Staring at a piece of glass all day isn’t that different from what you’re already doing with your actual smartphone. At least, that’s the provocative point being made by one of TikTok’s latest viral sensations.
In case you missed it, the internet has been losing its collective mind over a woman filmed casually scrolling on what appeared to be a completely see-through smartphone. The clip, showing only a few seconds of scrolling action on a transparent slab while waiting in line, has racked up over 41.6 million views and sparked a tsunami of speculation. The comments section exploded faster than your battery on a road trip with no charger—yet another reminder that mobile tech innovations are arriving faster than anyone predicted.
The Transparent Truth
If you were hoping this magical device was the next $3,500 flex from Apple or the triumphant return of Nokia’s indestructible innovation department, prepare for disappointment. The transparent “phone” isn’t a phone at all.
What you’re seeing is a “methaphone” – essentially a piece of acrylic cut into the shape of an iPhone. No chips, no screen, no processing power – just clear, solid material that makes you look like you’re from 2050 while disconnecting you from 2025.
Created by a friend of the TikTok creator @askcatgpt, this cleverly simple object was designed as a physical experiment to examine our addiction to smartphones. It’s less about technology and more about psychology – a tangible metaphor for our dependence on devices that’s as clear as the acrylic itself.
The comments section quickly filled with theories ranging from “Nokia Plex” to a “$35,000 Nokia Clear Phone.” Turns out we’re collectively so ready for transparent tech that we’ll believe almost anything.
Our See-Through Addiction
“Every time we receive a notification – whether it’s a ping, vibration, or visual alert – our brain perceives it as something requiring immediate attention,” neuroscientist Dr. Mark Williams said.
This is precisely what makes the methaphone concept so brilliant. It forces us to confront the uncomfortable truth that much of our attachment is to the physical ritual of holding and scrolling rather than the actual content.
This isn’t the first time transparent displays have captured our imagination. LG is currently taking pre-orders for a transparent wireless 4K OLED TV, and Samsung demonstrated flexible, see-through AMOLED displays. But nothing has yet made it to the smartphone market in a meaningful way.
What’s fascinating isn’t just how quickly the video spread but how it tapped into our complicated relationship with technology. Everyone recognizes the irony of millions watching a video about phone addiction… on their phones.
The methaphone may not have significantly reduced its users’ screen time, but it succeeded spectacularly at one thing – starting a conversation about our digital habits that’s reached far beyond TikTok.
If nothing else, this viral moment proves we’re collectively ready for transparent tech – even if we’ve been staring right through our phone addiction problem this whole time.
Next time you mindlessly reach for your phone, ask yourself: Would you still do that if it were just a piece of glass?
