Flip phones are making a comeback. These clamshell throwbacks from the early 2000s are flying off the shelves faster than discounted Halloween candy.
The reason is clear: we're exhausted from being glued to our smartphones and social media, wasting countless hours on screens. Recent stats show the average person spends nearly five hours a day on their smartphone—that's six days a month and an astonishing 12 years over a lifetime.
Efforts to curb this addiction with app limits and willpower often fall short. Tech entrepreneur Wil Brawley, 49, from Waxhaw, North Carolina, found a more effective solution: he swapped his iPhone 11 for a basic flip phone four years ago. "I didn’t like who I was with an iPhone," Brawley says. He now enjoys better mental health and reduced anxiety, thanks to fewer distractions.
I relate to Brawley's story. Spending nearly nine hours daily on my iPhone, I felt trapped in a time-wasting loop. To break free, I switched to a prepaid Nokia 2760 Flip for evenings and weekends. This change has already halved my smartphone usage, potentially saving me six years of my life.
Interest in flip phones is surging, with sales up for the second consecutive year. According to ZDNet, searches for flip phones have skyrocketed by over 15,000% among Gen Z and younger Millennials. Influencers like Sammy Palazzolo, who promote flip phones for their simplicity and ability to keep users present, have fueled this trend.
Nostalgia for retro gadgets like the Sony Walkman and instant cameras also plays a role. However, the primary driver is a desire to reclaim control over our time and focus, refusing to let expensive gadgets dictate our lives.
Source
Photo: Getty