Life without a Smartphone

[@ChrisTitusTech]

Website Article: christitus.com/switching-to-dumbphone/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Would you ever give up the smart phone that we are all addicted to?

[@TinS0lder]

MFA? What do I do yo?

[@pickleshanks]

No, but I commend your progress.

[@rickgrimes931]

Sure as long as it had a data link at 5G and didn't cost an arm and a leg for what you get. A Snapdragon 210? And no charger? Are you serious?

[@lovemadeinjapan]

Still without in 2024?

[@a64738]

Her in Norway it is becoming impossible to live here without a smart phone. There is now several public services that demand you have smart phone like to send in your tax, pay for parking and to get out parcels sent in the mail. And the people making these systems have not considered at all that there exist people without smart phones so there is no alternative ways...+

[@JesseeSage]

I agree. Before the iPhone came out in 07, everyone was much less distracted. The Blackberry wasn't nearly as fun, and the flip phone was just there. The irony, today people use the Headspace app to meditate using the phone.

[@Caldinovin]

I remember even back then people talking about a phone addiction, this was primarly about people being obssessed with texting eachother rather than talking to eachother IRL. Who else remembers this?

[@TheLebaneseSpideyFan21]

​@@Caldinovin same. But this was very harmless compared to now. We can thank our beloved progressives for that...

[@nevadacario2000]

​@@TheLebaneseSpideyFan21yeah

[@synchronicity1470]

@@TheLebaneseSpideyFan21 i don't understand what that means? progressives brought about cell-phone addiction?

[@worminstool]

Despite being a phoneless person for many years (just using google voice on my laptop), still manage to be pathetically non-productive.

[@rafaymohammed3441]

hahahah

[@gosth81]

Nice

[@worminstool]

The antiphony on this thread is music to my ears.

[@markh.6687]

I reach new heights of non-productivity thanks to the Internet.

[@worminstool]

Anti-phone-y? Too subtle?

[@earlofsarlac]

Thanks Chris for highlighting this. I went on another route by removing all the social media apps and have a very basic setup for a smart phone. It is used mainly for making calls - Android Auto for navigation in my car. Screentime is roughly 5 - 6 minutes a day at best. I do all my online /internet new feeds on another device that way I do not need to touch my phone much. Productivity and focus and increased tenfold

[@gordonwelling1877]

I've never owned a smartphone. I've used a flip-phone since subscribing to our cell service. No anxiety for me and I don't take it to the bathroom either -- ha ha.

[@tylerdean980]

This man is intimately familiar with his shampoo's ingredients

[@YeahImGabor]

​@@tylerdean980 Okay this was the best comment i ever seen😭😭

[@RJAPETAGON]

Of course I'm seeing this comment where? 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@synchronicity1470]

I only bought a flip phone for traveling, to be available to family & son in case of emergency and for a reach-out to Geico, a cab or police should an accident or breakdown occur. That was in 1999. I had that same red SGH-t219 Samsung flip phone til around 2021 when T-Mobile killed my connection w/ migration to 5G. My phone stopped working. T-Mobile reneged on their promise of keeping me "grandfathered in" to their pay-as-you go plan. I used it so little I could Pre-pay $25 and use it for 6 months with minutes remaining. I made 3 short texts with it: the first one comprised of 14 words, took a frustrating & painful 20 minutes to compose! 🤣🤣😂😂 Now, I need another cheap phone & plan just in case. I knew what smartphones would do to society. It is worse than imagined. Granted a miraculous connection to the world & knowledge but toxic for many reasons.

[@florianwurm4220]

"The reason why you have decision fatigue is because the smartphone does everything, and I do mean everything, it will do anything and everything you want to fill in every single bored second of your day" -Chris Titus I will print this on a poster! So on spot! Thank you man

[@JoseBriones]

Glad to hear you liked the experience! The MP02 is an excellent device and it should serve you for a long time. Using a dumbphone changes lives!

[@markdlt2989]

The price is $359 for this phone on Amazon? Wow!

