Glimmer of Hope: The Shift Away from Screens at Live Events and Online Platforms in 2025
In 2025, a notable cultural shift is emerging as many live venues and online platforms rethink the role of digital technology in social and entertainment experiences. Berlin nightclubs have started requiring patrons to display camera stickers or banning phones altogether to encourage presence, a practice that has spread to clubs in London, Manchester, and New York. Sankeys Manchester is reopening a 500-capacity space with similar phone restrictions to foster more authentic connections.
This move aligns with a broader trend toward fewer phones at live events, emphasizing genuine, in-the-moment experiences over digital mediation. For instance, concerts by Paul McCartney in Somerset (600-capacity) and Bob Dylan in Oslo employed sealed pouches for phones, which were only returned after the show, resulting in heightened shared experience among attendees. Conversely, a Wet Leg concert in Bristol demonstrated how filming disruptions—such as one spectator filming for three minutes—can interfere with others’ enjoyment.
This shift mirrors global behavioral changes: the world’s social media use peaked in 2022 and declined by nearly 10% by the end of 2024, highlighting a retreat from constant online engagement. Since 2014, the proportion of people using social platforms to maintain contact or meet new individuals has fallen by over a quarter. In the UK, popular online dating apps have seen significant user decreases—Tinder lost 594,000 users between 2023 and 2024, Hinge dropped by 131,000, and Bumble declined by 368,000 users. Correspondingly, Match Group's shares have fallen nearly 80% from the pandemic peaks, and Bumble's stock is down about 92%.
Reflecting this shift in online norms, Australia has banned social media use for those under 16. Cultural commentary such as Kyle Chayka’s concept of "Posting Zero," which encapsulates the cessation of content sharing due to overwhelming noise and exposure, further contextualizes these changes.
Overall, while digital technology remains central in daily life, 2025 is viewed as a potential turning point favoring offline, human-centered experiences, marking a glimmer of hope for deeper, more direct social interactions.
