Woman’s ‘Invisible’ Phone Stuns the...

A viral TikTok video showing a woman casually “scrolling” on what appears to be a transparent phone has left millions of viewers completely baffled — and the real story behind it is even more unusual than you’d think.

The video, posted by TikTok creator Cat (@askcatgpt), has racked up over 50 million views. In the clip, she’s seen waiting in line at a boba tea shop, seemingly using a completely clear device — no screen, no buttons — just a piece of acrylic shaped like a smartphone.

Text floating above her in the video reads, “I’m sorry WTF IS THAT?????” — a sentiment shared by thousands of stunned commenters.

Some viewers speculated that the gadget was some kind of futuristic tech, possibly even a new release. “Nokia transparent phone, released Oct 2024-ish time,” one person guessed. Another added, “It’s the new plex from Nokia.”

Others were convinced she was from another era: “She’s on a mission from the future,” someone wrote. Another quipped, “Losing that would be a NIGHTMARE to find.”

But it turns out, the truth is far less sci-fi — and a lot more philosophical.

In a follow-up TikTok, Cat explained that the device she was using wasn’t a high-tech prototype or digital illusion. It was something called a “methaphone” — a solid piece of transparent acrylic, shaped exactly like a smartphone, with no tech capabilities at all.

“It’s exactly what it looks like,” she said. “A clear piece of acrylic shaped like an iPhone. But why does it exist?”

According to Cat, the methaphone was invented by a friend who was curious about our collective dependence on smartphones. His idea was to explore whether people could reduce their screen time by replacing their real phones with a non-functional stand-in — something that mimics the familiar weight and feel of a device but offers none of the distractions.

In other words, the methaphone is a social experiment — a tangible object that plays on the muscle memory of phone use without giving into it.

The bizarre concept has clearly struck a chord. Cat mentioned that the methaphone is already sold out. And while she admitted she hasn’t necessarily used her actual phone less since carrying it, the experience raised interesting questions.

“It feels like a physical artifact that responds to our collective anxiety,” she said. “Our phones are supposed to connect us, but we often feel more disconnected than ever.”

She posed a thought-provoking question to viewers: “Do you think a single piece of acrylic could actually help us get back in touch with humanity — or is it just a party trick?”

The idea sparked a lively debate in the comments. Some users were skeptical: “Nobody’s addicted to holding phones — they’re addicted to the apps,” one person argued. Another wrote, “Sooo it’s not a phone… end of story.”

Still, a few expressed hope that the era of glass smartphones might be around the corner, with one user joking, “I was really hoping we were entering the glass cellphones era.”

Regardless of where people stand, the conversation highlights an increasingly relevant concern — how much of our lives are ruled by the devices in our pockets?

Backing up this concern, neuroscientist Dr. Mark Williams shared insights with news.com.au, explaining that our addiction to phones is real and deeply embedded in our brains. “Every time we get a ping, buzz, or alert, our brain treats it as something urgent,” he explained. “It disrupts our focus and pulls us out of the moment.”

Whether or not the methaphone can help people break their digital dependency remains to be seen. But it has certainly succeeded in making people stop and think — even if only for a moment — about their relationship with technology.

And in a world constantly scrolling, maybe that’s the point.