[@DR_1_1]

@@markdlt2989 I never paid that much for my smartphones...

[@AJBtheSuede]

I haven't touched FB or Twitter for over four years now, and my life got so much better again... I do have a new-ish Android to have android car maps and electronic ID (practically a must in Sweden in the cash-free society) available. Thank you for bringing a positive alternative to semi-automated stimulus addiction up in a way that doesn't scare people away. This needs to be done more, and highlighted more - especially to people that really ARE feeling serious fatigue or even depression without even knowing why.

[@whatwhat9485]

i havent used fb in years. now a days when someone says something about fb, im like, whaa, its still around, lolz

[@SB-qm5wg]

electric ID in a cashless system. no thanks

[@Gurj101]

those are still around? i have an insta which I hardly check cuz why would I....

[@krimsonsun10]

I only use KZbin When it comes to social media. Audible, uber signal Duolingo I need to find desktop alternatives for, then I can escape smart phone hell. K.I.S.S is Bliss

[@Sasha-zw9ss]

What is the alternative in Sweden for those who don't want or cannot carry a smartphone every day? Maybe a card?

[@DanielNerd]

I think its a great move for mental health and productivity. I will probably do the same in the future or something close to that, I don't really use like 99% of the features in my phone, I can just bring an old ipod, a notepad and physical copies of books and mangas with me in my backpack and I'll have basically all the features that I need from my phone except texting and calling(which I can do with dumb phone) and social media(which i want to minimise).

[@AustinTheTerrible]

"Come on, Marty! We are traveling back to 2007, before this fruit and robot based hell took over!"

[@albertmojicajr.-so6uc]

"Marty was an honest man" in Brandy/Looking Glass. Pun intended. metaltomotown

[@FHBStudio]

Never had one, never will have one. People are so envious every time I mention it, how I can just live without one. They won't even argue with me and instead just do some inner self-reflecting. I've _never_ had anyone try and convince me otherwise. I think this is really telling of the times.

[@ghost-user559]

I mean I’m not sure it’s better without one than just having it for when you need it. Unless you have a problem with self discipline and are easily distracted. Privacy is definitely better without one if you are a person who values that, but even dumb phones are tracked constantly. I just use my phone in the same way people use a computer, and as a result my computer is in way better condition than people I have seen who wear out one device by using it all the time. It really depends on the person I guess. But ultimately a smartphone gives you an advantage as long as you have self control. 2 Factor Authentication, I can check stocks or crypto or news anytime, and right now that’s how I watched this video. You can’t get an Uber or Lyft without one, and it doubles as a camera, which in an emergency like a car accident or breakdown could be essential for record keeping. And of course gps if you find yourself traveling. I don’t see the advantages of not having one for most people. Although I do see the advantages of having one and not being attached to it.

[@cannabislife1688]

@@ghost-user559I don’t know how to use computers, I’m tech illiterate that’s why I love my IPhone so much it’s so easy for me to use

[@a64738]

Here in Norway it is becoming impossible to live here without a smart phone... Now you must have it to log on public service like to pay your tax, pay for parking, and to receive packages in the mail. And the people making these systems did not even think there exist people without a smart phone so they made NO alternative ways to get any of this done in any alternative way...

[@Dec4AllTimeAlways]

You know which generation seems more addicted to the Internet? Boomers. My parents are constantly on it especially my mom. Many women in their 60s and 70s are constantly online. Nothing else to do. My mom did not get a smartphone until 2011. Didn't even know how to email over 10 years ago and she worked in real estate offices for years. She was really one of the last people I know who got into Internet usage and smartphones. Now she's constantly on KZbin and Facebook just like her peers. It's the Millennials who are trying to get off the Internet more. They're the ones buying dumb phones. But their parents? Constantly online. Acting like Karens on Twitter. Trying to cancel everybody.

[@RolandKoller90]

I see a lot of this! A LOT of

[@folksurvival]

The Boomer television addiction transferred over to the internet.

