MINNEAPOLIS — A flat-screen generation is reviving the flip phone, and the trend may prove to be as beneficial as it is trendy.
Gen Z’ers are among the mix of callers asking for flip phones at retro electronics thrift store Free Geek. Inventory specialist Will Kuntz says increasing demand has led to items selling out at the Minneapolis store.
It's not just a Minnesota thing. On Google, the term "flip phones" jumped by roughly 140% over the past five years.
Jena Manderscheid, born in 2003, said she’s seen people bringing flip phones to the bar.
“It’s this TikTok joke-trend thing,” she said. On the app, users tout the single-digit megapixels on a Nokia camera phone and post things like “I’m going back to using a flip phone. Let’s see if I can survive.”
Free Geek's Kuntz seems to think there's more to it than a TikTok trend.
“I think more people are looking for that simple, just calling, just texting, no-other-distraction kind of a thing,” Kuntz said.
Even those loyal to smartphones admit the devices can keep users "on" for far too long.
“It’s dirty dopamine, but it still feels satisfying and fills the time,” said Brian Stephenson, a self-proclaimed iPhone kid. “I’ve doomscrolled with the best of them.”
Marguerite Ohrtman, a social media researcher and director of clinical training at the University of Minnesota, said increased screen time may be related to pressure teens and adults are feeling to stay connected.
“That fear of missing out is so great,” she said, citing the effects of smart devices on mental health. “People are seeing that they're causing anxiety, it's causing depression, it's causing ADHD, sleep deprivation. People are seeing those effects on their bodies.”
Ohrtman, who is also a therapist, said a simpler phone may be worth considering for someone who struggles with being present or gets anxious from not seeing what’s online.
Benefits of a simpler phone may include sleeping better, feeling less anxious and increased attention spans, Ohrtman said.
While that may sound good, Kuntz advised anyone considering a switch back to a simpler phone to make sure it connects to modern cell towers.
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