A recent TikTok video featuring a woman interacting with what appears to be a transparent phone has left many viewers puzzled.
The user, known as Cat, shared the video on TikTok, which has now racked up over 50 million views. Instead of a typical smartphone, she’s seen at a bubble tea shop holding what looks like a clear piece of acrylic.
In the clip, Cat acts as if she’s using a real phone, with the text “Sorry wtf?????” displayed on the screen above her.
Commenters quickly jumped to conclusions, assuming it was a new Nokia phone. One user remarked, “Nokia Transparent Phone Released in October 2024,” while another said, “It’s a new plex from Nokia.”
Others expressed confusion about this unusual technology. A viewer commented, “She is on a mission from the future,” and another said, “Losing it would be a nightmare to find.”
Interestingly, Cat does have a “phone” that people can buy, but not for the reasons one might think.
In a follow-up video, she clarified: “This is a metaphone. It looks just like a sharp piece of acrylic resembling an iPhone. But why is it even a thing?”
She explained that her friend created it to test whether people might be addicted to their phones and if their cravings could lessen by simply mimicking the sensation of having a phone in their pocket.
In her words, “I send batches of metaphones to those interested in running a (safe) social experiment—with it on the subway, showing it to a child, or swapping it with their phone for a week. The only requirement is that they document their experience online—like on blogs, TikTok, or YouTube.” Cat stressed the importance of continuing this conversation.
She mentioned that the metaphones sold out quickly.
While pondering why her video captured so much interest, Cat noted that the physical presence of the acrylic “feels like a tangible artifact” reacting to our collective struggles with smartphone dependency.
“Did I use my real phone less while carrying this? Probably not. But what do you think?” she asked her viewers. “Can a single piece of acrylic really help reconnect us with humanity, or is it just a quirky gimmick?”
Responses in the comments on her follow-up video were mixed, with some expressing skepticism about such an odd concept.
One commenter observed, “No one is obsessed with actually holding a phone; it’s the apps they’re hooked on.” Another joked, “We’re really trying to enter the era of glass phones.” Then someone, seemingly disappointed, remarked, “It’s not a call… the end of the story.”
Though the idea sparked some doubt, research has indicated that many people may be more absorbed in their devices than they realize. A neuroscientist explained that alerts, whether visual or auditory, command our immediate attention, essentially pulling our focus away from what we were engaged in.
