Sapulpa is a town well-known for its iron grip on the past. Even as the main thoroughfare undergoes a multi-million-dollar redesign and infrastructure update, and down the street is a nearly $300-million new high school and performing arts center, Sapulpa boasts old-school attractions like a bowling alley, a roller skating rink, and a drive-in theater. Classic cars are as common as bicycles in this town. People who move to Sapulpa from out of town are often said to be doing so for our small-town, Mayberry-esque charm that harkens back to a simpler time.
Is Google telling us the rest of the world is looking for the same sort of nostalgic sentiment?
Over the last month, Google Trends reports a sharp increase in what they classify as “nostalgia tech,” like MP3 players, disposable cameras, and Playstation 2:
- “how do mp3 players work” spiked +4,950% in the past month, and “portable cd player” was a breakout search
- “clear record player” doubled in search in the past month, and “record player stand” search interest broke out
- “disposable cameras” rose +400% in the past month, “where can you develop disposable cameras” was a breakout search
- “pink flip phone” spiked +250% in the past month, and “non smart phone” was a top-trending related search
- PlayStation 2 rose +140% in the past month, and Game Boy spiked +200%
Google has long been a window into what’s seen as trending and relevant to the public. Popular searches usually indicate an interest (if not outright obsession) with a new musician, a movie, a sports team, or event. Still, most Google trends aren’t altogether surprising. The terms people are searching for have usually been seen elsewhere, like social media, television advertising, or in the news headlines.
However, while the headlines seem to say that people are more connected to their phones than ever, they also hint at another truth: we are aware of it, and we’re trying to do something about it.
These ideas are also seen in recent Google trends surrounding concepts like “landline mode,” and “social media cleanse:”
- Search interest in “landline mode” broke out in the past month and is at an all-time high
- “social media cleanse” rose +130% in the past month, and “social media detox” hit an all-time high in 2025
- “nokia brick phone” spiked +190% in the past month, and “how to break my phone addiction” was a breakout search
- Search interest in “weekly planner” hit an all-time high in 2025, as did “note taking”
What is “landline mode?”
This new “mode” for your phone has become popular after Apple released new customizable “focus” options giving you more control over what apps and notifications you see.
“Landline mode” specifically gained popularity after going viral on TikTok, where a woman explained that she used a customized focus setting to only allow phone calls and other minimal distractions so that she can be more present with her children, get more done around the house and do more reading:
Not all nostalgia tech searches are cries for help
It’s easy to see that some searches, like “disposable cameras” and “PlayStation 2,” are more than likely just old-school tech making a short-term comeback, but it doesn’t mean we’re doing away with our smartphones. Other searches, like “how do I break my phone addiction” are clear indicators that folks are looking to break the doom-scrolling cycle and be more present in a world where it’s getting harder to do. Here are the “dumb phone” trending searches for the past month:
- How to make a dumb phone
- How to switch to a dumb phone
- How to go offline and read more
- How to live life without a smartphone
- How to spend less time on phone
So what’s the answer to breaking our phone addictions? Is it sheer willpower, or do we really need to use our phones to get off our phones? Probably both.
