Physical media in all forms is becoming increasingly popular in this digital age. Ironically, that would indicate a hurricane of trends that will be born out of this new era. Analog bags or, specifically, activity bags have gained notoriety as a physical alternative to the daily doomscrolling.
Activities that range from coloring books to puzzles, games or even a deck of cards can be found in an analog bag. These bags are on-the-go craft and activity hubs that contain items the user will grab to interact with rather than their phone.
However, there are real difficulties when it comes to the habit of scrolling, even with this bag. It is a trend, which in turn leads the user back to their phone to see what the latest is with this trend. In effect, it creates a gateway to getting stuck on your phone again.
This trend started on TikTok with Sierra Campbell, who in 2025 documented her journey of having an analog bag; telling audiences what did or did not work for her throughout the year. Now with the popularity spiking in 2026, content creators primarily on TikTok have started to document the creation of their own analog bags. If you are like me, when the trend comes across your feed, you are 15 videos in and do not see yourself stopping because there are unlimited examples and ways the bag could be made.
To make matters worse they are not merely documentations on what you should do, they are advertisements.
Creators such as Megan Scohera, will create three-minute long videos explaining each thing she chose to include in her bag. While the video plays, the screen is filled with sponsorships from TikTok Shop, for either the bag itself or some accessory. Then the caption is a mile long due to the collaborations with different companies trying to benefit off another new trend.
Corporations will create a spending and scrolling nightmare that leaves you with too many unfinished adult coloring books and puzzles than you have space for, so to say the least the irony of an analog bag trend is not lost.
However, that does not mean it can not create a space that starts minimizing screen time. It is not a perfect fix to getting off your phone, but it is a tool that provides quick alternatives which can assist you in building back an attention span and start enjoying low stimulating hobbies.
When creating my own analog bag, I felt that it was important to include various items that I am in the process of creating. Such as journals and sewing supplies for different felt crafts, but those were also paired with fidget toys and a book that I have been wanting to read. There is not a one size fits all for the analog bag, it simply grows with you.
Photo by Hailey McConnell
Physical media does not have to mean overconsumption, for me an analog bag is the opposite. It is using what you already have or building something over time with things you know you will enjoy but have been neglected because of cell phone usage.
Building an analog bag for yourself is a journey and hopefully throughout this semester this column will assist you in that journey of creating one and getting off your phone, through crafts suggestions and deep dives on trending analog topics.