Gen Z turning to practical hobbies as digital dopamine “just isn’t the same.”
For a generation so closely linked with technology, a surprising amount of young people are turning to hobbies that are more often associated with the middle-aged and retired. TikTok even has its own crochet channel, and you’ll find teens with home-embroidered pockets on their jeans on the High Street.
Craft supplies. Photo: Freepik
Lib Silke, a 20-year-old student, took up crochet two years ago, and has been doing it almost daily since starting.
“I’d started to feel bad about my hobbies being purely online or technological.”
“Staring at screens all day was making my mental health worse and just generally making me feel down.”
“Having a hobby that produces something physical and tangible that I can wear or hold feels really nice, the dopamine rush from social media and similar just isn’t the same in comparison.”
Taking the time to make something personal and sentimental can help people disconnect from the often-overwhelming digital landscape that can dominate the lives of so many young people.
Crochet creations of Lib Silke
The evidence that creative hobbies can help people with mental health difficulties such as anxiety or depression is overwhelming. They demand your full attention, providing an often necessary distraction from the struggles of everyday life, and in a generation where mental health struggles are more prevalent than ever, this can be vital.
“The time I started crocheting was also when I realised I had anxiety,” Lib continued. "It became a really important outlet for me as I dealt with my mental health.”
“I think there’s a lot of value in using hands-on hobbies to express myself, it kind of puts love into it I think.”
Crocheted plushie by Lib Silke
Despite the draw of having a hobby outside of digital spaces, many Gen Z-ers getting involved in these hobbies cite sites such as TikTok and Pinterest as motivations for starting.
TikToks made to give crochet inspiration can garner millions of views as interest continues to grow.
Celeste Holdridge, a 19-year-old from the UK, said that seeing things people created for themselves was an inspiration to them as she learnt to crochet and sew.
“Honestly, seeing people create cute animals and things like that on TikTok really made me want to start.”
“It makes me so happy to be able to see a final result and say ‘wait, I made that,’ and I also love giving them to people.”
Crochet gifts Celeste Holdridge made for friends
The communities for crafts online are constantly growing and can become a special place for connection for hobbyists.
Lib said: “Even though the non-techy aspect is what really drew me in, it's really fun to engage with the community online.”
“Posting things I’ve made, especially for fanbases I’m in, has really been nice for boosting my self-esteem and knowing that I’m genuinely good at this, and improving more every day.”
The Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020 gave people, especially students, abundant free time to start trying new things. Many thousands of young people have kept up with these hobbies even when the bustle of daily life picked up. And the new generation of artisans and hobbyists have learnt how to put a digital twist into their work.