iPods and Mental Health: Why Unplugging Is Trendy
A few years ago, taking out an iPod in public was like showing off a fossil: everyone stared at it with a mixture of laughter and nostalgia. But in 2025, what seemed extinct is more alive than ever. iPods are back, and not just as vintage objects: today they are used as a tool to escape the digital chaos.
And no, we're not exaggerating. Just browse TikTok to see videos with millions of views where people revive their iPods as if they were sacred treasures. The reason behind this phenomenon? Mental health.
Notifications, stress, and the cell phone that won't shut up
We live hyperconnected. Everything beeps, vibrates, or demands your attention: WhatsApp, Instagram, the reminder to drink water, the daily horoscope (which tells you it's going to be a chaotic day). And that digital "chaos" is felt. real.
A study of The Journal of Behavioral Addictions indicates that excessive cell phone use is linked to higher levels of anxiety, insomnia, and difficulty concentrating. Therefore, More and more people are choosing to consciously disconnectBut of course, it's not about living in a cave... that's why the iPod comes along.
The iPod as an emotional first aid kit
No social media, no texts, no calls. Just you and your music. The iPod is like that friend who doesn't interrupt you when you're talking. Some call it "the digital detox we didn't know we needed."
The TikTok user @valentiinaxx commented in a video:
“I bought a used iPod for $10 on eBay, and since I've been using it, I've been studying more, sleeping better, and no longer checking my phone every three minutes. It's my headphone therapy.”
Another creator, @juanpodz, he joked in a clip:
“They're calling me on the phone and I'm not answering because… Oh right, I'm in 2006 listening to My Chemical Romance on my purple iPod.”.
The humor is present, but also the idea that Going back to simple things is good for us.
Music as a mental break
When you listen to music on your phone, there's a 50% chance that a notification will take you out of your bubble. The iPod, on the other hand, gives you a pure musical experienceAnd that has real benefits: it improves mood, helps process emotions, and even increases concentration, according to several studies on music therapy.
Many TikTok users are sharing their experiences using iPods for walking, studying, cleaning the house, or just staring out the window with a dramatic face. The point is this: feel the music again, not just use it in the background while we do a thousand things.
Just another fad or a new lifestyle?
Yes, it may be a passing trend (like the hip-hugging pants that came back and we still don't understand why). But it could also be the start of a new way of consuming technology: more conscious, more focused, more human.
What is clear is that The iPod became a perfect excuse to disconnect without disappearing from the map.It's like telling the world: "I don't want to talk today, I just want to listen to my playlist of happy sadness."
And you?
Do you dare to put down your cell phone and revive your iPod for a little time just for yourself? Maybe you have it stored away in a drawer... and you didn't even know it was your new self-care tool.
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