{"id":115700,"date":"2025-05-20T00:35:11","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T00:35:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/115700\/"},"modified":"2025-05-20T00:35:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T00:35:11","slug":"us-startups-fake-phones-spark-buzz-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/115700\/","title":{"rendered":"US Startup&#8217;s &#8216;Fake&#8217; Phones Spark Buzz Online"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In a bid to combat phone addiction, a startup called Methaphone has introduced a unique solution in the US market &#8211; a fake phone designed to mimic the shape and weight of a real smartphone. This minimalist device, priced at $20, features a smooth, empty surface that allows users to mimic scrolling motions without accessing any digital content.<\/p>\n<p>This device first came to attention after a viral TikTok video showed a woman seemingly scrolling on a piece of glass, sparking speculation about a &#8220;new Nokia transparent phone.&#8221; However, it was later revealed that the object was a &#8220;methaphone&#8221;, a clear acrylic slab shaped like an iPhone to help combat phone addiction, <a class=\"sp_lnk2\" href=\"https:\/\/gulfnews.com\/world\/offbeat\/viral-tiktok-nokia-transparent-phone-isnt-what-you-think-1.500131141\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gulf News<\/a> reported.\u00a0Made from durable, transparent acrylic, it replicates the weight and contours of a modern phone, offering a tactile experience for those looking to curb their screen time.<\/p>\n<p>When users feel the urge to reach for their phone, they can grab the Methaphone instead and engage in a simulated scrolling motion. This can help users become more aware of their phone usage habits and gradually reduce their dependence on their devices.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Here&#8217;s the video:<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DJsnIVdP_4c\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"\/>\n<p>\u201cMy friend is the inventor and creator of this. If we&#8217;re so addicted to our phones, could you reduce that dependency by giving someone something that feels like a phone, just without the tech? Something that still fits in your pocket, still feels familiar?&#8221; Instagram user\u00a0CatGPT explained in a video.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Honestly, have I used my phone less since I started carrying this around? Probably not. But it&#8217;s sparked conversations, and that&#8217;s what really matters,&#8221; she added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>How it Works:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tactile Experience: The Methaphone provides a tactile experience similar to holding a real smartphone, allowing users to satisfy their urge to check their phone.<\/li>\n<li>Anxiety Reduction: By using the Methaphone, users can allegedly reduce anxiety and break the habit of compulsively checking their screens.<\/li>\n<li>Mindfulness: The device encourages users to be more mindful of their phone usage and develop healthier habits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The methaphone concept challenges users to rethink their phone habits by replacing digital interactions with a physical, screen-free experience. This psychological experiment encourages users to reflect on their behaviour and consider the impact of devices on their lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The viral video has ignited debates about digital wellness, with some users praising the Methaphone as a clever way to disconnect, while others expressed disappointment that it wasn&#8217;t a real transparent phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                                    <script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In a bid to combat phone addiction, a startup called Methaphone has introduced a unique solution in the&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":115701,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3159],"tags":[2665,11305,52098,52091,52097,52095,52092,547,52094,52096,52093,24118,53,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-115700","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mobile","8":"tag-anxiety","9":"tag-digital-detox","10":"tag-ech-addiction","11":"tag-fake-phones","12":"tag-fight-addiction","13":"tag-gadget-addiction","14":"tag-methaphone","15":"tag-mobile","16":"tag-nokia-transparent-phone","17":"tag-plastic-phone","18":"tag-real-smartphone","19":"tag-smartphone-addiction","20":"tag-technology","21":"tag-uk","22":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114537360521582289","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115700","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=115700"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115700\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/115701"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=115700"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=115700"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=115700"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}