The Rise Of Retro Flip Phones: A New Trend Among Tech-weary Utahns

There is a backlash happening against ever encroaching technology and you see it with high school students booing speeches about AI, the hate for new data centers, and the people opting for a dumb phone. Should you join the last group?

The Return of Flip Phones: A Modern Choice

People in Utah may know what a "digital fast" is. That's where you stay away from social media and stay offline for a certain amount of time. It isn't just Utahns that are tired of their smart phone dominating all their time.

This has brought about the rise of people buying old flip phones. Dumb phones are all the rage. These aren't people who are forced to because their parents won't get them a real phone. It also isn't older people who are living in nostalgia.

The people going to flip phones are the younger generation who are tired of getting overwhelmed by doom scrolling and the constant onslaught of new technology that you just have to have.

Social Status in the Age of Flip Phones

This is why this trend will continue to grow. Because it is starting to become a status symbol among this group. If your friends think you are cool when you pull out your flip phone, it reinforces the behavior.

Jack Lancastar of St. George who owns Angelica's with his wife, says he sees more people opting out of the smart world. "More people are taking this option than you realize," he said. He has witnessed with the people coming to his restaurant.

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Do you want to toss your smart phone? I'm pretty good at losing mine and that serves the same purpose. I don't want to go back to a flip phone, but I might be willing to go back to the original brick.