Like Nancy Walecki of the Atlantic (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/08/airplane-wifi-travel/688260/), I too am disappointed to hear that airlines are rolling out free wifi on flights. As someone that tries to take one digital detox vacation a year to go diving (I should really be taking more), I value the times when the internet cannot reach me. Sure, I sometimes work on airplanes but usually on a dedicated task like writing where the lack of distractions is useful. But other times, I am most certainly not. Movies, music, falling asleep to a podcast are all on the table…sorry…tray.
Interface Studio is based on research I was undertaking at the time about the overlay of cities and digital technology. Digital technology shapes how we use and ultimately design spaces. As simple examples, think of how rideshare is changing street design or the ways in which Google maps or Yelp changes how we experience the city.
An early example of “new” technology impacting public spaces was public wifi. Getting wifi in public squares and parks was viewed as a sign of progress. Now, wifi and our social media follows us everywhere resulting in new trends and new considerations for our public spaces. Take for example the need for “instagrammable moments,” i.e. screen friendly backdrops perfect for selfies, etc. No, your city is likely not going to be the next bachelorette party destination but getting featured on instagram posts (hopefully with more likes than mine) can do quite a bit for a city’s vibe. At least that is the thinking. Too often these moments result in spaces designed for screens and less for interaction.
Interesting then that our younger generations are pushing back a little. As noted in that Atlantic article, apps like Opal and Brick that block distracting social media from our phones are rising. Dating apps are declining. SABSing or “see and be seen” (ground-breaking, I know) is the new dating trend on college campuses. Folks are looking for opportunities to meet in real life! But if we are doing so with our faces buried in our screens, this is arguably worse than playing a video game with someone in separate basements where at least you are doing something together.
Technology continues to bring real benefits to our cities, our homes and our connections. That does not mean it needs to be ever-present. So, in the wake of losing our airline sanctuary, what if we created other spaces to escape?
Imagine a public space without any internet, wifi, cell service, or social media? That would be something today. Some libraries do a version of this. Go deep enough in a national park and you’ll likely see zero bars. We don’t necessarily need to lock our phone in a Yondr bag like we’re going to a Phoebe Bridgers show but I’m not opposed to that if you want to get a little radical. But we could certainly create moments in our public spaces where our digital selves take a backseat.
I imagine there is a growing market for this type of plaza or park. Digitally “unplugging” a plaza likely won’t reduce our desire for instagrammable moments – you can always post a picture later – but it could force us to look up or, sit down, and take a breath.