In recent years, it seems that the younger generation has grown tired of the digital age, and is opting for something a little older.
Even though all the movies, books, and music one could ever want are available on a smartphone, people are suddenly being more drawn towards physical media. Whether someone’s decided to go for something as old as vinyl records, or as recent as CDs, the rise in analog copies is undeniable.
This begs the question: in an age where people can have everything in the palm of their hand, why do they choose the “harder,” “less convenient” option?
In the past couple years, streaming services have been steadily increasing their prices. What once began as an easy way to access movies for a low price has now become a convoluted monthly payment that doesn’t even give viewers everything they want to watch. Now, one must subscribe to multiple streaming services in order to access the shows and movies they enjoy. The prices eventually add up, which can lead to people spending, on average, $69 a month on streaming services, according to Deloitte’s Digital Media trends.
As prices increase, though, the apps don’t get much better; many have even started to create tiers to their paid plans, making the cheapest option available with ads. What was once a reasonable monthly fee for ad-free streaming has now become one of two options: a ridiculous price for enjoyable viewing, or a somewhat lower price for an inferior watching experience.
Because of these factors, people are starting to gravitate towards the technology of the past: DVDs. People have started curating physical movie collections, paying a one-time, more affordable fee for a permanent addition to their selection. Many have even taken to thrifting these DVDs, which leads to lower prices, and also reduces unnecessary consumption. Furthermore, some people have decided to revisit an even older decade, and have started collecting VHS tapes. Though they’re harder to come by, many people purchase them second-hand, and curate their collections over time.
But it’s not just physical movies and shows that have come back; analog music is also seeing a rise in popularity. There has been a resurgence in all three major types of physical music: vinyl records, cassette tapes, and CDs. Instead of paying for services like Spotify or Apple music, the younger generation wants to create their own collection of music that they can actually hold in their hands. Even with some considerable differences in quality, there is beauty to be found in the physical version of one’s favorite album or single.
Juniors Ruby Sanborn and Madison Coates shared some reasons they enjoyed physical music over streaming. Sanborn, who collects CDs, started collecting them because her parents already had an extensive collection, and she finds joy in reading through “the physical soundtrack” instead of just looking it up on her phone. Coates, a record collector, thinks they have “a deeper meaning to them.” To her, records have more “history and hold more memories…it’s more [meaningful] than just looking up a song and putting it in your headphones and calling it a day.” It’s clear that streaming is no longer the favorite option for music; people are beginning to enjoy the more tedious options because they feel more personal.
The increase in physical media and music over time has proved one thing: convenience and easy access has grown tiring. Having everything at your finger tips makes content feel overwhelming rather than fulfilling, and curating physical collections has given the younger generation a new way to interact with content. Even in today’s digital age, people are looking to “rewind” to the past, and maybe that’s for the better.
