As summer fades, a growing number of people are quietly unplugging. The emerging trend is a “digital quiet season,” in which users delete apps, reduce screen time and post more intentionally. According to a 2025 Pew Research report, more than 34 percent of Americans under 40 have removed at least one social media app since June, and several more are using features such as Focus Mode or setting time limits to reclaim their attention.

Instead of constant updates, people are turning to private group chats, voice notes and face-to-face hangouts. The energy has shifted from “look at me” to “be here now.” This shift reflects growing digital fatigue and a hunger for a deeper and more personal connection. For many people, social media feels more like work and no longer feels fun or fulfilling. And during a time when attention is the most-valuable currency, people are choosing to invest their attention more wisely.

There are growing micro-movements, too, such as screen-free Sundays, app-free phones and the return of the analog planner. A surprising number of Gen Z users are embracing flip phones and digital cameras for more-deliberate and less-curated content creation. Others are simply turning their attention toward hobbies, community or real-world experiences that don’t come with like counts.