Gen Z Is Flipping Out Over Flip Phones
Gen Z definitely has an appreciation for vintage stuff. They’re into everything from ’80s mullets to ’90s denim, Polaroid cameras to vinyl records. According to CNN, Gen Z’s latest fascination is a surprising one: flip phones. Even with the hassle of multi-tap T9 texting!
In this age of every-improving smart technology, it’s hard to believe that teens and young adults would want anything to do with something as clunky and archaic as a flip phone. But think about it. You can get a flip phone for as little as $20, which is a heck of a lot less than an iPhone, and the screens last longer. Sure, you don’t have all the apps and the cameras are low grade but, just as with those retro Polaroids, that’s part of the charm.
The best part of the flip phone trend, and perhaps the main reason why it has taken off with Gen Z, is the ability to disconnect, be more present, and live in the moment. Sammy Palazzolo, an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, took to TikTok to explain (with a little salty language) why she and her friends are embracing the old-school devices.
@skzzolno Replying to @saraahhhyo literally everyone needs a flip phone in their life #BRINGBACKFLIPPHONES #college #goingout #collegelifehack #flipphone #y2kaesthetic
♬ original sound - sammy k
We’ve all heard or read the statistics about the dangers of too much technology and too much social media, especially for younger generations. The fact that they’re actively seeking to protect themselves and re-calibrate the ways in which they interact and live in the world is encouraging.
Apple isn’t likely to lose much market share to flip phones anytime soon. However, with celebs like Camila Cabello, Dove Cameron, and others jumping on the bandwagon, maybe this trend actually has some legs. I know I still have a couple of working flip phones in a drawer at home. Can you say, “business opportunity?”
