Once upon a time, in a golden age before the internet, social media, and smartphones, there existed an analogue world where people lived slower, simpler, and healthier lives that were more authentic, natural, and meaningful. This is the analogue idyll: a compelling narrative within contemporary culture celebrating the virtues of analogue media and offline experiences. Exploring the significance of the ‘analogue’ in our increasingly digital world, this timely contribution to studies about digital disconnection raises critical questions about the meaning of technology in our lives and societies, as public debates about the addictions, distractions, and harms of digital culture accelerate. Chapters 1 and 6 are available open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence.