New tech is dialing back screentime.
What’s happening: Tin Can, makers of a screenless, landline-style phone for kids, secured $12M to scale production as its waitlist nears 100K customers.
New operator. Launched last year, its colorful WiFi-enabled devices are call-only, run on a private network, and feature a companion app with parental controls.
Preserving connection while eliminating addictive “digital noise,” Tin Can phones are in high demand, quickly selling out two production runs. Raising $15M+ to date, it’s now preparing for international expansion.
SOS call. With a recent study connecting youth phone usage to depression, obesity, and sleep issues, parents want to limit exposure without cutting kids off — adopting devices from Zalpha Mobile, Teracube, and more.
Leading by example, some adults are swapping smartphones for stripped-back options like Physical Phones’ stylish rotary, Sidephones’ dumbed-down burner, and Meadow’s off-grid companion.
Looking ahead: From systemic actions like NY schools’ phone ban and Australia’s teen social media ban to the self-directed shift toward hands-on hobbies, people are making meaning beyond devices. With a quarter of the world’s population struggling with tech addiction, analog counter-culture may become mainstream wellness.
