Vibe Shift
Looking back at 2025, there were several notable trends (6/7 anyone?) but there was one that the Team at Unplugged got very excited about: A shift toward healthier relationship with technology. From a measurable decline in Social Media use to GenZ seeking more in-person experiences, the distracting presence of screens in people's lives has been slowly falling out of favor. We wanted to recap the evidence we've seen of this vibe shift and hope it leaves you with a sense of optimism going in to the new year.
Social Media use Peaked in 2022 – A recent analysis for the Financial Times of the online habits of 250,000 adults in more than 50 countries shows people turning away from the platforms. Social Media use across all age groups peaked in 2022 and has been declining ever since for every age group except 65+. It seems likely that this trend will continue: Australia recently become the first country to implement a ban on social media. As of December 9, 2025, ten of the largest platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook were ordered to block children under 16 or face steep fines under the new law, which is being closely watched by regulators worldwide.
Un-Social Media - As platforms such as Facebook have moved toward influencers, they have become less about connecting with friends and family and more about consuming content. New polling shows that nearly a third of all social media users post less than they did a year ago. That trend is especially true for adults in Gen Z. Additionally, as social media has grown, it’s become harder to trust a high number of followers, since follower counts can be manufactured. Now, it has become cool to have no followers and a conspicuously modest following has attained a certain cachet.
GenZ Takes a Stand - A growing number of Gen-Z-led orgs are helping young people reconnect with real life: The Reconnect Movement, Appstinence, Half the Story, Time to Refuse, the Luddite Club, Design It For Us, and FlippGen are a few of note. Several groups started in the UK, but have been spreading across the globe as their message finds a welcome audience in other countries. In New York City, dance parties that ban phones are getting rave reviews as young adults look for opportunities to be more present while having fun.
In Person Experiences are Back - In a digitally saturated world, people are seeking more authentic, in-person social interactions and shared experiences. Malls have responded by adding activities such as Ax Throwing, Real Life Video Games and Nerf competitions to attract younger generations. Companies have noticed this trend as well: Netflix opened “Netflix House” at the King of Prusia mall outside of Philadelphia to connect fans with some of their favorite shows and characters in real life. In the first half of 2025, visits to indoor malls increased by 1.8% year-over-year (YoY), while open-air shopping centers saw a 0.6% rise.
We hope these trends continue into 2026!
REMINDER - COMING SOON!
** RELEASE DATE: DECEMBER 30, 2025 **
The Amazing Generation - By Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price
If you've read The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt and wished your children could read something with the same message, you are in luck. Haidt and his co-author Catherine Price, author of the bestselling How to Break Up with Your Phone, have teamed up to create a new book that speaks directly to kids and early teens about smart phones and other devices. Their goal? To empower young people to stand up for themselves by choosing a life not dominated by screens.
ARTICLES WORTH YOUR TIME
Using Nostalgia to Combat Excessive Screen Time - An entrepreneur hacked together a Bluetooth enabled landline phone and saw huge demand for the product when released this summer. Similar to the Tin-Can Phone for kids, Physical Phones combines old and new technology to offer an alternative to screens. Click HERE to read the article on CNBC.com
Young People are Helicopter Parenting each other - After several decades of helicopter parenting, it would appear that young people have begun to helicopter parent themselves. Lenore Skenazy thought this was an excellent article and it reinforces much of her message from Let Grow, which promotes greater childhood independence. Click HERE to read the article on TheCut.com (part of New York Magazine).
City in Japan sets screen time limits - A city in central Japan hoping to limit resident's phone use for leisure to just two hours or less a day, because the mayor is concerned about the impact of spending too much time on devices. While the measure, which was approved by the city assembly in late September in a 12-7 vote, is largely symbolic, the point is to get people thinking about how much time they are spending online. Click HERE to read more on Time.com
Help New Canaan Unplug
If you are interested in creating a healthier relationship with technology for our children, please check out our survey HERE to let us know how you can help.
New Canaan Unplugged is a parent-run group completely independent from the New Canaan Public School System and the Town of New Canaan.
