We’re surrounded by smart everything — smart phones, smart watches, smart homes. But lately, a lot of us are turning away from all that hyper-connectivity and going back to the tech that feels good: the chunky, slightly inconvenient, but totally iconic gadgets from the Y2K era. CD players. Flip phones. Small cameras. It’s not just nostalgia — it’s a young vibe, and a lifestyle.
CD Players: Put the Phone Down and Just Listen
We love streaming, don’t get us wrong. But popping in a CD? That hits different. There’s something really peaceful about pressing play and committing to a full album, no shuffle, no Spotify trying to read your next interests. Plus, K-pop albums are basically collector’s items now — the photocards, the packaging, the whole unboxing moment and the music - Pure serotonin.
Flip Phones: less social , more present Let’s be honest: smartphones and social apps are exhausting. Flip phones give us the kind of digital detox that actually works. Whether it’s a Motorola Razr or a budget-friendly Nokia Flip, the appeal is the same — less screen time, more real time.
Cameras: Blurry, Flashy, and Perfect
Not everything needs to be 4K. Sometimes the grainy, flash-blasted photo you took on a Canon PowerShot just feels more real. Disposable film cameras like Fujifilm QuickSnap? Also a win. There’s no pressure to curate, no retakes, no filters — just in-the-moment memories that are way more fun than unlimited filtered selfies.
Choosing “dumb” tech is a way to slow down, unplug, and reconnect with real life. So yeah, give us scratched CDs, phones that don’t scroll, and cameras that mess up the lighting.
We’re not living in the past, just choosing the lifestyle that is unpredictable and more real — and it feels good.