NEED TO KNOW

When Mariah Houghton moved into her New York brownstone, she decided to install a landline — but only her loved ones got the number

What started as a simple boundary soon became a viral TikTok, with viewers resonating with her decision to unplug and “heal her inner child”

Now, her story is inspiring others to rethink how they stay connected — and find peace in slowing down

Mariah Houghton’s phone rarely rings — but when it does, she knows it’s someone she loves. Inside her New York brownstone, a cream-colored landline sits quietly on a wooden side table, its stillness a small act of peace in a world that never stops buzzing.

“I work on my cell phone, so I do social media management for my clients and influencing and stuff like that,” Houghton tells PEOPLE.

“When I moved

See Full Page