Gen Z is over the iPhone – here’s why they’re switching to BlackBerries for a digital detox

Digital dependency will make you collapse. That’s unless you trade your iPhone in for a BlackBerry in a digital detox.

You probably think I’m mental for saying that, but actually, there’s a tidal-shaped trend going on right now, as a 2000s revival is on the loose.

Algorithmic overload has been a problem for a while now, and counterculture is on the rise among TikTok and Instagram users.

Typewriter journaling was a thing a couple of years back, and many are into analog photography.

Now, in a viral video with over 100,000 likes, @hardmoneyguy, the influencer, proclaims that BlackBerry “has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come back from the dead.”

“You bring me a BlackBerry Bold right now, and I’ll toss my iPhone and never use it again” – the commitment is bold in itself. This is non-kitsch and completely serious.

@hardmoneyguy mentions that apps and touchscreens are not relevant. Things that are desirable are checking the game's scores, writing emails with the keypad, Netflix access, and “a hell of a camera.”

@hardmoneyguy

2025 Blackberry phone

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Retro tech, real life

Launched in 1999, BlackBerry was originally meant as a two-way pager, becoming an essential gadget for business execs – handy for checking email on the go.

Part of the “always-on” culture, the device blurred work-life boundaries, reinforcing the idea that real hustlers were “always reachable,” even after hours.

As iPhones rose, BlackBerry lost mainstream appeal – but it remained a nostalgic icon of productivity, discipline, and corporate grind culture.

Now, the old proverb that everything goes full circle is ringing true, as Gen Z embraces bullish independence. BlackBerry represents a step back from being glued to the internet and taking ownership back – both figuratively and literally.