The Friction Economy: Why Gen Z Is Trading Smartphones for Dumb Devices

After a decade of frictionless technology, consumers are increasingly choosing devices with intentional limitations as digital rebellion. Gen Z is ditching smartphones for "dumb phones," buying mechanical keyboards, and embracing instant cameras that offer scarcity over infinite options. Universities now teach retro computing using 1980s-2000s hardware to help students understand how technology actually works, rather than disappearing into invisible cloud systems. This movement represents a desire for boundaries, understanding, and freedom from constant notifications.