‘If you can’t hold it, you don’t own it’: why media fans want to escape algorithms with CDs, DVDs and vinyl
A growing number of people are turning back to physical media — CDs, DVDs, vinyl, and cassettes — as a way to own their entertainment outright and step outside the reach of streaming algorithms. Their reasons range from data security and support for artists to simply wanting control over what they watch and hear.
Why this matters: Streaming feels convenient until you realize you own nothing. Licenses expire, platforms remove titles, and algorithms decide what you see next. Physical media is one of the few areas where consumers can still say a purchase is actually theirs. The people moving back to vinyl and DVDs are not just being nostalgic. They are making a concrete choice about who controls their cultural life. That is a reasonable thing to want, and it is worth paying attention to how few digital options offer it.
Who should care: AI governance · Lawyers · Administrators · General readers · Policy · Privacy officers
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