Generation Z is breathing new life into the iPod. Young people are now searching eBay and Facebook Marketplace for the very devices their parents carried about a decade ago.
The numbers prove it. Google Trends data shows search interest for the original iPod and iPod Nano has skyrocketed over the past year, despite Apple discontinuing the product line in 2022. Between January and October 2025, eBay saw a 25% increase in searches for the iPod Classic and a 20% increase in searches for the iPod Nano compared to the same period in 2024. Internal eBay numbers shared with Axios speak for themselves.
For a generation that grew up with endless streaming and constant notifications, the reason is simple. They want out.
Young shoppers want a break from the hustle and bustle
iPods allow you to take it with you on walks when your phone gets too much, especially when you just want to listen to music without having to deal with the 20 notifications that come with a smartphone.
Cal Newport, a computer science professor who wrote “Digital Minimalism,” sees a clear pattern. Old technology like the iPod does one thing, he explains. A smartphone bundles music, news, social feeds, and messaging into one device, making it nearly impossible to keep your usage under control. The iPod simply plays the songs you put on it.
The attraction of slower times and physical limits
For young people, the iPod also has real emotional significance. Some who received used players for Christmas say the appeal goes deeper than just music. Generation Z and young adults are faced with so much uncertainty that it makes sense to hold on to objects from more hopeful times. The iPod represents this kind of convenience.
Others started using classics over the holidays after searching for them online. The experience feels almost healing. Playing music for the sole purpose of listening, without ads, apps or distractions, gives the brain a new feeling.
The trend even has a name: friction maxxing. The idea is that younger people prefer hands-on experience over algorithmic simplicity. Loading individual songs onto an iPod instead of letting Spotify provide a playlist brings meaning back to listening. The culture is shifting away from complete, seamless convenience.
Streaming is safe, but the old ways are finding new fans
None of this means streaming is dying. On-demand audio streaming in the U.S. reached 1.4 trillion songs in 2025, up from 1.3 trillion the year before, according to Luminate, an industry data company. The iPod crowd is still a niche alongside the Spotify crowd.
But the demand for dedicated music players is real. As the New York Times recently reported, students are even using iPods to get around school phone bans. The devices offer a legal way to listen to music without having to use a smartphone.
The end result is simple. What goes around comes back, click wheel and all. For young people burned out by constant connectivity, an old iPod from Facebook Marketplace might be the best digital detox you can buy right now.
