Debunked: The viral invisible ‘phone’ that broke TikTok and the random meaning behind it

A TikTok video that amassed millions of views recently had the whole of the internet talking, as a woman in the shot appeared to be using a transparent “phone”.

You’ve probably seen it on the FYP after a clip of a woman scrolling on what appeared to be a clear iPhone had us all majorly confused.

Since then, speculations have run riot as to what it could’ve been. Some convinced themselves this was an unreleased, luxury Nokia phone – rumoured to retail for a whopping £30,000. Others thought it could be a futuristic Apple prototype.

The video shared a close up shot of the curious gadget, asking, “I’m sorry, WTF is that??”. It sent the world into a bit of a frenzy.

But the woman within the clip has debunked the clip, which received over 56 million views on TikTok.

Posted by @askcatgpt, the clip zoomed in on a woman standing in line, gripping a clear iPhone like gadget. She seems to be scrolling nonchalantly, stood behind two other women, one who is  scrolling themselves and another who’s fiddling with their sleeve cuff.

@askcatgpt

Completely clear phone spotted in San Francisco on May 14…?!? Wtf?????? 🤭🤫 Link in bio for more deets. (NOT SPONSORED)

♬ original sound – CatGPT

The comments on the video were flooded in with even wilder theories, however. “It’s from the Nickelodeon show Henry Danger,” one commenter wrote, while another quipped: “This looks like a social commentary or a walking art exhibit. I’m too uncultured to understand.” One more thought it was from an episode of Black Mirror – which I can kinda get on board with.

Here’s what the clear phone that went viral on TikTok really is

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Despite the frenzy of speculation, it turns out the truth was much simpler—and much more surreal. The device wasn’t a phone at all. It was, in fact, just a piece of acrylic – a physical artefact designed to replace the feeling of holding a phone.

The woman in the video, who goes by Cat, was not just a casual bystander in this viral moment – she was also the one who uploaded the original clip, later sharing the “true story” in a follow up video which was posted days after the initial viral sensation.

The object at the centre of this viral storm is a piece of clear acrylic created by Emiliano Godoy, a designer and artist. Dubbed the “methaphone,” it resembles a completely transparent smartphone, but unlike any phone you’ve ever seen, it doesn’t actually function as a phone. It has no screen, no operating system, no apps, and no connectivity. It’s essentially just an object—albeit a provocative one.

The methaphone was conceived as a form of social commentary—a physical, tangible representation of our collective relationship with smartphones and technology. In a world where we are increasingly tethered to our devices, the methaphone asks a simple question: What if we could disconnect from the constant pull of notifications and apps, but still feel the physical presence of a phone in our hands?

As Cat explained in her follow up video, the methaphone is meant to reflect the tension many people feel in a world where smartphones, which are supposed to keep us connected, often leave us feeling more isolated. “This little piece of acrylic feels like a physical artefact that directly responds to this collective tension we all feel about how our devices, which are meant to make us more connected, are actually having the exact opposite effect,” Cat shared.

@askcatgpt

I’m sending out a batch of methaphones to people who have ideas for (safe) social experiments they’d like to run with them— break it out on the subway? Show it to a 5 year old? Replace your phone for a week? The only catch is that you have to write or document your experience in a post online (e.g. blog post, medium, substack, YouTube, tikTok, Ig, etc) The goal is to keep the conversation going. If you’re interested, fill out the super short survey at the link in my bio! Let’s keep the conversation going! #tech #methaphone

♬ original sound – Noah Kahan

In essence, the methaphone was designed not as a solution to our dependence on phones, but as a symbolic object that forces us to confront the way technology has shaped our lives—and how it might be contributing to our feelings of alienation, anxiety, and stress.

Despite its deeper message, the methaphone has not been universally praised. Far from it, actually. The object quickly became the subject of ridicule and mockery, particularly among TikTok users who had a lot to say about its value (or lack thereof).

One user on TikTok commented: “So this is not a real phone, it’s just glass and they’re trying to make it sound deeper than what it is.”

Others were quick to note that while the methaphone might look like a phone, the addiction that people feel toward their devices isn’t about the physical act of holding a phone. “Nobody’s addicted to holding phones, they’re addicted to the apps,” another TikTok user pointed out.

The viral chat has actually highlighted how the problem isn’t the device itself, but the way we interact with it. We are drawn to the notifications, the apps, and the constant need for validation that social media platforms provide. The methaphone, while offering an interesting concept, does little to address this underlying issue.

So, is the methaphone the tech world’s answer to our phone addiction crisis, or is it just another bizarre gimmick that’s more about grabbing attention than solving anything?

Featured image via TikTok @askcatgpt