Podcast Summary: anything goes with emma chamberlain

Episode: being offline is cool now?
Host: Emma Chamberlain
Date: December 25, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Emma Chamberlain dives into the growing trend of "being offline"—exploring why people are stepping back from social media, the rise of digital minimalism, the performative nature of these trends, and how they reflect broader cultural exhaustion with online life. Emma shares her observations, mixes in personal insight, and critically examines whether being offline is truly a new status symbol or just another fleeting trend.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Cultural Shift: "Being Offline" as a Movement

• Emma sets the stage: Her social feeds are filled with video essays and articles about unplugging, using flip phones, and analog hobbies. She notes this isn't just a niche thing: everyone seems tired of social media now.

  "Everyone seems to be exhausted and sick of it, and I find it to be really interesting." [01:57]

Why Are People Posting Less?

• Rise of Influencers & Algorithm Changes:

  • Social platforms now prioritize influencer content and ads over posts by friends, making casual sharing less appealing.
  • The pressure to curate one's "online avatar" is stronger.
  • Engagement on casual posts is low—content from everyday users just doesn't get seen.

  "Our feeds are very explore page driven now... It's not an inviting energy to post a family photo from Thanksgiving." [05:13]

• Exhaustion & Fatigue:

  • Chronic documenting and posting life online is tiring.
  • Emma reminisces about posting a photo of Cheez-Its as a kid—social media was casual and fun, not so curated.

  "Documenting everything’s exhausting. Taking photos of everything, posting photos of everything is exhausting." [09:18]

• Cringe & Narcissism:

  • It's increasingly seen as "cringe" or narcissistic to post endlessly about oneself.
  • Having very few posts and being "mysterious" is cooler.

  "It’s now become more cool to have like a few Instagram posts and to be sort of more mysterious." [14:30]

• Privacy:

  • Emma and others are more aware of safety issues that come from oversharing routines and locations.

The Downside of Social Media Consumption

• Mental Health Toll:

  • Social media induces anxiety, depression, and existential dread—caused by overstimulation and endless comparison.
  • It gives the illusion of being social, but increases loneliness.

• Addiction & Boundaries:

  • It's hard to moderate app usage; many must go "cold turkey."
  • Emma keeps a “healthy” phone for daily life and a separate one with social media at home.

  "If you want to get off social media... you’re going to have to delete the app, you’re going to have to cleanse." [29:32]

• Wastefulness:

  • Time spent scrolling is now widely recognized as wasted; people are waking up to this fact.

  "Pretty much anything is a better use of time than scrolling on social media." [32:22]

• Ad Overload:

  • People are tired of constant advertising and influencer promotions.

The Trend of Digital Minimalism

• Definition & Buzzword:

  • A philosophy of using only select digital tools that align with personal values, letting go of the rest.

  "Digital minimalism is a philosophy of intentional technology use...aiming to reduce distractions and improve well being." [38:15]

• Extreme Approaches:

  • People are buying flip phones, using old iPods, and adopting analog hobbies like pottery and reading.

• Emma’s Skepticism:

  • She worries some of this is performative. People post about how offline they are, which defeats the purpose.

  "Ironically, I switched from, you know, a smartphone to a flip phone. But then they're like posting about it on social media..." [49:37]

• True vs. Trend:

  • She distinguishes between people genuinely improving their lives and those doing it for vibes or clout.

The Algorithm & Individuality

• Homogenization of Culture:

  • Viral formulas make content feeds repetitive, especially with music and trends.
  • The algorithm feeds people with similar interests more of the same, so personal taste feels less unique.

  "We're all consuming the same viral content that follows the same viral formulas, which is homogenizing culture..." [62:48]

• Double-edged Sword:

  • Algorithms offer niche exploration but may also lull people into a false sense of individuality.
  • Emma questions whether this really reduces uniqueness, noting past generations had far fewer choices.

Online Dating's Downturn

• Emma’s Perspective:

  • Never used dating apps herself (due to public figure status), but understands the discourse.

• Common Complaints:

  • Mentally exhausting, surface-level, filled with rejection and safety concerns.
  • Feels like a game, lacks magic and buildup associated with in-person romance.

  "A lot of people have also said that it feels very surface level and empty...it lacks magic for a lot of people." [92:18]

• Advice:

  • Use apps passively, but prioritize in-person socializing and openness in the real world.
  • Dating apps should be a side option, not the main strategy.

Being Offline as a Status Symbol

• Cultural Irony:

  • There's a perception that true luxury is not needing to post at all, but genuine status still requires some level of posting for affirmation.

  "In order for something to be a status symbol nowadays, doesn't it have to be posted online?" [97:56]

• Privilege & Free Time:

  • Offline hobbies and experiences may be seen as privileged since they require time and sometimes money.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the cultural exhaustion with social media:

  "I don't think there's anyone on the planet right now who's like, I love being on social media. I love posting pictures. I love consuming content. I love dating apps, I love shopping online. Like, everyone seems to be exhausted and sick of it, and I find it to be really interesting." [02:00]

• On the shift from fun to curated:

  "I remember one of my first Instagram posts was a picture of a bag of Cheez-Its. I mean, mind you, I was a kid, but... that was the energy of social media back in the day. It was like, I'm just gonna post whatever the fuck I want." [07:53]

• On digital minimalism’s authenticity:

  "Some people are participating in this because it’s a trend... digital minimalism is supposed to be not posting anything at all. But then people are posting about the fact that they’re a digital minimalist. It’s like, how can you be a digital minimalist pure posting online?" [53:41]

• On the algorithm's effect on individuality:

  "We rely on the algorithm to feed our interests to us... A lot of us are not doing the research for ourselves anymore." [66:14]

• On predictions for the future:

  "Social media platforms will become more like YouTube where most people just consume content and don’t actually post themselves." [104:05]
  "I think the iPod and flip phone trend is simply a trend and will die quickly. People will go back to their smartphones, but perhaps delete the toxic apps when they get back at best." [104:35]

Important Timestamps

• 00:00-02:00 — Emma introduces the cultural conversation about going offline
• 05:13-10:03 — Reasons people are posting less (algorithm, exhaustion, commercialization)
• 14:30-17:20 — The "cringe" and narcissism of social media
• 29:32-34:00 — Social media’s mental health impacts and boundaries
• 38:15-54:00 — The rise of digital minimalism and Emma's critique of its performative element
• 62:48-78:00 — The algorithm, individuality, and homogenized culture
• 92:18-97:56 — Online dating fatigue and the loss of romantic buildup
• 97:56-103:40 — Is being offline truly a status symbol or just an online performance?
• 104:05-end — Emma’s rapid-fire predictions for social media, tech, and dating

Tone & Language

Emma’s style is casual, honest, and a little self-deprecating. She often interrupts herself to poke fun, clarify she’s not an expert, and use laid-back language ("like," "fuck," "cringe"). Her reflections are both personal and critical, blending anecdote and observation.

Conclusion

Emma argues that while retreating from the digital world can seem appealing—and is even necessary for some—there’s a risk that it becomes just another hollow trend, more about image than substance. She encourages genuine boundaries and a balance between modern tech and real-life experiences, predicts a drop in social media’s ubiquity, and hopes for a future where society regains a healthier relationship with technology and the "real world." The episode closes with a reminder: "I think the overarching theme is that I think we’re going in the right direction. I think this mass awareness is ultimately a net positive... I want everybody to enjoy the real world again." [106:00]

Further Listening

• New episodes every Thursday (moving from twice a week)
• Video version available on Spotify

Emma Chamberlain’s social handles and coffee brand:
@AnythingGoes | Emma Chamberlain | Chamberlain Coffee