5 Retro Things Gen Z Is Bringing Back

The generation of humans that grew up with the latest technologies is rediscovering vintage tech as a form of digital escape. Gen Z now wants more analogue experiences. At its core, this shift is driven by the desire to be offline, reduce screentime and feel less anxious. So here are 5 retro things Gen Z's are bringing back.

To step away from the constant distraction from smartphones, Gen Z is bringing back dumb phones and flip-style feature phones, reviving the 90s and early 2000s tech era in the process. The idea behind this is to step away from hyper-connectivity, reduce screen time, and escape the pressure from always being online.

This also reduces the temptation to endlessly scroll social media and helps them feel less distracted by constant notifications. With dumb phones, they also feel like they have more privacy as there are fewer app tracking data.

Once seen as outdated, wired earphones are now treated as a fashion accessory, with dangling cable becoming a subtle "anti-airpords" statement that fits Gen Z's Y2K-era nostalgia and desire to look less tech-obsessed.

But aside from fashion, Gen Z is bringing it back because they feel more intentional and less "always online. AirPods culture is associated with always being available, constantly connected and also corporate. Wired earphones create a physical boundary, turning listening into something more deliberate.

Gen Z are also going back to digital and disposable cameras cause it captures the truth. It doesn’t polish things into perfection like phone filters, but it captures the beauty in what’s real. In 2023, 63% off the buyers of these cameras were aged 16-27.

Gen Z is the generation with the most powerful cameras, but somehow gravitates toward the least flashy ones in the room. With a disposable camera, there’s no fixing things after. You press the button once and just trust the moment. What returns is not a performance, but a memory preserved in its rawest form.

Many younger generations are also curious about physical cameras because they grew up seeing their parents use them.

Surveys show Gen Z is now the biggest buyer group for vinyl, with many treating records as both collectables and decor, and using them to support artists directly.

50% of Gen Z buy records in a format older than their parents. Vinyl records have grown 18% anually for five consecutive years. For them, it's a physical and ritualistic way to experience sound in a digital-saturated world.

Despite growing up with Spotify and instant streaming, many young people are emracing vynyl record for the physical experience, collectable album covers, and a slower, more deliberate way of listening to music.

Fountain pens are also making a comeback as Gen Z turns towards writing that feels more personal and intentional. This makes note-taking an journalling into a calming ritual and not just another task.

Typing on a laptop or phone doesn't bring that sensory experience that writing something down does. Fountain pens also naturally make you write more slowly, which can help slow racing thoughts and make writing feel more mindful.

This trend is also tied to aesthetics. TikTok study videos, aesthetic journaling, and stylish stationery have made fountain pens feel cool and expressive again. Gen Z users are really into finding inks, nibs, and pen designs that somehow feel uniquely theirs.