A$20 Retro Phone Gadgets Gain Traction as Smartphone-Free Events Push Digital Distancing
Updated
Updated · The Conversation · Aug 17
A$20 Retro Phone Gadgets Gain Traction as Smartphone-Free Events Push Digital Distancing
2 articles · Updated · The Conversation · Aug 17
Summary
A$20 corded handset accessories that turn smartphones into landline-style devices are selling well in Australia, highlighting a broader shift toward putting physical distance between people and their phones.
That shift is showing up collectively in lockable pouches at concerts, school smartphone bans, and offline gatherings such as Amsterdam's reading raves, where devices are switched off and put away.
Research cited in the report says the phone-user bond began loosening during COVID lockdowns, when some people spent more time on laptops and found smartphones less useful, appealing or practical at home.
Physical separation is also being designed into products such as wall-mounted docks that tether phones to one spot, echoing older landlines and appealing to users trying to curb compulsive use.
Many women still rely on smartphones as digital safety nets for location-sharing and check-ins, making the ability to 'untether' uneven and dependent on personal safety conditions.