Is it possible to live offline in 2025?

16th October 2025

In a world where technology is key to everything, would it be possible to step back and not use technology at all?

Technology is all-consuming: sure, it has a lot of positive features – it improves efficiency, makes things more convenient – but there are a lot of downsides to constantly being connected. It can cause mental health issues, can lead to privacy concerns and, for many of us, it disconnects us from the things that really matter.

So, is it possible to get away from all this and go off the grid? Of course, the obvious answer is yes – not everyone is lucky enough to have access to modern technology, and groups like the Amish exist, who reject technology. But for someone in the UK in 2025: is it possible and how would removing technology change their life?

Financial/government systems

Problem: most of our banking is done online, and government services are provided there. Many of these services require digital access or verification.

Solution: there are ways around this, but they would require you to write letters or physically go to a bank. As more services move to online only, to save on costs, this will become more difficult (bank branches will close).

Employment systems

Problem: most jobs require email, cloud tools or digital collaboration, with even manual work often requiring some online platform use of some kind.

Solution: either avoid jobs that require this (or which there are very few) or your only option is to be able to survive without one (which requires a lot of money).

Shopping systems

Problem: some shops are online only and some offer discounts for going online. If you want to book travel, order food or access healthcare, chances are that you’ll need to use technology of some kind.

Solution: if you use cash and physically go to places, you can probably avoid technology use directly, but it limits you significantly.

Social media systems

Problem: social media systems, as well as programs like digital calendars, are used every day to make plans, communicate and share information. Being out of that system means that you are out of the loop.

Solution: this is the one technology you can survive without – communicating in person or via letter are both options that would work if you wanted to keep connected to others.

With all that being considered, it is possible to go completely offline in 2025, but in the UK, it would be very difficult. You would miss out on a variety of services, life would be far more complicated, and you would have to make a lot of sacrifices.

Instead of abandoning IT entirely, try reducing your IT use and taking temporary breaks from tech: you might not be able to avoid it, but you can make it so technology doesn’t control your life.

If you want more advice having a healthy relationship with your IT, please contact Interfuture Systems.

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