[@jnagarya519]

I see the Millennials are big on cancelling others for allegedly cancelling others. I recall seeing the first comments on line, just before the pandemic, that "Boomers should be offed." Those comments weren't and aren't from "Boomers". And they are nasty cancellations. So wake up, become enlightened, "woke," as the Founders required: stop cancelling others based on your own limiting bigotries.

[@jnagarya519]

@@folksurvival No addiction here. But I see a lot of ageist "social worker"-type Millennials/other young people setting "Boomers" up for "computer education" classes; and "creating" "social opportunities" into which they shuffle "the elderly," where they "supervise" them engaged in the various forms of basketweaving they believe is somehow entertaining or whatever for the elderly. Ageism is not only bigotry it is also prohibited as a form of discrimination. Alas, they won't earn the denigration it is until it happens to them. And then the young will still not listen. Typically, they don't realize that there was history before they were born: it was us "Boomers" who, for better and worse, invented the personal computer and social media, and initiated the tech "revolution". I sued to build computers from scratch. When I was young there were television commercials depicting two parents and two children at dinner and talking to each other. Today each member of the same "family" is on a "device" communicating with some who-knows-what-and-where fantasy. Smartphones are isolating -- get on an elevator with one or two others, their noses superglued to their 'phones, and try to strike up a conversation -- they freak out and practically jump down your throat. I don't have a smartphone, but it appears my landline phone connect with an ex-sister-in-law's cell/smartphone, so I need a means to contact her so am looking at getting one.

[@rhysiescups]

Gen Z too. I didn't get a smartphone until around 2012 and I wish I never had, I lost my teenage to young adult years stuck inside the house mindlessly consuming content. Once my iPhone 14 is paid off I'll never go back to a smartphone

[@Lcuzz123]

Thank you for your insight I’m on day two of dumb phone still working out the kinks. My average per day was 6 1/2 hours a day worst was 12 this has been very encouraging to me to go down this route.

[@oliverpolden]

I’m loving how much content there is about dumb phones, hours and hours, I’m learning so much about them. A valuable use of my time.

[@albisteffen5085]

Haha, pretty ironic isn't it? Spending hours and hours online just to find out how to reduce online time 😂

[@nommindymple6241]

I don't understand. A while ago, you did a video about how you were stopping using GrapheneOS because it was too inconvenient (you needed your Google stuff). Yet, here you are clear out the other end using a dumb phone.

[@DimaIns]

As long as it gives more clicks...

[@sgky2k]

I've seen a lot of posts like this and a few weeks or a month later they'll make another post saying why they're going back.

[@donday6753]

I think that's the decision fatigue he's been talking about

[@ethanrivers4057]

I haven’t watched the video but my guess is these people are letting their phones control their lives. I can’t say I’m 100% in control of my smartphone, but I have my phone on do not disturb about 75% of the time, and if it gets too distracting, I’ll put it in sleep mode or game mode and be done with it. You don’t NEED to use all the “features” on your phone. De clutter it every once in a while, find apps that help you disconnect. This dumb phone revolution is just the lazy way of people not wanting to admit they have a problem with control and forcibly cutting off the problem in my opinion. Ofc maybe I’m wrong and I’m just defending the smartphone, but the convenience that a smart phone brings is being overshadowed by people’s obsession with social media.

[@markh.6687]

@@ethanrivers4057 I almost put my cellphone on "throw the damn thing out the window and run it over with my car" one day. Kept getting spam/scam calls and texts, finally took it off my belt and left it in my bedroom and went about my day.

[@ThatsNotFunnyThatsSick]

I'm 55 years old and even sold phones and service with Cellular One in the early 90s. I have never owned anything but a landline phone, and 75% of those calls get blocked. Being unimportant is very relaxing.

[@shabadabadoo4326]

Ive been threatening to do this for years, especially when I used to work at a desk. But now I'm on the road 3 weeks out of a month. While the phone gets ignored while driving, when I'm stopped its a major link to home. Pictures, videos, and facetime with wife and daughter are a soul saver.

