What if we let phones be phones?
Radical concept but hear me out
Serious question.
What if we returned phones to their original purpose – simple 1:1 communication?
What if we Ignored the massive computing power and global reach of the device in our hand?
GenZ is leading the way
The teenagers in the Luddite Club in New York City actively reject modern technology – like Smartphones – fearing they are damaging to society. From an article in The Conversation:
Formed by a group of tech-disillusioned Gen-Zers, the club advocates the use of flip phones, crafting, hanging out in parks and reading hardcover or paperback books. Screens are an anathema to the group, which sees them as a drain on mental health.
While this may sound like a quaint teen-age protest to older adults, a couple Google searches indicates this may be the tip of an interesting cultural shift.
Or merely a trend popularized by TikTok and YouTube influencers.
Flip phones are the unplugged solution
Flip phones are having a renaissance moment, powered by GenZ consumers tired of always-connected lives and social media rabbit holes.
Sales were up in 2022 as manufacturers catered to a market that wants a basic or “dumb” phone to reduce screen time. You can get a flip phone for as little as $30 and as much as a SmartPhone with all the bells and whistles.
But that isn’t the point, right?
Suddenly our lives can get simpler
I covered tech companies in metro Detroit in the late 90s-early 2000s, which meant I learned a lot of interesting stuff.
I remember automotive tech engineers telling me that in the not too far distant future our phone numbers would be more important than our Social Security numbers for accessing personal data.
I’m rethinking how I use my devices. How would it work if each device had a designated function and purpose, rather than every device doing everything?
The desktop was for work, writing, research, email and social media
The tablet was for consuming content – videos, ebooks, courses – and communities
The phone was for calls, texts and GPS directions
Radical idea: Devices that support how we live
A function-based setup rather than a synchronous-connection setup would make it much easier to set time limits on device usage by their specific function.
I might lose the convenience of taking pictures with my cell phone, but I’ve been wanting to get back to my Canon DSLR anyway, and that would get me outside more with my camera.
This unplugging thing just might be easier than we thought.
So, go wander outside!
3 Resources for You
Flip phones may be making a comeback as some try to limit screen time – A short overview.
Flip phones are making a comeback – here’s why – Tom’s Guide outlines the trend and products well.
Are foldable smartphones the future? Flip phones are coming back in a big way – The Millennial Source seems to have the scoop.
Being able to smell the fresh air and disconnect from the news and your phone—there’s nothing like it. Jason Ward
