A phone that plugs into the wall and does little more than make calls is becoming a modern workaround for a very current problem: how to stay connected without handing over another screen.
The renewed interest is being led in part by Tin Can, a parent-controlled home phone for children that runs on Wi-Fi and can call only parent-approved contacts and 911. The device has no apps, texts or games. CBC News reported that the Seattle-based startup behind it has sold hundreds of thousands of units in Canada and the United States since launching last year, with its first five batches sold out and a sixth expected in June.
The appeal is not limited to children. Landline-style devices, Bluetooth-powered “physical phones,” wall-mounted retro phones and thrifted rotary sets have all become part of a broader push by some consumers to put distance between daily life and smartphones. CBC also noted rising Canadian interest in “vintage phones” on Pinterest and Google searches for an Ikea landline phone, even though such a product does not exist despite social media claims.
A simpler phone in a more complicated moment
For parents, the trend is colliding with a wider debate over youth access to smartphones, social media and artificial intelligence chatbots. CBC reported that the federal government is considering restrictions on young Canadians’ access to social platforms and AI chatbots, while Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has announced that the province will be the first to ban youth from using social media and AI chatbots.
Other jurisdictions are moving in the same direction. Australia’s ban on social media use for children under 16 took effect in December, lawmakers in France have approved a bill to bar children under 15 from social media, and the European Union has charged Meta over allegations it has not done enough to keep children under 13 off Facebook and Instagram, CBC reported.
The policy pressure reflects growing concern about online safety and young people’s mental health. The CBC report cited researchers who say social media platforms are designed to be addictive, with youth use linked to disrupted sleep, depression and anxiety symptoms, and negative effects on attention and memory.
Why friction is part of the pitch
Richard Lachman, a digital media professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, told CBC that landlines reintroduce “friction” into communication — a small amount of effort that can make technology feel more deliberate. “It lets us control when, where, how, and for how long we engage,” he said.
That idea is also driving interest among adults in single-purpose technology: vinyl records, film cameras, DVDs, offline clubs and hobbies such as knitting or crocheting. In that context, the landline’s limitations are the point. It can make a call, but it cannot pull a user into feeds, alerts or games.
The comeback remains more cultural signal than full-scale reversal; smartphones are still the dominant tool for communication. But the popularity of retro-style phones suggests a growing market for devices that promise connection without constant attention demands — especially for families trying to decide when, and how, children should enter the smartphone age.
Comments (0)