[@recall2880]

Can’t you just use a normal phone and call them and have a real conversation

[@Danielwright_346]

@@recall2880pictures video touch his heart 😢his just want to see his family ❤

[@ScorpionCar]

Great video! Brings back the good ole days where technology was simple and a lot of people didn't really care too much about it. For kids, dumb phones are great, they will learn to remember phones numbers and learn what's it like to not have everything at your finger tips so soon. Overall smartphones are terrible. There is no privacy with them especially with constant location tracking like taking photos for example. Just use a normal camera and put the photos on a big hard drive. In fact use your computer more than your phone like using desktop apps more then mobile apps. Also delete your Facebook Accounts if your not planning on setting up business advertising.

[@markh.6687]

Give the little brats a Rolodex and a rotary-dial phone.

[@ScorpionCar]

@@markh.6687 Yes or no technology for them at all.

[@mikhaillionel6352]

Literally done this 3 times, within the last 3 years. Last month I got one because I started working again and needed one (really the only reason I end up having to get one). Now I've fallen back into old habits spending more than 6 hours a day on the phone.

[@a64738]

Her in Norway it is becoming impossible to live here without a smart phone. There is now several public instances that demand you have smart phone like to send in your tax, pay for parking and to get out parcels sent in the mail. And the people making these systems have not considered at all that there exist people without smart phones so there is no alternative ways...

[@NoName-jq7tj]

This human behavioural pattern was always there pre-mobile phones. When you had the answer machine the first thing most people did was check their messages when arriving back home. This behavioural patterns are bred by anxiety & not confidence. In order to live a confident life be on top of things. Be in control of your own life.

[@Gre3k]

Lol, i needed this video man, i too started a new journey with Social media Detox, and it was really REALLY! a big game changer, i too am now way more productive and my mental health is much better as compared to what it was before the detox, i have uninstalled all the social media apps, disabled yt app as well, i only have messenger apps installed for now and i don't keep the internet active 24/7 now, i only turn on mobile data or wifi to see if i have an pending messages 3-4 times a day, before i used to spend hours rolling through yt shorts and killing my time, it also helps with your focus and attention span, i took a hobby of reading books, the first day i started reading a book (that was my 3 day of social media detox) i could barely read 10 pages, but after 17 days i can read for hours without even realizing that i am that much zoned into it. People should try to get rid of these addicted things from their lives, especially for students, your ability to focus and have less fatigue and less mental anxiety is what is gonna help students get through their education, so it is necessary that they don't get so addicted to these things in the beginning.

[@JasonsLabVideos]

The best video ever, we all need to do this. Less smart phones, less tracking..

[@Magnulus76]

I have an old flip phone, a tablet, and a Garmin watch (which can sync to my PC). Smart phones are a plague and attention vampires. Plus they are really more of an albatross if you live an active lifestyle. If you go to a gym or out for a brisk walk or jog, where do you put the thing so it's not dragging your shorts down?

[@guywithakeyboard]

Wow, this video just resonates with me. I also left using smartphone and gave it to my sister. And for using internet, I bought a 4G Wireless dongle. My mom, and other family members also, kind of challenged me that I won't be able to do this, maybe because they saw how avid user I was of smartphone. What they didn't know was what clicked me to do this, and I'm not doing this for showoff or any luddite thinking(that companies are evil, they are controlling etc). I also felt the same level of euphoria, just after the week after erasing my phone and finding workarounds for the things like mobile hotspot. I regret that I didn't write my experiences and all the arguments going around in my head in that week. And I also, doubt that I'm going back, and currently I'm also finding some things challenging like navigation, but slowly I'll surely find workarounds.

[@user-tz5uq2bt1s]

I use my smartphone to listen to downloaded podcasts on my commute (no radio or cell signal where I live), and I use it to listen to music/podcasts while I workout. I use it for banking, paying bills, email, phone calls, texting, etc. It's also nice to have when I'm stuck waiting somewhere for a while with nothing to do. It's really really useful. I would need a large variety of different things in order to replace that one tool.

