Should we bin the smart phones? What are the pros and cons?

In case you aren't aware, a dumb phone is a non-smartphone...think a Nokia with no touch screen and those infernal buttons.

Here's my question...

Is it a good idea to get a dumb phone? I constantly see facebook reels in which people yammer about not living in the moment and that smartphones have ruined their enjoyment of life. I think it would be interesting to challenge myself to use a dumb phone, especially since I saw a comedian talk about the benefits he experienced. What are your thoughts? I am weighing up the pros and cons. There is also the option of getting a smartphone and just disabling the 'bad' features of course.

Thanks,
Jed.

Reply 1

ELIAS_TA

Original post by Jed4

In case you aren't aware, a dumb phone is a non-smartphone...think a Nokia with no touch screen and those infernal buttons.
Here's my question...
Is it a good idea to get a dumb phone? I constantly see facebook reels in which people yammer about not living in the moment and that smartphones have ruined their enjoyment of life. I think it would be interesting to challenge myself to use a dumb phone, especially since I saw a comedian talk about the benefits he experienced. What are your thoughts? I am weighing up the pros and cons. There is also the option of getting a smartphone and just disabling the 'bad' features of course.
Thanks,
Jed.

Hi
Perhaps the second option is better since it's also like a n exercise of discipline as well.

Reply 2

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by Jed4

I've never understood the "smartphones have ruined their enjoyment of life" argument. Use of a smartphone is not legally mandated. If it's ruining your life, simply stop using it. Or stop using it in the way you were.

I can absolutely understand that social media companies are in the addiction business. They'll do whatever they can, and use whatever tricks are at their disposal, to keep you scrolling and clicking - because they need to gather data on you and to serve-up advertising. However, as soon as you understand that you're being manipulated, that you're simply being used to boost their profits, you can stop.

I have an Instagram account, but have never used it. I have a Twitter account, but have never tweeted (only ever having used it to search for information on breaking news, or to receive updates from organisations who've opted to only keep their customers updates on service issues etc. only via Twitter). I have WhatsApp, but almost exclusively use it for person-to-person contact; I'm a member of a few groups, but have some muted (so I can check for messages when I want to rather than when the app nags me) and have assigned an different alert sound to others (so I know there's a message there, but know it's in an "unimportant" group). I've never had accounts on Facebook, SnapChat, TikTok or YouTube - and don't feel that I've "missed out" as a result.

However, by having a smartphone I have full access to the internet and so can (and do) use it extensively. It's not smartphones that are the problem, it's social media. In fact, more specifically than that, it's social media companies and the manipulative tactics they employ to keep you hooked.

Keep the smartphone. Ditch the social media.