Gen Z is saying goodbye to smartphones and hello to flip phones. Yes, you read that right—flip phones! The generation known for selfies is trading in their high-tech devices for the nostalgic charm of phones you can snap shut. Why? They’re feeling overwhelmed.
After endless hours of scrolling, rising anxiety, and the frustration of forgetting why they even picked up their phones, many Gen Zers are ready for a break from being online all the time. One TikToker, Makayla Aubrey, shared a clip with her flip phone, declaring, “Flip phone summer. Life will be so simple.”
But it’s not just flip phones. Gen Z is also embracing vintage and disposable cameras. They believe a camera from 2007 has a vibe that modern smartphones can’t match. And they’re listening to music on cassette tapes and vinyl records instead of streaming. They even miss the feel of typing on a BlackBerry and are hunting for them on Facebook Marketplace and eBay.
One TikToker named Meni, who spends 13 hours a day on her smartphone, said, “It’s an unplugged summer. I swear my brain is just mush.” She added, “I no longer live my life. I just watch other people live theirs and feel bad about mine.”
It seems like Gen Z is ready to unplug and enjoy a simpler, more authentic summer. Flip phones and vintage tech are making a comeback, and it’s all about finding balance in a digital world.
