This week's food for thought: Why is the iPod making a comeback?

For a while now, videos of "nerds" using their old iPods have been popping up on my YouTube feed. There are quite a few of them. And they aren't just providing technical explanations; they are establishing intellectual, cultural, and emotional connections. I must confess, it has piqued my interest. 

I asked myself this question: Why have so many people started using an old device again? This isn't a situation that can be explained by nostalgia alone. It is a change in direction. Moreover, it is not just about how we listen to music; it is about the very nature of the bond we form with technology.

The Allure of Silence

Everything is too much these days. Too many apps, too much noise, too little attention. Even music can't go beyond being a silent background. The iPod, however, cuts through this flow. No notifications. No instant messaging. Certainly no social media. Just music. Only the sounds you choose, the sounds you load, the sounds waiting for your time.

That is why the return of the iPod feels like a form of resistance. But it is not a shouting protest. It is a quiet departure. It is an attitude that knows who you don't want to talk to.

The Weight of Choosing

Spotify prepares a playlist "for you." But is that list really yours? Or is it the product of a recommendation engine designed for profit maximization?

On an iPod, every track is there because of your decision. You searched, you found, you loaded it. Perhaps by ripping an old CD, perhaps through a friend's recommendation. This effort increases the value you place on the music. Instead of surrendering to ready-made content, you take responsibility for your choices. This is very precious.

The Renewed Value of Physical Contact

Most devices today are irreparable. When they break, you have to buy a new one. Yet, an old iPod can be opened, batteries can be replaced, and its memory can be expanded. Moreover, this is not just a technical detail.

Forming a physical bond with a device is something we have almost lost in the digital age. The concept known as the "IKEA effect" applies here as well. You become more attached to something you have put your own effort into.

Witness to the Past, Weakness of the Present

I am 52, but this is not a "good old days" article. But let's admit it, some structures of the past were more solid than today's. They were slower. They were more personal.

The internet was more sincere. You didn't think about SEO to share content. Music playlists were made by people, not algorithms. The iPod reminds us that this human touch is still possible.

THE SILENT CONNECTION AMONG MEGA TRENDS

There are some major shifts I have been highlighting on LinkedIn for a while now. The return of the iPod is a small but very meaningful reflection of these fractures.

1. Social media is dying at a rapid pace. Users now want quieter, more personal spaces. 2. SaaS (Software as a Service) has many enemies. It is coming to an end. While these types of services may seem logical in terms of entry costs, they eventually come to an end due to reasons like dependency, the service failing to improve itself, or paying for things you don't use. 3. Physical buttons are returning instead of fully touch-screen interfaces. The difference between clicking and touching is being felt again. This comeback, which started in the automotive sector, is reflecting everywhere. It seems devices in the style of BlackBerry will also become a part of our lives again. 4. Artificial intelligence is no longer a "hype"; it is the fundamental layer of the future. But there are still those who see it as just ordinary software. They are in big trouble.

The iPod as a Change in Direction

This is not about a device becoming fashionable again. This is a slow but clear decision by those who question the default. It is quiet, humble, but solid. The value of choosing, focusing, repairing, and remembering is being re-established.

Using an iPod is not just about listening to music. It is about leaving some things behind. Perhaps it is about arriving at a more correct place. At a moment when everyone else is running in another direction, it is choosing to stand in a corner and listen to your own voice.

Make a note of this idea somewhere. One day, you will thank me.