Companies are increasingly experimenting with varied form factors and trying to make their mark in the tech industry as the innovator. Nothing is known for its unique design and now tech giants seem to be looking into foldables of varied types. While companies are pushing for more smartphones, users seem to look into the addiction to these devices and how it can be minimized. A recent TikTok video caught the attention of the tech community and phone enthusiasts where apparently a woman was using a transparent phone. The 9-second video created quite the buzz, with many wondering if it was a concept phone or if it was, in fact, Nokia’s new phone. The air regarding it has finally been cleared out.
A woman was seen using a transparent phone, garnering quite attention and making users wonder if it was a prototype
An intriguing visual seems to be doing the rounds for what looks like a futuristic phone on TikTok, where a woman @askcatgpt is seen using a methaphone, which is basically a transparent or clear acrylic phone that mimics the feel and size of an actual smartphone. It grabbed the attention of millions who started wondering if this was a prototype of a future phone that we might see, and some even jumped to the conclusion that it was Nokia’s new cutting-edge phone.
The woman with the transparent phone later made a follow-up video to explain what was going on in the uploaded mystery video that got over 50 million views. The clear device turned out to be a non-functional object made by Cat’s friend called a methaphone, with the purpose of conducting a social experiment to see if a device that appears like a smartphone can help users become more mindful of their digital habits and even make them evaluate their dependency on the devices.
@askcatgpt Completely clear phone spotted in San Francisco on May 14…?!? Wtf?????? 🤭🤫 Link in bio for more deets. (NOT SPONSORED)
What was meant to be designed as a physical decoy to help people gain insights into their phone-checking habits and raise awareness about our attachment to the devices we own went viral, and users were increasingly interested in buying the product. While the project has already been sold out, it did spark a wider discussion in the tech community about consumers seeking the next big innovation and digital mindfulness.
The TikToker then went on to share her experience of carrying the methaphone with her for an entire week and was honest that her actual time spent on her smartphone remained the same. This is because smartphone addiction is deeper than that, and a fake phone might help gain insights but cannot act as a replacement for digital habits since they are not behavioral but neurological. Nonetheless, the social experiment was fruitful because it served the intended purpose: to bring attention to our digital dependency and engage in more mindfulness practices.
