Hot Topic Debate: we don't need smartphones

We be need to have something similar to flip phones except have the keyboard be more practical.
It’s also a shame that places increasingly require you to have a smartphone but unlike a computer, it can be unlikely (in common scenarios) that you’ll have access to a smartphone unless you spend your own money to get it. Think 2FA for example.
I’m addicted to my phone but I don’t like the idea of me walking out the house then saying “crap, I’m genuinely screwed” because I don’t have that smartphone (basic things like essential QR codes, reading a menu in some restaurants, 2FA etc require you to have a smartphone). Yeah and you often need data/internet as well.

I agree; flip phones are really practical and they should be modified to do some other stuff and be safe to own but not as versatile as smartphones.

Here's why I think this. People are becoming increasingly detached, paranoid and are experiencing worsened mental health since smartphones are being used. I'm not saying we don't need technology: it's very useful but those who need technology for school or work only need a versatile laptop. It can basically do the exact same things as a smartphone like video call, send emails and more. Is it heavy? Sometimes. Is it expensive? It wouldn't be if we didn't spend so much money on getting good phones which is contributing towards over-consumption. I will admit that I do have a smartphone and I do use it but I don't really think I need it. If more people made the switch to NOKIAs etc, we would spend more time appreciating life, doing stuff in the world (physically) and be more productive as the laptop may make us think of work and then allow us to get work done. How far do you agree? I am completely open to discussion on this and want to hear your thoughts.
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It's not the phone itself that is the issue. It's the availability of communication and the availability of information that our brains just aren't designed to cope with. Phones are in reality a device that lets you access all this stuff and a lot of it just isn't healthy.
I wholly believe that a significant portion of social media is probably having a net negative effect on our mental health.
The main issue is that phones are loaded with software that throws information at us and is designed to monopolise our attention spans and in reality our attention is a very valuable commodity.
I wonder if a month long detox programme where you have to reside on a farm and have no exposure to data wouldn't do people the world of good. I do enjoy going to my local these days. I basically don't drink so I'm alcohol free in reality but I enjoy talking with and socialising with other adults in my local community. You can't get that from a phone, from the internet or from video games as far as I can see.
We have a vast portal to the world now with more links and information accessibility than ever before but talk about extreme loneliness.

i would argue that its not our phone, it is social media
yes things on basic phones such as the app store do facilitate communication such as social media that monopolises our attention but it is not the software inherently on the phone that is the main cause. it may be the primary cause in terms of availability but the secondary cause of the apps i would argue are far greater

For me, I’d just change the keyboard that’s it because having to press on a key several times to get the right letter isn’t practical especially not in an emergency situation.

Were it not for my diabetes and the glucose tracking it helps me with, I would honestly try not having my smartphone for a year and seeing what happens.

I'm inclined to agree. The phone, being a handheld/pocket sized computer allows access to all these things.
If you have to carry a laptop around your neck at all times to access one's Insta I reckon it would be a lot less popular.

Yes I totally agree! I had a NOKIA phone Y7-Y8 and it was incredibly annoying to type constantly and very slow, I had to try and shorten messages. It meant that I had better conversations irl but also missed out on a fair bit of stuff if people had forgot what they were going to tell me by the next morning.

Today's Hot Topic!
And we'll be back with another one if those tomorrow.

Were it not for my diabetes and the glucose tracking it helps me with, I would honestly try not having my smartphone for a year and seeing what happens.

I wonder who else gets to see your glucose status through that.