Growing Trend: Adults and Teens Embrace 'Dumbphones' to Reduce Screen Time
In the depths of most smartphone settings lies a feature that reveals your daily screen time. Often, this discovery is unsettling, highlighting how a once-useful tool has morphed into an obsession.
“Social media thrives on FOMO (fear of missing out), which made it hard for me to detach,” shared 16-year-old Luke Martin from Canada in an interview with the BBC. “Once I got Instagram, it was a quick decline.”
Luke’s experience is not unique. Research from Harvard University shows that using social networks activates the same brain regions as addictive substances, raising concerns about phone use among young people. In the UK, Ofcom’s research indicates that about a quarter of children aged five to seven own a smartphone. Studies have linked social media use to adverse effects on mental health, especially in children.
Some campaigners advocate for age restrictions on smartphone use. However, others, like Luke, are opting for simpler devices, often referred to as “dumbphones.” These phones offer basic functionalities such as texting, calling, and maps.
“My friends spend around four to five hours on their phones daily, which was similar to my usage before switching,” Luke noted. “Now, I only use mine for about 20 minutes a day, which is great because I only do what I need to.”
Parents are also turning to dumbphones to be more present with their families. Lizzy Broughton, a mother of a five-year-old, recently switched to an old-fashioned Nokia flip phone. “It helped me reset my habits, allowing for more quality time with my son,” she explained. When it’s time for her son to get a phone, she plans to choose a similarly simple model. “Handing over a smartphone feels like giving them the whole world to navigate,” she added.
In North America, sales of dumbphones are rising. Daisy Krigbaum and Will Stults, owners of Dumbwireless in Los Angeles, report many parents seeking low-tech phones for their children. “Parents want a first phone for their kids that doesn’t lead them into the vast internet,” said Stults.
However, ditching smartphones is challenging. Some schools require certain apps, and it’s tough to resist when other kids have high-end phones. Broughton believes a collective effort from parents is needed. “We need a community of parents to do things differently,” she said.
One solution is the “unpluq” device, which wirelessly blocks specific apps like social media when tapped against a phone, allowing parents to control and monitor smartphone usage.
Several companies are now developing phones designed to minimize mindless scrolling. Chris Kaspar, founder of Techless, created the “Wisephone II,” an intentionally minimalistic device. “It has no icons, just words, two colors, and two fonts,” he described. The phone supports essential third-party tools like Uber but excludes social media.
Kaspar, inspired by his teenage foster daughters, says 25% of their sales are for children, though the phone is marketed to adults. “We wanted a sophisticated, Apple-esque device without the stigma of being a ‘kids’ phone,'” he explained.
With substantial revenue from apps and social media ads, big tech companies lack motivation to change user habits. Meanwhile, Luke plans to stick with his basic device, despite his friends’ amusement. “They find it odd, but it’s made a big difference for me,” he said. “It’s definitely put me in a better place.”
