Digital detox is more popular than ever So much so that several organizations have emerged to host dedicated events

In recent years, Europe has seen a growing number of events designed to encourage people to stay offline, inviting them to disconnect from their smartphones and rediscover the value of real-life relationships. These meetings take place in bars, venues, or public spaces, offering moments dedicated to conversation, reading, writing, and group activities specifically designed or suggested by the organizers themselves. The only rule is not to use Internet-connected devices. For a long time, the so-called digital detox was considered a passing trend or a nostalgic attitude toward a pre-digital past; today, however, this approach is increasingly embraced by young people, who often feel the need to take a break from the digital world.

These events are generally attended by people in their twenties, though it’s not uncommon to see some over-30 participants as well – with the goal of encouraging intergenerational dialogue and exchange. One of the best-known projects in this field is The Offline Club: founded in 2021 in Amsterdam, it has rapidly expanded in just a few years to cities like London, Paris, and Milan, among many others. During the events – which are paid and organized in bars or dedicated spaces – participants hand in their phones at the entrance, which are then safely stored for the duration of the gathering.

What are digital detox events about?

Digital detox events organized by The Offline Club typically last a couple of hours and are usually divided into at least two distinct parts. In the first part, participants are invited to engage in individual activities – such as reading, writing, or meditating. The second part, on the other hand, is designed to encourage connection among participants through games or guided conversations led by the organizers, helping attendees to get to know one another and interact authentically. Not everyone, however, joins with the goal of socializing: many people attend simply to take a real break from their smartphone or, more generally, from the Internet.

The Offline Club also promotes original formats, such as the reading rave, an event dedicated to books where dozens of people gather to read together without the risk of being distracted by their smartphones. Following The Offline Club’s success, several other initiatives across Europe have started offering digital detox events of various lengths, including trips or retreats that combine disconnecting from technology with social activities in the open air.

Organizations like The Offline Club encourage people to take breaks from their smartphones even outside of their events, turning digital detox into a true lifestyle. The goal is to offer a concrete response to an increasingly common issue – the loss of concentration caused by the constant “pull” of the smartphone. For this reason, many associations dedicated to digital detox suggest small everyday practices to reduce smartphone use and improve focus.

In Italy, initiatives of this kind are carried out by organizations such as Logout Livenow, which organizes retreats dedicated to digital detox, or Take a Breath, an organization mainly active in Southern Italy but planning to expand its activities to other major Italian cities, including Milan, due to growing demand. Take a Breath (active since autumn 2024) also organizes weekly excursions aimed at helping young people discover local tourist attractions – and needless to say, smartphones are banned during these outings.