Words by ITV News Producer Lois Smith
Long gone are the days when mobile phones were simply for making calls.
Today’s smartphones can do almost everything, from capturing high-definition photos to streaming millions of songs at the tap of a screen.
But as people grapple with endless doomscrolling and too much screen time, a growing number are turning their backs on modern technology in favour of more nostalgic devices from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s.
One gadget leading this resurgence is the MP3 player.
A new (or old) way of enjoying music
Back Market, an online marketplace selling refurbished technology, told ITV News it has seen rising sales of MP3 and MP4 players, with iPods – Apple’s portable music player design – driving the trend.
It said iPod Shuffles have seen a particular uptick, with 453% year-on-year growth in units sold.
The iPod Shuffle is a discontinued, screenless device the size of a large postage stamp, first introduced in 2005.
The user can “shuffle’ through songs, which are ordered either randomly or according to one playlist.
You can go forwards and backwards, and adjust the volume, but you can’t choose the song, and you certainly can’t scroll through your social media feed.
EBay also said it was seeing a shift, with people “becoming more intentional about the technology they use”.
It said searches for ‘classic iPods’ rose 31% in the UK between January 2025 and January 2026, with particularly strong interest in older models such as the third-generation iPod (up 47%) and fifth-generation iPod (up 41%).
“Rather than always looking for the latest device, there’s a growing appreciation for products that do one thing really well, whether that’s an iPod for listening to music without distractions or a digital camera that encourages you to be more present in the moment,” a spokesperson for the online market told ITV News.
Why are people making the switch?
Holly, a marketing assistant in her 20s, found her sister’s old iPod Nano while tidying and is considering using it instead of her smartphone to listen to audio content.
While the iPod Nano has a screen, it does not support downloading or installing third-party apps.
“I like to listen to podcasts when I go on a walk, but I don’t want distractions from my phone,” she said.
“I feel it’s so easy to get dragged into doomscrolling, and in the blink of an eye, an hour has gone by. I find restricting my screen time makes me more productive and less anxious.”
Reddit users have described feeling the same. “I loved the idea of having something just for my music,” one person wrote, while another said a dedicated music device helped “remove” the “temptation” of social media.
Nostalgia may also be a factor in why people are turning back to devices they remember from the past.
Around 43% of Back Market customers who bought a retro gaming device said they were driven by reminiscence and sentimentality.
Media consumption
The appeal is not necessarily rejecting technology altogether, but choosing devices with a single purpose – and becoming more present without the constant distraction of notifications.
A recent YouGov study found that one in four (27%) of people say the amount of media they consume has a negative impact on their wellbeing, while 20% perceive a positive one and 49% are neutral.
The most commonly cited negative consequence of media consumption that those surveyed noted was time wasting (51%), followed by sleep disruption (31%) and a shorter attention span (28%).
Participants also experienced reduced productivity, information overload and physical discomfort, such as eye strain.
Devices without screens or with limited capabilities could help combat some of these side effects while still reaping the benefits of consuming media.
When it comes to sleep, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) explains that blue light from screens “mimics the sunlight”, sending “a signal to the brain to stop producing melatonin”, which can prevent us from feeling sleepy.
“According to some research, using screens before you go to bed can double the length of time it takes you to fall asleep,” it says.
However, as noted by The Sleep Foundation, playing music has been shown to decrease cortisol levels, a stress hormone.
It said: “Playing music before bed may decrease the time it takes to fall asleep and improve sleep quality.”
The digital camera in a snapshot
Back Market also said it is seeing a rise in the number of cameras being sold.
Its camera category saw 305% year-on-year growth in units sold last year, and this has only accelerated further in 2026, with units sold up 596% year-on-year in the first quarter.
Disposable and Polaroid cameras are also popular smartphone alternatives.
eBay said searches for ‘retro digital camera’ increased 47% year-on-year between May 2025 and May 2026.
“Nostalgia is certainly part of the appeal, but we’re also seeing people actively choosing technology with a clear purpose, gravitating towards devices that help them disconnect, slow down and enjoy a simpler experience,” a spokesperson said.
Holly said she “loves” using a disposable camera rather than her phone from time to time.
“It’s easy for us to get consumed in getting that perfect picture, and when people check the photo, they’ll find imperfections, like they don’t like their hair or smile, and we all do it,” she said.
“Sometimes it’s more important just to capture the memory.”
“I’d love to take more disposable photos rather than digital, but it’s so expensive,” she added.
The comeback of MP3 players and digital cameras, alongside trends such as ‘no scroll Sunday’, suggests there is a growing desire to be more intentional about technology use in an always-online world.
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