Vinyl records instead of online streaming services. Digital cameras over the latest phones. This trend of turning back to retro aesthetics has become increasingly popular through social media in the late 2010s and 2020s. For consumers of vinyl records and digital cameras, older formats of music and photography tie into authentic feelings of connection, whereas modern, high quality technology does not.

From 2016 to 2023, vinyl album sales increased from 13.1 million to 49.6 million albums, with rapid growth starting 2020. These statistics mark a shift in consumer behaviors. In the past, people turned to rapidly-developing digital formats of music, as records were expensive and difficult to maintain. CDs largely overtook the less advanced technology of vinyl records by the ’90s, and vinyl record revenue hit an all time low in 2006 when fewer than a million records were sold. 

But people are starting to value elements of music beyond just sound quality and convenience, especially in the past five years. English teacher Beverly Manning started collecting vinyl records when she was 16, emphasizing how she feels more engaged with the songs when listening to physical formats of music.

“You have the physical cover and artwork of the album, and you can actually hold the record,” Manning said. “When you stream music, you don’t get that sense of connection with the music the way you do with vinyl. The little crackles and sounds just makes it more alive.”

Beyond providing exclusive items such as signed photos, vinyl albums offer a different listening experience from streaming. Records are an analog medium, meaning that the music is produced by a stylus needle that reads physical grooves on the vinyl and translates those movements to sounds on a speaker. Manning values the distinct quality of older equipment used to play records, including turntables and amplifiers.

“It all depends on the audio equipment you’re using,” Manning said. “I have old music equipment, and I like the sound better than modern technology. I like that vintage feel to everything, and vinyl goes along with it.”

Younger generations are also playing a key role in the comeback of vinyl records. Though they grew up with streaming, Gen Z made up 27% of vinyl record buyers in 2024, surpassing Gen X and Baby Boomer consumers who lived in an era when vinyl records were the norm. Junior Stellan Lindh believes owning records makes music more personal and meaningful.

“It’s cool collecting all the music that you like in one place because you keep a visual representation of all the music that you like,” Stellan said. “In two years, I can look back and say, ‘Oh, I really liked that artist.’ You build a collection of all the music that you like throughout your life. It’s a more fulfilling experience”

Many modern singers like Taylor Swift, SZA and Kendrick Lamar offer vinyl records for their albums, releasing multiple different colored vinyl variants along with books, pictures or posters. For Stellan, the items included with the albums allow him to learn more information about the music.

“They are really cool to look at, because it shows you the process of creating the actual album,” Stellan said. “Seeing visuals associated with the music and having a physical representation of it just makes each album more unique.”

The desire for a more “vintage” look played a role in the rise of digital cameras in 2025 as well, which is largely fueled by Gen Z’s interest in the early 2000s style. Senior Koby Yu created a digicam account on Instagram to document his final year at school, appreciating his camera’s ability to retain emotions despite phone cameras producing clearer, more detailed images.

“It’s different from a normal picture account, because it gives that nostalgic feeling,” Koby said. “I can capture the memories of this year, especially since it’s the last year that me and my friends are at this school together. That look you get [from the cameras] will preserve the quality of life that we’ve been living.”

The resurgence of digital cameras extends beyond personal preference and is reflected in broader trends. Searches for “vintage digital camera” and “refurbished camera” raised 13% on eBay between 2022 and 2024, while the hashtag #digicam has surpassed 100,000 views on TikTok.

Koby expressed how digicams allow him to more fondly remember the past, as they capture the moment in a more meaningful way than modern phones.

“People are looking for uniqueness again,” Koby said. “The definition isn’t as sharp, and the edges aren’t as smooth. We think back to old pictures that we see from our family members and we see that similar hazy and warm look. It evokes that feeling of reminiscence.”