[@seanjohnson9401]

Being bored is good

[@user-tz5uq2bt1s]

@@seanjohnson9401 I hear you, but it's just so freaking useful. Here are more examples: When I'm overseas, just the simple translation app lets me translate signs in real time, it helps me communicate with people when I need something, it helps me navigate and find fun and interesting places to go. It allows a much more impulsive travel experience, rather than having to study the area and plan everything beforehand.

[@Gnarrkhaz]

Just having thrown my phone against the wall has brought me here. I fucking despise this smartphone trash. My first smartphone i got in 2017 because of work. Until then i've never had the urge to get one. And i miss those days.

[@jtofexstinction7332]

He went back

[@ernestbeggle1981]

I'm wondering whether a KaiOS flip phone would work as well for this purpose.

[@klaveciniste]

Man, I've been doing this for a year and I'm loving it.... My fiancé and I are moving to a new city soon and I got kinda scared because of the lack of a GPS on my phone and I was pondering the idea of buying an iphone because of the need for one but honestly I'm just gonna try to explore and get to know the city without one. I felt so dirty when I almost bought one just because of that, i'm not gonna be pushed into the purchase just because of that one thing. Life's so much better without one!

[@Olivia-hk4jt]

I hope the move went well! I am considering getting a dumb phone and a car gps to supplement the lack of google maps.

[@tomtrombley2402]

Thoughtful points to consider! Always good to catch you on KZbin!

[@lastinline1958]

Welcome to the club. I went old school several years ago, and never looked back.

[@micahbergen3791]

Watching this on my tablet. What I did to get the "dumb" phone experience was use ADB to uninstall KZbin, Chrome, etc... I don't have Facebook or Twitter so didn't need them anyway. After I got everything I wanted off and had my phone setup with maps and such still working, I removed Play Store also. So now I've got a device that works for me.

[@IronRex]

Good for you and point taken on decision fatigue. Respect! However I think efficacy of the dumb phone method will vary greatly from person to person. For example I never really used social media and when on a toilet I am too focused on my mission there to even think about being bored. Considering that I almost never use voice calling my version of this challenge would be "no phone" not "dumb phone". And... nothing would really change. I would be more tied to my desks (which can be bad) but I will still be doing the same things the same amount of time each day. I'd just be using bigger screens to do them.

[@wishyouwerehere360]

Phone usage has been a huge distraction for me and seeing other people on their phones more than talking to the person next to them makes me wonder what would happen if everyone got off their phones. Definitely going to only use apps just for business. Wish me luck 🍀

[@emberkeeper1737]

Props🍀😅

[@Vegetarian99]

I saw one person banging a parked bike on the road while he was fully bent looking in his smartphone. If I just plainly look around..i do not c one person without a phone. Not one. I do not carry my phone everywhere I go. Bt am addicted to Internet after coming back coz i am alone ..what to do ? Whom to talk to? Others r just inside their phone😂 as if phone is holding the person nt other way

[@thenormalone6753]

Thank you for that video. Your take on the topic and the things Cal Newport wrote plus a little bit of self reflection, I was able to use my phone just for taking pictures, Texting&Calling, Navigation and listening to Music and Podcast. It rly makes my phone less stressful

[@fruitoverflow]

This makes me realize how addicted people are to their phones nowadays, and how lucky I am not to be one of those people. I am certainly staying with my smartphone thought, I see it as a tool rather as an everyday thing, it lets be browse the internet if I don't have access to a computer, serves calls and messaging, and has alarms. It can ocassionally be useful for some photos and other stuff, and if I think about it; yes it does everything, the problem I think lies in people getting absorbed by it (because of social media mostly) and making it part of their life instead of using it as a tool, which is what they should use it for, it's certainly not pleasant to meet with someone and then that someone spends more time on the phone than with you..

[@itzamedave6242]

Well I only use my smart phone to watch your videos 😂

[@camerontgore]

Same lol

[@itzamedave6242]

@@Jo3W3st 🤣

[@ghost-user559]

Same

[@ladybird491]

But that is a problem.

