Overview

• A TikTok video of a woman using a transparent acrylic 'Methaphone' amassed over 50 million views, fueling speculation about futuristic smartphones.
• The device, revealed as a non-functional decoy, was designed to raise awareness of digital dependency but did not reduce actual smartphone use.
• The Methaphone quickly sold out following its viral success, though its Indiegogo campaign raised only $1,100 before closing.
• Follow-up videos and reports shifted focus to the challenges of creating true transparent-display phones, citing technical and cost barriers.
• The experiment sparked broader discussions about smartphone addiction and whether behavioral or neurological factors drive device dependency.