By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
What's The JamWhat's The Jam
  • Home
  • Latest News
    • UK News
    • World News
  • Super ViralHot
  • Lifestyle
    • Health and Fitness
    • Photography
    • Property
  • Humor
  • Celebrity
  • Weird
  • Videos
  • All Topics
    • Babies and Kids
    • Celebrity
    • Comedy and Humor
    • Documentary and Reportage
    • Fails
    • Health and Fitness
    • Holidays and Travel
    • Influencers and Models
    • Latest Videos
    • Life Hacks
    • Lifestyle
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Pets and Animals
    • Photography
    • Property
    • Real Life
    • Sport
    • Strange and Bizarre
    • Super Viral
    • UK News
    • World News
Search
  • Health and Fitness
  • Holidays and Travel
  • Nature and Wildlife
  • Pets and Animals
  • Photography
  • Babies and Kids
  • Comedy and Humor
  • Fails
  • Real Life
  • Strange and Bizarre
  • Submit News
  • Customize Interests
  • Bookmarks
  • Newsletter
  • Who Are We
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact
© 2023 What's The Jam. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Influencer, 25, goes viral ditching iPhone ‘ruining’ her life for Blackberry brick
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
What's The JamWhat's The Jam
Aa
  • News
  • World
  • Viral
  • Funny
  • Weird
  • Celebrity
  • DIY
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
    • News
    • World
    • Super Viral
    • Videos
  • All Topics
    • Babies and Kids
    • Celebrity
    • Comedy and Humor
    • Documentary and Reportage
    • Fails
    • Health and Fitness
    • Holidays and Travel
    • Influencers and Models
    • Life Hacks
    • Lifestyle
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Pets and Animals
    • Photography
    • Property
    • Real Life
    • Sport
    • Strange and Bizarre
  • Quick Links
    • Customize Interests
    • Bookmarks
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of use
    • Write For Us
    • Advertise
    • Contact
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact
© 2023 What's The Jam. All Rights Reserved.
Gen Z influencer swaps iPhone for a Blackberry Bold to escape phone addiction - her viral TikTok sparks a wave of nostalgia and a push for simpler digital lives.
Super Viral

Influencer, 25, goes viral ditching iPhone ‘ruining’ her life for Blackberry brick

Almara Abgarian
Last updated: 2025/06/24 at 12:10 PM
Almara Abgarian
Share
6 Min Read
Nkalipho Shozi. (Jam Press/@shozi_055)
SHARE

A Gen Z influencer has abandoned smartphones, ditching the iPhone 11 that was “ruining” her life for a Blackberry Bold.

Nkalipho Shozi went viral after sharing the delivery of her old brick phone.

The 25-year-old admits that she had become “addicted” to scrolling and would spend upwards of nine hours a day using her iPhone on weekdays.

READ MORE: Overwhelmed groom faints at altar in front of 200 wedding guests

- Advertisement -

On weekends, Nkalipho was on it from the moment she woke up until she went to bed, averaging 19 hours of usage.

Her viral TikTok of the package unboxing has over 7.5 million views and over 500,000 likes.

“I was honestly so sick and tired of my phone and how many hours I spent on it endlessly scrolling,” the content creator, who has 47,200 followers, told What’s The Jam.

Gen Z influencer swaps iPhone for a Blackberry Bold to escape phone addiction - her viral TikTok sparks a wave of nostalgia and a push for simpler digital lives.
Nkalipho Shozi. (Jam Press/@shozi_055)

“My phone was consuming me, and I was addicted to it.

“I missed the days when you would scroll on Instagram, for example, and it would tell you that you’ve caught up on everything – but now it never comes to an end.”

- Advertisement -

Ironically, Nkalipho was inspired to get a new phone after watching someone on TikTok talk about how much she missed her Blackberry Bold.

She said: “ I thought, ‘Oh my god, I’m going to buy it – I have free will’.

“I have adult money, so let’s do it.

- Advertisement -

“I did some digging on the Internet, ordered it, and it came within two weeks.”

