{
  "id": 25989,
  "title": "The great British switch-off: how floating retreats, mobile-free pubs and sauna book groups are freeing people from their smartphones",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/01/the-great-british-switch-off-how-floating-retreats-mobile-free-pubs-25989",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-01T11:00:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Health",
    "slug": "guardian-health",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/01/great-british-switch-off-fun-freeing-ways-ditch-smartphone-doomscrolling"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "There's an emerging trend in Britain aimed at liberating individuals from their smartphones. The Offline Project, spearheaded by Pelé Zachariah, offers a range of screen-free activities to help attendees disconnect and reconnect with their surroundings. Whether it's a group walk, art class, or supper club, each event begins with the same ritual: participants hand over their phones to a lockbox. Zachariah emphasizes the importance of participants physically placing their devices in the box, as it fosters a sense of personal commitment to the screen-free experience. While some may initially feel uncomfortable without their phones, many report feeling liberated after a few hours, acknowledging the extent to which their devices have become integral to their lives.",
  "summary": "Sick of doomscrolling? From venues with smartphone swear jars to cabins with absolutely no signal, here are the fun and freeing ways to ditch your device There’s a ritual at the start of every event hosted by the Offline Project . Run by Pelé Zachariah, the activities vary – it could be a group walk, a collage‑making class or a supper club – but each one begins in the same way, *with an…",
  "key_points": [
    "The Offline Project offers screen-free activities in Britain.",
    "Participants hand over phones to a lockbox at each event.",
    "Attendees report feeling liberated after disconnecting."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Technology",
        "title": "The great British switch-off: how floating retreats, mobile-free pubs and sauna book groups are freeing people from their smartphones",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/01/the-great-british-switch-off-how-floating-retreats-mobile-free-pubs",
        "published": "2026-08-01T11:00:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}