Young woman on street using mobile phone, side view
Gen Zers have never known life before the internet, but some are trying to go back to a time without smartphones and Instagram posts.
  • Members of the generation that grew up online are rejecting smartphone culture by returning to flip phones.
  • The "dumb phones" often don't have access to popular social media sites like Instagram and TikTok.
  • Here are 6 of the most popular dumb phone brands that Gen Z is purchasing. 
Gen Z has sparked a resurgence of "dumb phones" in an effort to disconnect from social media and step away from the generation's chronically online persona.
young man using flip phone
Teenagers and twenty-somethings say they're looking for less in a device to avoid distractions and take more breaks from their screens.

Source: Insider

The rise of dumb phones comes in part thanks to movements like the Luddite Club, a group of New York City teenagers who swore off smartphones in 2022.
teen millennial gen z phone texting
A young woman uses a smartphone.

Source: Insider

Here are some of the pared-down phones they're buying.
a blonde woman holds up a Motorola StarTAC flip phone and a slim motorola phone in one hand
A woman holds up the StarTAC mobile phone (left), and a Motorola phone from its "Slim Line."
Nokia 2780
Nokia 2780 Flip

Cost: $90

Capabilities: 4G LTE, 5-megapixel rear-camera with flash and video capabilities, FM radio and an audio jack for headphones

AT&T Cingular Flex
AT&T Cingular Flex 4G LTE Flip Phone

Cost: $40

Capabilities: 4G LTE, Bluetooth and WiFi support, 2-megapixel rear-camera with LED flash, four gigabytes of memory, microSD port for more storage

Punkt MP02
Punkt MP02

Cost: $399

Capabilities: Downloadable privacy feature for encrypted calling, internet access via WiFi tethering with tablets or laptops

Kyocera DuraXV Extreme+
Kyocera DuraXV Extreme+

Cost: $250

Capabilities: "Virtually indestructible," waterproof, 5-megapixel rear-camera with LED flash, customizable menu, multiple battery modes to help conserve energy and monitor use, pre-installed SIM card

TCL Classic
TCL CLASSIC flip phone

Cost: $75

Capabilities: Battery that can last up to 16 days from a single charge, 4G, Bluetooth and WiFi, hotspot for up to 10 other devices, 2-megapixel rear-camera without flash

Alcatel SMARTFLIP
Alcatel SMARTFLIP

Cost: $60

Capabilities: 4G LTE, hearing aid compatibility, battery supports up to six hours of talk time, microSD port for more storage, 2-megapixel camera without flash

Read the original article on Business Insider