Digital detox: welcome to the offline club for those wanting a screen-free connection

A new kind of club has emerged in Amsterdam—one where participants choose to go offline, away from their phones and other devices. The gathering reflects a wider trend, especially among younger people, to step away from screens and connect with others and themselves. Around 200 participants at the Posthoornkerk in Amsterdam hand in their smartphones at the door before heading into a two-hour creative session. It's the latest event by the Offline Club, which began in 2024 as a small initiative by three students in Amsterdam. It has developed into a growing network of offline events across Europe. The Offline Club, originally launched as a casual meetup in a café, now organizes sessions in 18 cities and has built a following of around 600,000 on Instagram. The session in Amsterdam opens with a live piano performance by composer and pianist Cécile Schulte. Participants then engage in various offline activities, including crafting and writing exercises, such as preparing a speech for their future 80th birthday. Co-founder Ilya Kneppelhout says the events are designed around different themes. Some focus on individual activities like reading, writing, or puzzles, while others are more social, involving board games or group walks. The aim is to encourage people to "slow down and reflect, go inwards," Kneppelhout says. Several attendees describe the appeal of the events as a break from digital routines. Bernard Kappele, a 27-year-old user experience researcher, says working with physical materials like pen and paper feels grounding and reminds him of activities from childhood. "So it definitely also is a bit of an inner child, who doesn't want to be behind the screen and be online all the time," he says. The growth of the Offline Club reflects a wider trend, particularly among younger people, to spend less time on digital platforms. This trend is also visible online, with social media users sharing plans to reduce or stop their usage in the coming years. This article was provided by The Associated Press.