained popularity in the almost three months since Australia’s under-16s social media ban came into effect.
That said, many Aussies under the age of 16 have reported still being able to access and use age-restricted social media platforms.
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