Transcript

Episode 40- QR Code Fatigue and the Analog Comeback · Trending Now: Top 10 Topics This Week

Alex Carter: Welcome back to Trending Now: Top 10 Topics This Week. I’m Alex Carter, and today we’re talking about something subtle but widespread that’s popping up across social media, restaurants, and daily life: QR code fatigue—and the unexpected return of analog experiences. Alex Carter: It started with restaurant menus. For years now, scanning a QR code to see a menu has been sold as modern, efficient, and contactless. But this week, TikTok and X lit up with users complaining that they’re tired of pulling out their phones just to order fries. Videos captioned “Bring back real menus” are pulling in millions of views, with commenters saying QR codes feel impersonal, inconvenient, and oddly exhausting. Alex Carter: And it’s not just menus. QR codes are everywhere—parking meters, museum exhibits, concerts, even weddings. Want to check in, see a schedule, tip, or leave feedback? Scan the code. People are starting to feel like everyday life requires constant phone interaction, even in moments meant to be social or relaxing. Alex Carter: In response, there’s a noticeable analog pushback. Restaurants are proudly advertising “physical menus available” as a feature. Cafés are bringing back chalkboard menus. Some bars are ditching digital ordering entirely and going back to pen-and-paper tabs. It’s being framed as hospitality, not inconvenience. Alex Carter: This trend fits into a broader analog revival happening right now. Disposable cameras are back at parties. Printed photos are replacing Instagram posts. People are buying notebooks, planners, and even paper maps again—not because they’re better, but because they feel grounding. Analog tools don’t buzz, refresh, or ask for updates. Alex Carter: Psychologists weighing in say QR fatigue is less about the technology itself and more about decision overload. Scanning a code often leads to slow-loading pages, pop-ups, and endless scrolling. What should be a quick moment turns into another mini digital task—and people are done with that. Alex Carter: Of course, QR codes aren’t going anywhere. They’re cheap, flexible, and useful. But the backlash suggests we may be entering a hybrid era—where digital convenience exists, but analog options are treated as a form of care. Alex Carter: In a world that’s constantly asking us to scan, swipe, and scroll, choosing paper might feel like rebellion. Or maybe it’s just relief. Alex Carter: I’m Alex Carter, and if it’s trending—online or off—you know we’re talking about it. Catch you next time.