In a world increasingly dominated by our smartphones, a growing number of people are embracing a radical new way of living – one where the phone is deliberately left behind. Welcome to the 'Offline Club,' where members gather in cities across Europe for extended periods without their devices.
On a recent Monday evening, I attended such an event at an Amsterdam café. The room fell silent as 40 strangers sat around a long wooden table and engaged in activities ranging from coloring to puzzles. For the next hour, we were free to do whatever – read, meditate, or simply exist without the distraction of our phones.
Laura Wilson, cohost of the Offline Club's London branch, describes this phenomenon as "a gentle rebellion." She believes that by leaving their devices behind, people can reclaim time for themselves and rekindle meaningful human interactions. For many, it's a remedy to the noisy, frenetic atmosphere of city life, where every moment is measured by alerts and reminders.
Attendees came from diverse backgrounds, each with their own reasons for joining this experiment in digital abstinence. Some were searching for an approximation of the contemplative atmosphere of their childhood Quaker meetings. Others sought to shake off their addiction to social media and phone-based communication.
For Sangeet Narayan, a Meta employee who emigrated to London from Bangalore last year, the Offline Club provided an opportunity to test his resolve against his own phone dependency. As he confessed after the event, "I feel I am addicted to my phone... The urge to see my phone—to open it, just for no reason."
The experiment proved surprisingly effective in creating a collective silence and atmosphere of genuine connection among strangers. Conversation flowed effortlessly as we discussed books, children, and social media – all while avoiding the crutch of our phones.
However, even without their devices, some lingering anxieties persisted. For instance, I found myself occasionally reaching for my pocket to check how much time had passed. Thankfully, these fleeting moments of panic gave way to a newfound sense of comfort in our collective silence.
As the evening drew to a close and people began to leave, there was an unmistakable air of rejuvenation among the group. Many reported feeling more energized than they had all day – a result that surprised even Eleanor, a first-time attendee who said she left feeling "weirdly feeling more energized."
As for me, I made my way home by tapping open Google Maps on my phone. It was only when I arrived and picked up the call from my partner that I realized how little control I still had over my digital presence – even in a world where I'd just spent two hours without my device.
The Offline Club is a small but growing movement across Europe, challenging our addiction to smartphones and inviting us to experience life at its own pace. It's not about abandoning technology altogether, but rather finding balance between our digital lives and the beauty of human connection – in the silence and amidst the noise.
On a recent Monday evening, I attended such an event at an Amsterdam café. The room fell silent as 40 strangers sat around a long wooden table and engaged in activities ranging from coloring to puzzles. For the next hour, we were free to do whatever – read, meditate, or simply exist without the distraction of our phones.
Laura Wilson, cohost of the Offline Club's London branch, describes this phenomenon as "a gentle rebellion." She believes that by leaving their devices behind, people can reclaim time for themselves and rekindle meaningful human interactions. For many, it's a remedy to the noisy, frenetic atmosphere of city life, where every moment is measured by alerts and reminders.
Attendees came from diverse backgrounds, each with their own reasons for joining this experiment in digital abstinence. Some were searching for an approximation of the contemplative atmosphere of their childhood Quaker meetings. Others sought to shake off their addiction to social media and phone-based communication.
For Sangeet Narayan, a Meta employee who emigrated to London from Bangalore last year, the Offline Club provided an opportunity to test his resolve against his own phone dependency. As he confessed after the event, "I feel I am addicted to my phone... The urge to see my phone—to open it, just for no reason."
The experiment proved surprisingly effective in creating a collective silence and atmosphere of genuine connection among strangers. Conversation flowed effortlessly as we discussed books, children, and social media – all while avoiding the crutch of our phones.
However, even without their devices, some lingering anxieties persisted. For instance, I found myself occasionally reaching for my pocket to check how much time had passed. Thankfully, these fleeting moments of panic gave way to a newfound sense of comfort in our collective silence.
As the evening drew to a close and people began to leave, there was an unmistakable air of rejuvenation among the group. Many reported feeling more energized than they had all day – a result that surprised even Eleanor, a first-time attendee who said she left feeling "weirdly feeling more energized."
As for me, I made my way home by tapping open Google Maps on my phone. It was only when I arrived and picked up the call from my partner that I realized how little control I still had over my digital presence – even in a world where I'd just spent two hours without my device.
The Offline Club is a small but growing movement across Europe, challenging our addiction to smartphones and inviting us to experience life at its own pace. It's not about abandoning technology altogether, but rather finding balance between our digital lives and the beauty of human connection – in the silence and amidst the noise.
. I'm not sure if it's for everyone though - some people are gonna freak out about being disconnected from social media and stuff 
.
). But maybe we can learn to use our phones less and be more present in real life.
We're so addicted to those tiny screens that we've lost touch with our own humanity. It's crazy to think about how many hours of our lives are spent staring at devices instead of actually living them.
I felt like I'd been in a coma or something – all the noise and distractions just melted away and people were finally having real conversations. It's amazing how much more relaxed everyone felt without their phones, you know? 
I mean, I'm guilty of it too – I was at this event thinking about all the notifications I needed to respond to, and how many likes I needed on my Instagram posts... 
Ugh, get me out of here!
the thing is, i think we need more of this kinda vibe in our lives 
... it's crazy how quickly we can fall back into old habits even when we're trying to break free from them 
. And honestly, it's not about getting rid of tech entirely, but finding balance and using it to enhance our lives, not control them 
. Anyone else tried something like this?
coloring and puzzles sound like an amazing way to unwind and get creative 
I'm kinda curious about this whole offline thing... I mean, don't get me wrong, social media can be super convenient, but at what cost? 
. The Offline Club seems like a nice idea, but it's hard for me to imagine not having my phone nearby... 
I guess what really got me was the part about how some people were worried about running out of battery power during the event 
. It's crazy how much we rely on our devices! 
. But let's get real, aren't we just seeing the darker side of a system that forces us to be constantly connected? I mean, think about it – our phones are designed to keep us hooked, right? 
However, can we really trust this movement not to just become another form of control by the tech giants? 
What's stopping them from infiltrating this space and using it to sell us more stuff? 
We need to keep an eye on that one... 
They're not saying goodbye to tech forever, just finding a healthier balance between digital life and human connection 
. It's like, what if we actually started living in the present instead of being constantly glued to our screens? 
), but this experience has made me realize that there's more to life than just scrolling through feeds. 
definitely need to check out this offline club thingy more often...
. The Offline Club is like a breath of fresh air (literally, I felt the difference in Amsterdam 
). I love that it's not about ditching tech entirely, but finding balance between our digital lives and human connections 
. It's time we take control of how we spend our time and make room for meaningful interactions 
. Who knew silence could be so liberating? 
. I mean, who doesn't need a break from their phone every now and then? But it's interesting how some people can get so used to having their device within arm's reach that they forget what it's like to live without it