Subscriptions burned out Gen Z. They're going for analog lifestyles and physical media instead | Fortune

"I mean, it all adds up. I felt like I could just allocate those funds to better resources than subscriptions that I really don't even want to begin with. One day it's $15 for a streaming service he hasn't opened in weeks; the next, it's $10 for a music platform that just got a price hike. A month ago, he audited his subscriptions spending, and realized he was bleeding $120 a month into the digital void."

"The love affair with streaming was built on a promise: everything you want, everywhere you go, for the price of a few coffees. Netflix was first to burst out in the early 2010s, its appeal broadened by the inclusion of star-power and big-budget original shows and movies. By 2020, subscription services had become so mainstream that locked-down living rooms across America played host to streaming wars, now featuring industry heavyweights including Disney, HBO, and Amazon."

"Many are now trading their basic-tier, ad-ridden interfaces for the clunky, scratchy, and strangely beautiful world of physical media. From the neon-lit aisles of independent video stores to the vinyl-covered walls of starter apartments, Gen Z is leaving convenience behind to finally hold onto something that's theirs."

Young adults are increasingly rejecting the subscription economy as streaming services proliferate and costs accumulate. A 24-year-old social media manager discovered he was spending $120 monthly on subscriptions he rarely used, prompting him to seek alternatives. Gen Z is shifting toward physical media including vinyl records and DVDs from independent video stores, valuing ownership over convenience. The streaming industry, which promised unlimited access for minimal cost during the pandemic boom, has lost momentum as subscription fatigue sets in. New signups are slowing as consumers recognize they cannot afford multiple services simultaneously and prefer tangible ownership of media.

Read at Fortune