A counter-signal is building inside consumer tech. Products and features are now designed to make engaging with devices harder. This is happening as screen fatigue becomes a mainstream complaint rather than a niche one.
FTLO Travel encourages phone-free meals on its organized tours, asking travelers to put their screens away during group dining. The company frames the practice as an invitation to foster genuine conversation, deepen connections between travelers, and build a stronger sense of community around the table.
Firefox has released a multi-account container extension that separates personal and work profiles inside a single browser window using color-coded tabs. Rather than requiring separate browsers or logins, the tool builds visible friction directly into the interface so switching contexts becomes a deliberate act.
Autonomous, based in North America, sells a $9 physical NFC key that locks distracting apps on a phone. Reopening a locked app requires tapping the key against the device again, converting a one-tap unlock into a deliberate physical ritual.
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None of these organizations are rejecting technology. FTLO Travel, Firefox and Autonomous limit selected functions to give consumers more control over when and how they use technology.