Young Belgians Opt for Coffee Dates to Escape Smartphones

A growing number of young Belgians are actively seeking refuge from their smartphones — and they are finding it over a cup of coffee. New research from Alpro reveals that nearly half of Belgian Gen Z (48%) consider a coffee date the ideal way to disconnect from their devices, signaling a quiet rebellion against the always-on digital culture that has defined their generation.

The Digital Overload Crisis

The study paints a stark picture of digital fatigue among young Belgians. More than half (56%) report feeling overstimulated by digital devices almost daily, while 40% say they regularly feel lonely while using social media. These figures, reported by Het Laatste Nieuws, underscore a paradox at the heart of the hyper-connected age: the more time young people spend online, the more disconnected many feel.

According to Statbel data cited by TAGMAG, Belgian 16-to-24-year-olds spend an average of more than five hours per day online. Over an 80-year lifespan, that adds up to nearly 17 years spent staring at a screen. The numbers help explain why a generation raised on social media is now leading the charge toward offline connection.

Coffee Dates as a Social Lifeline

For nearly seven in ten Gen Z respondents (66%), meeting for coffee is the simplest way to arrange a catch-up with someone. The humble coffee date has emerged as a low-barrier social ritual that offers something smartphones cannot: genuine, undistracted human interaction.

“We notice that coffee is no longer limited to breakfast. Consumers enjoy it throughout the day,” says Veronique Goossens, Senior Brand Manager at Alpro, the plant-based dairy brand behind the research. Nearly half of Belgians (49%) now view coffee bars and cafés as the “third place” — a social space distinct from home and work.

The Intentionality Gap

Yet the path to digital detox is not straightforward. Despite the strong desire to disconnect, 60% of Gen Z admit they still reach for their phones during coffee dates. At the same time, nearly three-quarters (73%) say they want more coffee moments without their phones — a gap between intention and behavior that speaks to the addictive pull of modern technology.

For more than one in three young Belgians (35%), a coffee moment helps restore inner calm. The ritual offers a structured pause in an otherwise fragmented digital day — a deliberate act of presence in a world designed for distraction.

A Broader Shift in Digital Culture

This trend is part of a wider reckoning with screen time among young people. Belgium has been at the forefront of smartphone regulation, with a nationwide ban on mobile phones in primary and secondary schools taking effect from the 2025-2026 school year, as reported by The Brussels Times.

A separate New York Times report from March 2026 found that more than half of Gen Z respondents had experimented with digital detoxing, compared with just 20% of older generations. The desire to disconnect appears to be inversely proportional to the amount of time spent online.

TAGMAG captured the sentiment well in its coverage of the Alpro study: “A sign that the generation that grew up with social media perhaps longs the most for a little less screen time and a little more real connection.”

What This Means for the Future

The coffee date trend reflects something deeper than a marketing opportunity for coffee brands. It points to a fundamental shift in how young people value their time and attention. As digital fatigue grows, the simple act of sitting across from someone — without a phone on the table — is becoming a small but meaningful act of resistance.

For policymakers, educators, and brands alike, the message from young Belgians is clear: connection is not the same as being connected. And sometimes, the best way to log off is to meet up.