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Retro Phone Goes Viral, Replaces Screens
24 Apr
Summary
- Tin Can, a retro landline device, sells hundreds of thousands via word-of-mouth.
- Schools are distributing Tin Cans to combat children's screen time addiction.
- The device offers a distraction-free communication method for children.
The Tin Can, a landline-inspired device, has seen a remarkable viral success since its debut in April 2025, with hundreds of thousands sold. This retro gadget, costing $100, plugs into a wall and offers features like speakerphone and an answering machine, with options for calls between devices and to emergency services.
Its resurgence is largely driven by a growing parental and societal concern over excessive screen time. Schools across the US are increasingly adopting the Tin Can as a tool to curb social media addiction among young students, seeing it as a positive alternative to smartphones.
Educational institutions like Nativity Parish School and St. James' Episcopal School are distributing the devices to families. This initiative aims to foster better communication skills and provide a more meaningful way for children to connect, away from the constant digital stimulation of modern devices.
Tin Can Untechnologies Inc., the Seattle-based company, is working to scale its operations to meet overwhelming demand from schools and individual consumers. The CEO, Chet Kittleson, founded the company based on a desire to recapture the simpler social interactions of the past, believing the landline was a precursor to today's social networks.