[@klulesone1414]

Use a laptop 💻

[@MegaManNeo]

More power to you, Chris. I'd consider doing the same if I wouldn't demand on Signal for communication and if there were more mobile phones (that's what I like to call dumbphones) that could actually act as 4G modem via USB. My old Sony Ericsson Cedar J108i was amazing in that regard and it performed great as mp3 player as well! Too bad 3G/UMTS is no more in Germany, so it's useless now.

[@lejoshmont2093]

You can consider using a fork of signal called session doesn't require a phone or phone number.

[@MegaManNeo]

@@lejoshmont2093 Is it compatible with regular Signal however?

[@twachl8039]

@@MegaManNeo if you're carrying a laptop arround, you could just use the desktop app for signal

[@peterwassmuth4014]

Totally agree with you! I stopped watching TV and read Newspaper 10 years ago. Left FB 3 years ago, the only thing I use my (S Xcover 4) is take phone calls, make phone calls, receive messages, send messages, bank app. Thats all. It Changes Your Lifestyle to the better 100%.

[@chriswilson9251]

I basically turn off all data, have OSM for offline maps, Coolreader to read books{with every book from several authors}, Mame for gaming, a few roms, some music, so all the functions, gaming, reading without dlc and notifications... I stopped trying to talk to people who are looking at their phones, obviously their phones are more important than me... I just walk away.

[@DanielTubul]

I'm not sure you understand how important this video is even that you have created it :D You are using your power as a popular creator to pass a massage that most Big tech will never allow or automatically remove from social media because you are risking their power grip on us.

[@DanielTubul]

call me mad but i do think that by limiting us as humanity there is someone who benefits from "good automatic slaves"

[@zeocamo]

0:29 never going back to a dump phone what ???

[@Ambient-spirits]

I switched back to a dumbphone last year and most of the time I leave it a home. Best decision ever..

[@thenewlaurenstyles]

I want to go to a dumb phone so bad! The 5G from the smart phones are killing me. What are all ones that you recommend?

[@mlb6d9]

I've only had an old school flip phone up until a couple years ago, then I finally got a smartphone - ONLY because my brother in law had an extra line on his plan. So it only costs the price of the phone. I've always acknowledged the cool things you can do with them, but two years later and I still keep in in the glove box, or use it occasionally for 2-step verification, and once in a while a....a.....a phone call! I resist for the same reasons you have abandoned yours - I have just seen too many people going through life staring at their phone.

[@SEAN31680]

I have to use a smartphone for navigation, work and my tickets, but I’ve switched to perceiving it just as a tool, cuz that’s what it is. Disabled all notifications, deleted the thousands of social media apps there are and that’s how my daily screen time is down to „just“ 3h. Yes, 3h is still too much time, but then I’d have to quit my work place haha. Also talking to people on the phone is just so fulfilling instead of composing emails…

[@perfishfan]

Congrats on giving it up!

[@raijinrasetsuii8820]

I will never use a dumbphone because it does not have the useful tools like a calculator, dictionary, maps, unit converters, the camera, & a browser to search for something I need to know about on the spot. KZbin is my only social media platform. Meta Messenger is just there so my relatives who live overseas can contact me at anytime. I can watch KZbin videos or listen to podcasts & music while working, around the house & at the office. so yeah, I control & utilize my smartphone, not the other way around.

[@adjusted-bunny]

Where I live you almost cannot avoid having a smart phone and I am an old guy who grew up with phone booths. I don't use my smart phone for entertainment, at all.

[@im_avg_joe]

Stop calling it a dumb phone. It's just a cell phone, period!

[@shurmurray]

Next level: permanent internet connection (from a workstation and home PC) is also consuming a lot of energy. Most of my most productive pieces of work done without connectivity. Just a machine with pre-installed environment.

[@markh.6687]

In the rush to wi-fi and cloud everything (and sell services, etc.) nobody asked what do you do if the internet is unavailable? No installed apps, no work done.

[@shurmurray]

@@markh.6687 with blind rely on connectivity privacy and security are also thrown out of the window.

