Tracfone Brings Back Flip Phones for Mental Health Awareness Month

Prepaid wireless brand taps into nostalgia trend, encourages consumers to be mindful of their screen time

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tracfone Wireless, a leading prepaid, no contract mobile service provider and part of the value brand portfolio of Verizon Communications Inc., is bringing back flip phones for Mental Health Awareness Month. Beginning today and running for a limited time only, Tracfone will offer a flip phone and wireless service bundle exclusively at Walmart.com to encourage customers to unplug and reconnect.

Retailing at just $49.88, the bundle deal includes an Orbic Journey V flip phone and a 90-day, 450-minute talk time, basic text, and web phone plan.

According to a McKinsey Health Institute survey¹, Gen Zers and Millennials are more likely than other generations to say social media affects their mental health. These younger generations are prioritizing their mental wellness by reducing screen time, and temporarily putting their smartphones away.

What was once considered a kitschy throwback, flip phones have now become a new path to wellness for those who need a break from the screen and still want the security and connection of a mobile phone. The hashtag #BringBackFlipPhones has been gaining traction – the buzzy phrase has over 46.9 million views on TikTok alone – and the “old-school” phones are becoming more relevant to Gen Z than ever before.

Tracfone is the best wireless brand to address this trend, with multiple flip phone options, high-quality wireless service and low monthly rates, making connecting in real life more accessible and affordable.

“We know that smartphones are a necessity for nearly everyone, but we’re also excited to see flip phones having another moment in the sun with a whole new generation,” said Cheryl Gresham, Chief Marketing Officer of the Verizon Value brand portfolio. “The most important thing to us is meeting the needs of our customers. In this instance, more people are looking for simplicity to help improve their mental wellness and we’re grateful to help new and existing customers prioritize what matters most.”

About Tracfone Wireless

Tracfone Wireless provides quality no-contract wireless solutions to value-conscious consumers and is available at more than 90,000 retail locations nationwide.

Tracfone is part of the Verizon Value portfolio of prepaid brands, which includes Straight Talk, Total by Verizon, Visible, Simple Mobile, SafeLink, Walmart Family Mobile, and Verizon Prepaid. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) is one of the world’s leading providers of technology, communications, information and entertainment products and services.

For more information on Tracfone, visit tracfone.com.

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¹ McKinsey Health Institute, “Gen Z mental health: The impact of tech and social media,” April 2023