Can a phone-shaped slab help reduce your screen time?

India Today

01-07-2025

You know that constant itch to pick up your phone, the one that leads to a few mindless scrolls and swipes? Maybe you picked it up thinking there would be a new notification. But there wasn't. Still, you unlocked it anyway, opened an app and closed it. Opened another, scrolled through some Reels or Shorts, liked a post or two, shared a few memes. And just like that, an hour was gone. Remember, there was no real reason to pick up your phone in the first place.advertisementOr maybe you were out on a coffee date with a close friend. You had a lot to catch up on, a lot to debrief about what's been going on in life. Yet you couldn't help but reach for your phone again and again, just out of habit. Not that you weren't listening, but every now and then, you'd sneak a glance, only to quickly put it away after receiving a well-deserved death stare.If it often happens to you too, you're not alone. Smartphone addiction is a growing global concern, with Indian users spending an average of five hours a day on their devices. Interestingly, some people in the West are turning to a different kind of phone (not really a phone) to tackle their smartphone overuse.
The Methaphone is a phone-shaped acrylic slab. And that's it. Its weight and shape make it feel like a phone, and that's all. There's no screen, no internet, nothing. You hold it, do some mindless scrolls and swipes, and put it back in your pocket. No hours are wasted watching Reels.advertisementThis smartphone-shaped slab was created by Eric Antonow, a former marketing executive at Google and Facebook, as both a cheeky art project and a behavioural tool to help curb phone addiction. When he sent samples to his friends, a video by TikTok creator Catherine Goetze went crazy viral, making the first batch of 100 pieces sell out quickly. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CatGPT (@askcatgpt)Though it is not available for purchase in India, the stock was initially retailed for USD 25. To get a quote, you can place a request on their website.It is not like a kids' toy phone, but a rather serious adult version of it. So, is it the new, cool phone detox tool? Maybe, or maybe not. Psychologists have a lot to say about whether a phone-shaped acrylic slab can help control your screen time.'The Methaphone is a fascinating concept because it doesn't try to fight the urge directly, it seeks to redirect it. In many ways, that's smart. Behavioural psychology shows us that trying to eliminate a habit cold turkey often creates resistance. Substituting the habit with a familiar physical ritual, like holding something phone-shaped, can offer a somatic cue of comfort without actual engagement,' says Dr Chandni Tugnait, a psychotherapist and founder-director of Gateway of Healing in Gurugram.advertisementRutuja Walawalkar, psychologist at Mpower, Aditya Birla Education Trust, who often sees people struggling with phone addiction, says that those who feel anxious or restless without a phone in hand can benefit from this conceptual toy.'It might serve as a transitional object, helping reduce constant checking and offering comfort without digital distractions,' she adds.Dr Tugnait also agrees. 'It may work temporarily by satisfying the 'hand craving', the physical reflex of reaching for a phone during idle moments, social anxiety, or boredom. Think of it like a pacifier for adults in the digital age. This can be calming for people who feel overstimulated or dysregulated by constant screen exposure.'And then emerges an existential crisis.Why it can't be a long-term solutionThis is just another add-to-cart product that offers a quick hit of satisfaction, like any impulsive purchase, but it's unlikely to help in the long run. It doesn't address the deeper emotional drivers behind your phone addiction, like loneliness, FOMO, the need for reward, or the urge to escape.advertisement'The Methaphone may soothe tactile craving, but it doesn't engage the brain's dopamine loop that comes from checking notifications, swiping, or scrolling. So while the hand feels 'occupied', the brain may experience a subtle frustration because it expects stimulation but receives none. This could lead to increased irritability or rebound scrolling later, especially in those with stronger tech dependencies,' explains Dr Tugnait.
Photo: mindless-toys.com
Then, you also confront an existential crisis that makes you meet the sans-phone version of yourself.'Holding a Methaphone may reveal deeper withdrawal not from the device, but from the self-concept it props up. The discomfort Methaphone reveals isn't about not holding a phone, it's about not knowing who you are without the phone,' adds Dr Tugnait.Would you use a phone-like slab to curb screen time?Anyone struggling with phone addiction often desperately wants to cut down their usage, especially when the toll on physical and mental health becomes hard to ignore. While some turn to built-in screen time controls on their phones and apps, others dream of switching to dumbphones (which, by the way, have been seeing a rise in sales).advertisementWhether or not you plan to introduce a placebo phone into your life, here are some expert-approved ways to reduce your screen time:Keep your phone in another roomGive time to offline habits (exercise, hobbies, time with loved ones)Use built-in screen time and app limit features (try that again)Don't take your phone to the loo or the dinner tableDelete distracting appsSpeak to a mental health professionalThe verdictOn its own, it's a clever tactile tool. Paired with conscious intention, it could become a bridge to genuine tech healing.- EndsMust Watch