AI anxiety fuels nostalgia boom as Gen Z and millennials return to analog tech

Doomsday AI predictions and January's highest layoff count since 2009 are driving people to embrace old technology. Experts and think pieces have dubbed 2026 the "year of analog," with digital cameras, iPods, and retro phones trending among younger generations. The trend reflects a broader disillusionment with technology. Reddit threads asking about luxury items from 20 years ago have amassed thousands of comments, and "de-digitalizing your life" is becoming a status symbol.

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