THE INSIGHT

54% of younger adults say constantly being on their devices is bad for their wellbeing. Phone-free nightclubs are filling up. Dumbphone sales have seen double-digit growth for two consecutive years. The logging off trend is real and it’s a live question for every brand trying to stay relevant.

THE EXPERIENCE  

Fireside Chat: Nathalie Nahai with Cat Botibol
Web psychologist Nathalie Nahai discussed the neurological mechanics of digital fatigue and made the case for businesses as a positive force for digital self-regulation. Her closing thesis: algorithms and LLMs can remix the past, but only human imagination can dream the future.

The Surprise: Showstopper! The Improvised Musical
Event staff burst into song, revealing themselves as Showstopper! performers. Using audience suggestions as their brief, they performed an entirely improvised musical – a live demonstration of the very argument Nathalie had just made. No algorithm could have generated what happened in that room.

The Presence Panel
Panel chaired by Dean Rodgers featuring: Seán Doyle (Director of Global Brand Experiences, Pinterest), Shappi Khorsandi (comedian), Jodie Harsh (DJ), and Matt Costain (Senior Creative Director, Secret Cinema). Shared themes: the phone-free Coachella activation, how comedy has changed in the smartphone era, how nightlife is reclaiming presence, and SC’s ‘be cool, no phones in school’ approach on Grease.