[@fenyangryutetsuma9446]

Interesting that someone who works in tech like you uses a dumb phone. I use a dumb phone too, but I don't work in tech, and I use it because the internet is just too addictive, and with a dumbphone I have to deal with the addiction only on my computer.

[@buster5283]

Actually the issues in United States are abysmally worse now because phone carriers like AT&T do not support almost any gaming phones from China and the only gaming phones they support are rog phone 3 and newer with structural issues. The situation is so bad it makes me want to move to Asia just to be able to use a phone I want to use again. I could not even try the dumb phone even if I wanted to because AT&T just runs a massive monopoly in the Southern United States.

[@Ravix0fFourHorn]

my 8 year old smartphone is so slow it might aswell be a dumb phone.

[@AubreyNhyaMoon]

20%- honestly the wrestling with " if I want my endeavor to be successful so I have to share it I have to put it out there" and the "what if I put it out there, what if I say my dreams and goals and people watch me fail, they watch my dreams fall through...how will I recover" I feel like this fear is a real feeling like you're saying but ALSO my wiser self is like..." How much more painful could it be to be rejected for something you actually cared about, To fail and try again when you really care about something..... Then it would be to just live a life caring about nothing and always playing it safe"

[@muhammadhamzaqureshi]

Good thing - i don't use a smartphone i still have access to internet and im a software engineer i still get my work done im not a cave man im still well informed about everything and you dont really need smartphone to live in this world. Companies make us feel we need it like we need food to live.

[@DaveQuail]

With you all the way, Chris. Ditched my S22 a year ago already, and, while it did take quite a bit of adjusting to, I am getting on just fine now.

[@richtaylor6039]

I've felt rather liberated since I decided to move away from Facebook. Now I only look at it maybe once or twice a week for a few mins each time.

[@RepExS]

9:15 use cameras. Put news paper in the bathrooms or magazines. You just need to walk over to the news stands we still have thankfully. Radio phones.

[@100dynen]

It’s something I also wanted to do but here in Denmark authentication to government, banks and more is almost impossible without a smartphone, sadly.

[@abcd1239me]

I have a company phone for work, I turn my personal phone on silent during my working days, Most of the times if I do not see a call on the screen I do not know someone is calling or texting. I have went days during my work days not even looking at my phone. I have moved all of my company related work stuff like email, MFA apps for remote access, server and network access to my work phone. So I am highly thinking about switching back to a simple flip phone and using a prepaid service for voice. I can use my computer for 'chatting', I don't really upload anything to any social media sites, I don't watch youtube or hardly any video streaming service on my phone, screen to small and to many ADs. I do not have a paid tv service as I use an over the air antenna with a tv tuner box that is connected to my network.

[@hopscotchoblivion7564]

Is this a Luke Smith video?

[@RudysRetroIntel]

Great video! I removed all social media from my smartphone which that alone helps out. Only use them on my pc.

[@theprathamdupare]

I will definitely try this, for now I'm using a minimal amoled launcher with greyscale, works pretty good and my smartphone screen time is 30 mins/day. The only problem I have with dumb phone is I need banking apps.

[@theprathamdupare]

@@cdnron75 Indistractable Launcher, try it!

[@theprathamdupare]

@@cdnron75 Yeah, I faced the same issue with weather widget, I don't need it anyways. I don't have issues with the reboot, try changing it from settings.

[@theprathamdupare]

@@cdnron75 I Love Niagara!, you can use it with amoled black wallpaper, Drops icon pack(small icons) and set icon size to minimum. Unfortunately, Drops does not come with a lot of icons, but if you need a few, try it....

[@RegErvin]

Although I still have a smartphone, I cut my usage time to about 10-15 minutes a day for the past 4 years or so. In fact, my phone is on do not disturb ALL of the time and I use Google voice instead of a phone plan and I love it! No more unwanted intrusion on my time or attention.

[@valerytaustsiakou154]

Can I ask will microsoft authenticator work as an app on a small phone if an organisation needs it? Does 2FA work on the simplePhone?

