Young Adults Are Powering A New Trend: Taking A Break From The Internet With The Offline Club

May 27, 2025

In a world where constant notifications and screen time dominate daily life, a growing number of young adults are choosing something radical: unplugging.

The Offline Club, a rapidly expanding movement that promotes phone-free gatherings, is offering digital detox spaces where real-world connection replaces virtual engagement—and it’s catching on fast.

Ilya, Jordy and Valentijn | @theoffline_club

Launched by three Dutch founders—Ilya Kneppelhout, Jordy van Bennekom, and Valentijn Klok—the club started as a small initiative in the Netherlands and has now spread to major cities including London, Paris, Milan, Copenhagen, Berlin, and most recently, Buffalo, New York.

Their mission is simple: “Swap screen time for real time.”

The concept? Phones and laptops are checked at the door, and attendees spend a few hours reading, meditating, coloring, playing board games, or simply talking—without the digital noise. From softly lit churches in London to cozy bicycle cafés in Buffalo, the venues are as thoughtfully curated as the conversations they inspire.

For 20-year-old Jayren Malijan, who attended a session in West Hampstead, London, the experience was about more than just disconnecting—it was about rediscovering human connection.

“I came to make new friends,” he shared. “People complain that they’re lonely but they’re not willing to go out and make an effort.” Malijan, who typically spends time online recommending perfumes on “fragrancetok,” believes the overuse of smartphones is contributing to increased introversion and weakened social skills, especially among the younger generation.

This sentiment is shared by many. According to a 2024 survey by the British Standards Institution, nearly 70% of people aged 16–21 reported feeling worse after spending time on social media, and nearly half said they wished they had grown up in a pre-internet era.

At Offline Club events, the contrast is striking. People who usually average over 10 hours of daily screen time—like YouTuber Taz Alam—speak of relief, not anxiety, when parted from their phones.

“Everyone here is so lovely,” Alam said. “You can just go up to someone you don’t know and start a conversation. It feels so easy and natural.”

In Buffalo, founder Henry Raess brought the idea stateside after seeing the success in Europe. Hosting his first event in Elmwood Village, Raess noticed how attendees gradually eased into the phone-free atmosphere.

“There were a couple of moments where people went to check their phones and realized they didn’t have them. But it turned into a sense of relief,” he said. “It’s kind of freeing.”

The Offline Club’s Instagram account may boast over 530,000 followers—an ironic twist—but it serves as the very tool helping people discover the joy of disconnecting. Whether it’s through weekend retreats, creative workshops, or simple hangouts with coloring books and conversation starters, The Offline Club is proving that a life unplugged can be full of connection.

As digital fatigue grows and screen time continues to soar, The Offline Club is tapping into a deep and rising desire for presence, authenticity, and meaningful interaction.