In an age obsessed with speed, a few tech developers are taking a surprising turn: they’re slowing the web down on purpose.
Across Europe and North America, experimental browsers are emerging that intentionally delay page loading or block fast scrolling. Their goal? To make users think before they click. One developer calls it “digital deep breathing.”
The Slow Web movement argues that constant refreshes and instant gratification are warping our focus. By adding a few seconds of intentional delay, people spend more time reading, reflecting, and engaging meaningfully — not just doom-scrolling.
Of course, critics say it’s an ironic fix — using tech to cure the very impatience tech created. But for a few thousand users who’ve joined the experiment, the lag is liberating. As one beta tester wrote, “When the page loads slowly, my brain does too — and that’s the point.”