Nkalipho, who is originally from South Africa but currently based in the Netherlands, where she works as an au pair, first realised she was “wasting” her time when she took her new job.

Gen Z influencer swaps iPhone for a Blackberry Bold to escape phone addiction - her viral TikTok sparks a wave of nostalgia and a push for simpler digital lives.
Nkalipho Shozi unboxing her Blackberry phone. (Jam Press/@shozi_055)

She said: “I would sometimes find myself scrolling from morning till it’s time for me to get started on work, and I just started feeling so guilty about that.

“I’m in a foreign country for a year with so much to do and see, and I’m just wasting that time scrolling on social media.

“I’m also a content creator, so that too made me even more addicted – but I found that I was still scrolling twice as much as I was creating.

“It’s been so refreshing to [step away from smartphones].

“I found Blackberrys no longer support any apps at all, and that’s when I figured it was perfect because I couldn’t get distracted even if I wanted to.

(Jam Press/@shozi_055)

“I realised I needed to get hobbies to occupy my time, so I bought a word search book and knitting stuff, so I do that when I watch the kids during work hours instead of mindlessly scrolling.

“It’s been freeing.”

Social media users have come out in droves to share their thoughts.

One person said: “I had a BlackBerry Torch and if I could find one rn, I’d put down my iPhone in a heartbeat”.

Another viewer added: “Okay, I’m getting my BlackBerry back!!!”

Social media comment on the post of Gen Z influencer swaps iPhone for a Blackberry Bold to escape phone addiction - her viral TikTok sparks a wave of nostalgia and a push for simpler digital lives.
Social media comment on the post. (Picture: Jam Press)

Zo said, “Praying for a hard Blackberry comeback”.

Another person said: “Oooh, l don’t care what anyone will say, it still looks luxurious”.

Gabbie said: “Back to simpler times lol”.

Social media comment on the post of Gen Z influencer swaps iPhone for a Blackberry Bold to escape phone addiction - her viral TikTok sparks a wave of nostalgia and a push for simpler digital lives.
Social media comment on the post. (Picture: Jam Press)

Although she mostly uses her Blackberry Bold now, Nkalipho admits that she has kept her iPhone to communicate with her family via WhatsApp and enjoy an hour of social media per day.

She’s also found that her brick isn’t “as efficient” as she’d anticipated, as she struggles to get a connection due to being on 3G.

Nkalipho said: “I do think I might return her and look for another ‘dumb’ phone that is 4G compatible.

“Since I’m only looking for my phone to call and text, I need it to do just that seamlessly.

Gen Z influencer swaps iPhone for a Blackberry Bold to escape phone addiction - her viral TikTok sparks a wave of nostalgia and a push for simpler digital lives.
Nkalipho Shozi unboxing her Blackberry phone. (Jam Press/@shozi_055)

“I did not expect it to go so viral, nor did I expect so many people to feel the way I felt as well, so it did kind of overwhelm me when I got such a huge response on the Internet.

“There the people who are calling this a ‘recession indicator’ or using this as a point of reference to share that history is always repeating itself.

“Overall, I think this has sparked a small movement of people realising how great life used to be before we let smartphones consume our entire lives.

“It’s scary how much we depend on these devices.”

READ MORE: Mum warned not to go ‘out in the wind’ after buying trendy extra wide-leg jeans on Vinted

Have a story to tell? Hello@whatsthejam.com
TAGGED: bizarre, Influencer, shocking, Video, Viral

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
[mc4wp_form]
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Previous Article One-off aluminium-bodied 1975 Maserati Merak by Swiss coachbuilder Paul Saurer blends rarity, design and performance - now up for auction at just £40,000. One-of-a-kind supercar built from aluminium selling for just £40,000
Next Article Gen Z influencer swaps iPhone for a Blackberry Bold to escape phone addiction - her viral TikTok sparks a wave of nostalgia and a push for simpler digital lives. Brit holidaymaker left stunned by how cheap food is in Spanish supermarket
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

235.3k Followers Like
69.1k Followers Follow
11.6k Followers Pin
56.4k Followers Follow
136k Subscribers Subscribe
4.4k Followers Follow
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Latest News

