Overview

• A TikTok video showing a woman holding a clear, phone-like device amassed 26 million views, prompting speculation about futuristic technology.
• The device, called the Methaphone, is a clear acrylic replica created to simulate holding a smartphone and potentially reduce phone addiction.
• Its Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign raised $1,100 before closing, with public reactions ranging from intrigue to skepticism about its effectiveness.
• Critics argue that phone addiction stems from app usage, not the physical device, questioning the Methaphone's potential impact.
• Researchers, including those at the University of Oxford, are studying the effects of phone use on youth mental health and impulse control development.