Published April 14, 2026
Device Free for All at NYU
On the 2nd floor of the Kimmel Center for University Life tucked between classrooms and offices, there’s a space where the glow of screens gives way to something quieter. Here, beanbags replace desk chairs. Board games cover tables. A charging station hums softly in the corner. Welcome to The Nest, NYU’s first designated device-free lounge.
The space is part of a broader effort announced by NYU President Linda Mills to expand device-free initiatives across NYU’s campuses. From structured programming to dedicated unplugged zones, the goal is simple: Create opportunities for students to step away from their screens and into deeper connections. For Arushi Sharda, a Psychology major and student assistant with NYU Wellbeing, the concept initially sparked more curiosity than anything else. “When I first heard about it, I was like, ‘A device-free lounge? What is that even going to be like?’” she says. “I wasn’t opposed; I was just confused.”
Students entering The Nest are greeted by “Nest Navigators” and reminded that the space is device free. Phones and laptops can be secured in a locked charging station, encouraging students to set them aside, even if only for a short break between classes. Instead of scrolling, students pick up coloring books, relax with board games, or catch a quick nap. Last semester featured bracelet making and game nights designed to bring students together around shared activities rather than shared Wi-Fi. “It helps students step outside their comfort zone and build more connections,” Arushi says.
Beyond the Scroll
For sophomore YunSeo Nam, the desire to be device free began with fatigue. “It was tiring to watch screens all day,” says YunSeo, a major in Media, Culture, and Communication at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. “I could feel my eyes straining. I was overwhelmed by fast-paced information and alerts.”
Stepping away from her phone helps her think more clearly and creatively. She listens to music, daydreams, doodles, or dances along to K-pop. Furthermore, she finds that device-free time reduces writer’s block when brainstorming ideas. Taking time offline, she adds, is a form of self-care—a chance to check in with herself mentally and physically. After long stretches on her phone, she notices tension in her neck, shoulders, and wrists. But being intentional about unplugging helps her reset. Conversations change too. “When I’m connecting with people in a device-free environment, I feel I get to know the person more,” YunSeo says. “Eye contact is a small thing, but it’s meaningful. It shows you care about the conversation.”
Across NYU’s global network, similar values are taking shape. At NYU Shanghai, device-free programming and community-centered initiatives reinforce the importance of shared experience. They prove that while connection isn’t limited by geography, it does require being truly present.
Intention, Service, and Showing Up
Offline connections are also central to student-led service efforts. At NYU’s Theta Tau chapter, members recently hosted a card-making event as part of their longstanding tradition of assembling care kits for those in need. Students hand-wrote letters of encouragement to include in winter kits for Goddard Riverside, supporting individuals facing housing insecurity during the coldest months.
“Making cards is definitely cathartic,” NYU Theta Tau Regent Evan Dworkin shares. He’s an Electrical and Computer Engineering major at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. “It’s a way to get offline and make something with your hands.” Service events, he continues, naturally foster device-free engagement. “Everyone there is there with intention, actively making the choice to give back. The lack of phones comes naturally from that premise.”
That intentionality mirrors what The Nest aims to cultivate daily: small, purposeful pauses in a campus culture shaped by constant alerts and updates. “Our devices are designed to trap our attention,” Evan adds. “Breaking away from that and living in the ‘real world’ for a few hours is super powerful.”
For Arushi, the shift has been both personal and communal. During slower moments at The Nest, instead of checking notifications, she reaches for a coloring page. “Sometimes when I’m stressed, I want that instant dopamine from scrolling,” she says. “But being here has kind of forced me to find different ways to relax.”
NYU spans continents and connects thousands of students every day, so carving out device-free spaces may seem small. But for students like Arushi, Evan, and YunSeo, those moments matter. They offer a reminder that even in one of the most connected universities in the world, you can make a choice to put the phone down, look up, and stay awhile.
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