Is This ‘Transparent Phone’ a Mind-Blowing Tech Miracle or an Optical Illusion?

So, the internet threw its hands up this weekend when a “transparent phone” made its mysterious debut—and no, it’s not the latest from Apple’s secret lab . Instead, what’s going viral is basically a see-through iPhone-shaped phantom called a “methaphone.” Sounds like something from a sci-fi flick, right? Catherine—aka ‘CatGPT,’ your friendly neighborhood AI educator—explains this quirky acrylic contraption is actually a clever social experiment designed to trick our phone addiction by giving you the feel of a phone without any of the pesky distractions. It’s like the placebo effect met the tech world, sparking a digital debate: can holding nothing at all really help us break free from the endless scroll? Or is this just another oddball consumer fad destined for the clearance bin? Let’s unravel the curious case of the glass phone that’s gotten everyone talking (and scratching their heads). LEARN MORE

Much of the internet has been left completely baffled over the weekend after a ‘transparent phone’ started doing the rounds.

The bizarre bit of ‘tech’ ended up going viral because, well, it’s not really a bit of tech at all.

Catherine, or ‘CatGPT’, shares ‘non-pretentious, non-patronising AI’ education and provides commentary on the use of artificial intelligence and other bits of gadgets.

And recently, that included the Science, Technology and Society graduate sharing: “The true story behind the ‘glass phone’ that’s going viral.”

Dubbed a ‘methaphone’, Catherine took to social media to share this weird little see-through object, shaped like a phone as she spoke about the benefits of its existence. This came after a video was shared of the woman standing in queue, behind other people staring at the phones.

Would you be whipping this out? (Instagram/askcatgp)

At first glance, she appeared to be doing the same, but upon further inspection, it turned out she was holding this ‘transparent phone’.

As people commented to say it’s a ‘placebo phone’, Catherine explains it is indeed a ‘methaphone’ – ‘a clear piece of acrylic shaped like an iPhone.

The woman says it was created by a friend of hers.

“And he told me that what he wanted to test was, if we’re all so addicted to our phones, then could you potentially curb somebody’s addiction by replacing the feeling of having a phone in your pocket with something that feels exactly the same?” she adds.

Catherine says that the reason it’s apparently proving to be so popular is because: “It feels like a physical artefact that directly responds to this collective tension we all feel about how our devices, which are meant to make us more connected, are actually having the exact opposite effect.”

The ‘transparent phone’ has left people confused. (Instagram/askcatgp)

Catherine reckons the odd little clear item ‘feels so empowering’ because it’s a way of taking on ‘the entirety of big tech’.

Although, she does say she ‘probably’ hasn’t used her phone any less since she started carrying around the ‘methaphone’.

“But just the idea that I could have something in my life, something I can touch and hold, and the conversation that this little guy is sparking online, that’s what really matters,” she adds.

So, yeah, essentially, the idea is that this is thing would make people realise just how often they’re grabbing for their phone for likely no reason.

“I think I would just use it so I can be more focus. I find myself reaching for my phone all time. For any little wait or just to have on my hand,” one user commented on Instagram.

Another added: “It’s s starter for more people to raise awareness on how addictive we all are to our phones and from there create a more meaningful conversation. The thing itself doesn’t replace addiction but it’s a catalyst to inspire people.”

Others however called it ‘peak consumerism as they slammed: “Buy the thing that does nothing.”

And some said ‘society is cooked’ as others were also disappointed it wasn’t a ‘new protoype’.