Is a dumbphone the smart choice?
Can you imagine going back to the mobile phone you used a decade ago? Now, go back even further to that first phone that allowed you to call and message and perhaps had a calendar, calculator and a game. It is unthinkable, but low and behold, there is a trend to go back to what we would now consider to be a dumbphone…
For most of us it is almost impossible to even consider being without your smartphone and not having access to the news, your detailed diary and apps such as banking, weather, fitness, shopping and photo editing. How will you remember any birthday without social media or stay up to date with the school programme without the school’s messaging system?! Not being able to answer emails on your phone? Now that must surely be a deal breaker. Who can wait until they are behind a desk?
Who are these people who opt for dumbphones? Perhaps we understand that older people and those who can’t afford an expensive smartphone, might still be operating on a more basic model, but who choose dumb over smart? According to Zoe Wood writing for The Guardian , Gen Zers and millennials are switching to brick phones. For those who are a little disillusioned by the work ethic of younger generations, this might feel like an excuse to not to be available, but perhaps it is our own expectations of always being “on it” that is the real problem.
Why would anyone who have been spoiled by the convenience of the smart phone, opt to go without it? Perhaps because convenience has a hidden negative element. Always having access creates expectations of always being available and leaves you with no excuse when it comes to productivity. You only need internet and you can answer your emails, write your blog, stay up to date with friends and family, do your grocery and gift shopping, count your steps, schedule appointments – basically arrange your whole life while waiting in the roadworks on the R45. And this is why, even when convenient and productive, the smartphone can make us anxious.
We might feel like a failure when we are not?constantly busy or don’t stay up to date. While we think we are using the phones to be more efficient, phone use to the degree we have it today, can actually lead to feelings of anxiety and stress. And this is why going back to a dumbphone seems like a good idea for some. It is about allowing yourself the time to disconnect, to switch off after work hours, to engage in real conversations or just take the time to be still rather than scrolling. Experts suggest that excessive use of our smart phones might also affect our social and emotional regulation skills, disrupt our sleep, and turn us into lazy thinkers. A recent Harvard University study even revealed that social networking triggers the same part of the brain that is activated by addictive substances. Such an addiction and fear of missing out, make it difficult to disconnect and we find ourselves in a vicious circle.?
Mental wellness is therefore the main reason for the Nokia 3210’s return to popularity. I do find it a little absurd to go without a smartphone, but it is quite a wake up call to see how these clever devices have changed my own perceptions and expectations. To be able to give your body and mind time to recover and reset, you have to switch off from time to time and that doesn’t only mean getting away from the office or going on an annual holiday anymore, it also means switching off your smartphone.
I won’t be able to trade in my smartphone, but I can be a little more mindful about my expectations – both for myself and of others. As always, trends are social commentary and people choosing a dumbphone over a smart one in today’s world makes for some serious food for thought.
领英推荐
Read more:?