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Young people are turning to old-school hobbies to get off their phones

Young people use analog hobbies like needlepoint and birdwatching to reduce screen time, with some seeing up to 800 bird species, blending tradition with modern technology.

  • Young people across the U.S. are embracing so-called 'grandma hobbies' like needlepoint, mahjong, gardening, pottery and origami, with the movement persisting beyond the pandemic into early March 2026.
  • Spurred by pandemic downtime, a younger crowd first embraced these hobbies in 2020 when free time increased, seeking relief from screens and doomscrolling with hands-on distraction.
  • Turning online attention into income, Emma MacTaggart, founder of What's the Stitch, grew social profiles and now sells needlepoint canvases, accessories and digital designs.
  • Exposure to global audiences has helped analog hobbyists build thriving businesses and communities, including Anna Weare's one-year waitlist for one-piece spurs and Kristie Landing's Verse & Sip Mail Club serving hundreds.
  • Amid legal pressure, TikTok and Snap have settled lawsuits alleging addictive design, while Meta and Google-owned YouTube plan to push back; some hobbyists like Isaiah Scott use the eBird app to enhance their pursuits.
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From blacksmithing to needlepoint, young people are embracing 'grandma hobbies'

Young people are turning to tactile, analog hobbies and activities as a way of escaping technology and reconnecting with creativity and exploration.

·New Hampshire, United States
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abc News broke the news in United States on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
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