YouTuber Niko Omilana has laughed off being left out on Celebrity Traitors, turning his awkward castle experience into a comedy skit after being the second contestant banished.
‘Lonely’ Celebrity Traitors star laughs off being left out by co-stars as fans demand he receive ‘justice’
Celebrity 17 October 2025
Jack Grealish was spotted at McGettigan’s Irish bar in Dubai after being left out of England’s squad, relaxing with fans as the Three Lions secured their World Cup qualification.
Jack Grealish spotted in Irish bar in Dubai after England secure World Cup spot
Sport 17 October 2025
A couple who spent two years travelling Australia in a 1966 double-decker bus have listed their luxury mobile home for £62,000 after transforming it into a vintage masterpiece.
Scottish couple selling unique double-decker bus home after two years of travel
World News 17 October 2025
Influencer James Patrick Ellingworth nearly vomited after eating the world’s stinkiest tofu, calling it the “worst thing ever,” even worse than the infamous Surströmming fish.
Influencer nearly gags on camera trying TOFU that is ‘worst thing’ that’s ‘ever graced’ his mouth
Super Viral 17 October 2025

You Might also Like

YouTuber Niko Omilana has laughed off being left out on Celebrity Traitors, turning his awkward castle experience into a comedy skit after being the second contestant banished.
Celebrity

‘Lonely’ Celebrity Traitors star laughs off being left out by co-stars as fans demand he receive ‘justice’

17 October 2025
A couple who spent two years travelling Australia in a 1966 double-decker bus have listed their luxury mobile home for £62,000 after transforming it into a vintage masterpiece.
World News

Scottish couple selling unique double-decker bus home after two years of travel

17 October 2025
Influencer James Patrick Ellingworth nearly vomited after eating the world’s stinkiest tofu, calling it the “worst thing ever,” even worse than the infamous Surströmming fish.
Super Viral

Influencer nearly gags on camera trying TOFU that is ‘worst thing’ that’s ‘ever graced’ his mouth

17 October 2025
Teacher and travel lover Lucy shared a 99p hack using contact lens cases to store liquids, saving hundreds on flights by avoiding travel minis and checked luggage fees.
Life Hacks

Travel-loving teacher shares ‘genius’ 99p travel hack that has saved her hundreds of pounds on flights

17 October 2025
Simon Cowell has offered £1,000 and a business deal to anyone who can find Pizzaland’s lost margarita recipe, hoping to revive his favourite pizza from the defunct chain.
Celebrity

Simon Cowell partners with fan who unearthed Pizzaland recipe

17 October 2025
A ghostly figure believed to be the Grey Lady of Longleat House was caught on camera in Wiltshire’s Wolf Wood, sparking intrigue ahead of the estate’s autumn ghost tours.
Strange and Bizarre

Ghost who haunts ancient home caught on camera

17 October 2025
Ryder Cup legend Justin Rose has hinted at buying his beloved Aldershot Town and wants Luke Donald as manager after Tommy Widdrington’s sudden resignation from the club.
UK News

Ryder Cup hero Justin Rose ‘to buy’ non-league Aldershot Town…and bring in Luke Donald as manager

17 October 2025
Tourists were stunned when firefighters removed a 16ft anaconda hiding under pool steps at a Brazil resort, using tools to free and safely release the massive snake.
World News

Five people have to carry away huge 16ft anaconda at busy tourist spot

17 October 2025
//

What’s The Jam is your one stop website for the latest viral and weird news from around the world.

 
Have a story to tell? Hello@whatsthejam.com

Quick Link

  • Customize Interests
  • Bookmarks
  • Write for Us
  • Newsletter
  • About Us

Top Categories

  • UK News
  • World News
  • Latest Videos
  • Lifestyle
  • Super Viral

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

[mc4wp_form]

What's The JamWhat's The Jam
Follow US
© 2023 What's The Jam. All Rights Reserved.
Go to mobile version
adbanner
AdBlock Detected
Our site is an advertising supported site. Please whitelist to support our site.
Okay, I'll Whitelist
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?