09/18/2026
Did you know that vinyl record sales are up by 17%? According to Yahoo finance, “Physical formats are outgrowing streaming by a significant margin”
Craft store Michaels has also noticed: online searches for “analog hobbies” are up 136%, and the store reports an 86% increase in sales of craft kits.
My social media algorithm is flooded with “analog summer” ideas, junk journaling inspiration and tips for removing AI content from pinterest feeds.
My friends and family have started picking up 35mm film cameras, favoring film over iphones for birthday parties and weekend hikes.
We’ve seen a significant uptick here at the lab - an increase in film volume from existing customers andnew customers. April 2026 was our busiest April in 10 years and we haven’t slowed down since.
so we’re wondering...
Did AI cause this?!
In 2024, Eastman Kodak increased production due to increased demand, citing production doubling between the years of 2015-2019, and attributing rising demand to social media and young consumers.
what do you think? are “grandma hobbies” a performance for an online audience, or is this movement a real and essential part of being human? Is this a response to AI fatigue? Is film an escape from AI fatigue?
