Video of a woman holding a transparent phone-shaped object sparked curiosity

- A TikTok video of a woman holding a transparent phone-shaped object sparked curiosity and was revealed to be a social experiment by tech content creator Catherine Goetze.
- The "methaphone" is an acrylic piece of plastic that looks like a smartphone, designed to make people reflect on their phone usage.
- The creator, Eric Antonow, named it after methadone, a substance used in the treatment of opioid addiction, to highlight the potential addictive nature of smartphones.

- Goetze's website allows users to order their own methaphone and share feedback about their experiences using it.
- Some TikTok commenters questioned the effectiveness of the methaphone in reducing smartphone addiction, suggesting that the issue lies more with apps and the desire for information than the physical phone itself.
- Georgetown University's Kostantin Kushlev, who studies technology's impact on happiness, noted that while there is a parallel with smoking cessation tools, the underlying reasons for smartphone addiction are multifaceted and not solely dependent on the device's feel.
- The concept of variable reinforcement, where the unpredictability of rewards from notifications, is a significant factor in maintaining smartphone addiction.
- The methaphone may serve as a conversation starter but is unlikely to be a standalone solution to smartphone addiction due to the complex nature of the issue.