Can tech really get you off your phone and into real life?

How many times have you to check one thing and found yourself still scrolling 30 minutes later? I know I've done it.

Our phones make it incredibly easy to stay connected. Yet something interesting seems to be happening at the same time. Many people are looking for more reasons to put those phones down and spend time with other people in the real world.

Run clubs are growing. Local gatherings are drawing attention. Phone-free events are popping up. People seem that feel a little less like another feed.

That raises an interesting question: Could the same technology that keeps pulling us online also help get us back into real life? That idea is behind NewTree Social, an early-stage community events app from 29-year-old founder Maddy O'Connor. She wants people to use their phones to discover something happening nearby, make a plan and then go experience it. And the timing may be right.

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There is some real data behind this shift. Eventbrite's 2026 Social Study surveyed people ages 18 to 35 in the U.S. and U.K. It found that 79% planned to attend more events in 2026. Among Gen Z respondents, 46% said they were limiting screen time and 74% said in-person experiences were more important than digital ones.

Now, keep in mind that this research comes from Eventbrite, a company whose business revolves around live events. Still, those numbers line up with something we are seeing play out in the real world.

Eventbrite says phone-free experiences listed on its platform grew 567% globally between 2024 and 2025. Attendance at those events rose 121%. The company based those numbers on events that used "phone-free" terminology in their title or description.

For people who have spent years with a smartphone within arm's reach, intentionally putting it away feels significant. It also creates an unusual opening for technology. Instead of asking how an app can keep you scrolling longer, what if the goal becomes helping you find something worth closing the app for?

That is where O'Connor comes in. She told CyberGuy that the idea for NewTree grew partly from her own experience living in Washington, D.C., without an established group of friends. Her experience changed depending on where she lived and whether she could find places where meeting new people felt natural.

At the same time, she was watching interest grow around run clubs, wellness events, social clubs and other in-person experiences. So she started building around that behavior.

NewTree is designed to help people discover local activities and meet others through something they already want to do. I think that part is important.

Walking into a room of strangers solely because you are supposed to meet people can feel awkward. Walking into a fitness class, community event or gathering you already find interesting gives you a reason to be there before you ever introduce yourself.