Why I Am Going Back To Physical Media

I was born in the ’90s, which means I grew up with VHS tapes and later DVDs and CDs. But as I got older, Netflix suddenly appeared, and not long after that, many other streaming services followed.

Now there are so many streaming platforms to choose from, and honestly, it can feel overwhelming. Even when it comes to music, there are multiple streaming services available.

But while we’re living in this streaming era, I’ve decided I’ve had enough. Today, I’m going to explain why I’m going back to physical media—and I know I’m not the only one. You can find countless videos on TikTok, YouTube, and even discussions on Reddit where people say they’re making the same choice.

Why I Am Going Back To Physical Media

1. Nostalgia
   I grew up in the ’90s, and I loved having a VHS collection of my favorite Disney movies. It was amazing. I remember inviting my friends over to watch movies together. I also remember how much I enjoyed going to stores and browsing through movies and CDs. Most of those stores have disappeared, which makes me sad. I think we only have one or two places left where you can buy vinyl records and CDs. But back in the day, there were so many stores where you could find new DVDs and CDs. I really miss that era. So yes, part of the reason I want to go back to physical media is nostalgia.
   
2. You pay, but you don’t own anything
   When you have a subscription to a streaming service, you pay a monthly fee to get access to a large library of movies, TV shows, or music. That sounds great. But the reality is that even though you pay every single month, you don’t actually own anything. If Spotify or Netflix were to disappear tomorrow, you would be left with nothing. With physical media, on the other hand, you buy something once and own it for the rest of your life. And honestly, I prefer owning the movies and music that I truly love.
   
3. Your favorite movies aren’t always available
   This has happened to me so many times. Imagine it’s a Friday or Saturday night, and you’re planning a movie night. You want to watch your favorite movie, so you open Netflix—only to find out that it’s not available. That’s the downside of streaming. Movies come and go all the time. With physical media, you don’t have this problem. If you own your favorite movie, you can watch it whenever you want. You don’t have to wait for it to become available again on Netflix (or any other streaming service).
   
   Plus, let’s be honest—it’s kind of cool to have your own movie or music collection. Back in the day, I would go to my friends’ houses and look through their music or movie collections. It says a lot about who you are and what you like. It’s just fun.