[@tiitulitii]

I haven't got my first smartphone and I am a happy computer professional since 1987 or so. I even don't have a tv and nor do my wife. But, I watch what ever I like, when ever I want, using my iPad. Happy for that decision as well! I am the king of my own time ...

[@ghost-user559]

You have an iPad though? The only fundamental difference between that and an iPhone is that you have a larger screen, which I could see as MORE of a distraction. An iPad is just a very large iPhone. I have both, and you essentially DO have a smartphone. Basically same Os, same Apps give or take. I’m not sure what the difference between the two is? You basically just have a more tempting device than a smartphone. At least with a small screen my iPhone is limited to essentials. My iPad is definitely more of a time waster because of the larger screen and more interesting apps.

[@tiitulitii]

I don't have a phone on my iPad. Why would I. I don't use Facebook or Twitter. Why would I. I watch what I like and my iPad does not kill my creativity. Nor cannot I carry it in my pocket all the time as a phone.

[@ghost-user559]

@@tiitulitii But it’s the same thing? That just means you have self control and you probably wouldn’t even be bothered by a phone. I have both, and they are the same technology just the iPad has a bigger screen. If the iPad doesn’t kill your creativity or distract you, an iPhone probably won’t either. But that just means you are one of the people not distracted by technology. Trust me, if you shrink your iPad down, or had an iPad mini? Well that’s exactly what an iPhone is. I usually just turn my iPhone notifications off and cellular off and then it’s just a tiny iPad screen.

[@peterschmidt9942]

Unfortunately at present I'm not able to give up a smart phone as I need to use certain apps for work. What I do though is setup notifications for twice a day - once in the morning before work and again at about 6pm. That way I'm not distracted by random app's sending messages. And when I get home, it goes on charge and I generally don't touch it again until morning. It's a lovely thought though.

[@OperationDx1]

It comes down to self control. I use my smart phone almost like a dumb phone. But the utility of a smart phone is nice to have.

[@allenqueen]

Yes, one can have the best of both worlds with some big self control. Once the habit sets in, you don't even have to put that much effort.

[@nordicbastard2328]

Holy cow, I was really hoping at least one person mentioned self control for once! In my mind, this video is like saying "I almost knicked myself with a power saw once, so I'll never use one again....I'm cutting wood with dull spoons from now on!". Sheesh.

[@OperationDx1]

@@nordicbastard2328 Yes indeed. So to me he was saying that he has no self control and the only way to fix it was to force himself to use something made in 2005. But because he is no longer burdened with uncontrollable addiction he is now able to be more productive. And by way of using a "Dumb" or "05" phone he is superior to others for taking this bold step. Now that he is back to the simple life he can no longer load up porn hub when he is taking a dump at work. Congrats Bro!

[@greywolf2604]

Camera and personal digital assistant features are my #1 reason for owning a smartphone. Before the smartphone I had several PDAs and several really nice cameras. I didn't even carry a phone till 2001.

[@tejasr2997]

What do you do for living?

[@xlerb_again_to_music7908]

People who think... experience Smartphones as disruptive when the phone keeps interrupting your mental flow. You cannot focus when you are always being disrupted. It is a consumer device for people who don't need to focus on useful stuff.

[@53slavicchildren62]

There is a part of me that would like to revert to a dumb phone with a keyboard, the main problem is that I drive a semitruck and the Navigation app on my phone works better than the truck specific gps systems you can buy. Getting lost in a semitruck is quite terrifying and so is hearing a 300$ truck gps tell you to make a U turn.

[@licksnkicks1166]

I need to leave my phone down today. I have to. I know that my phone is a constant source of stress and very mixed feelings. It’s making me sick physically and mentally. I am being totally honest.

[@Patricia-kk8tr]

I am really impressed that you are staying with the dumb phone. I am addicted to the phone and have been using it even for things that are better done on my pc. I bought a Doro 5516 with sdcard storage for £26 and immediately ran into a problem. The iPhone doesn't save contacts to sim card, so I had to refer to the iPhone for current business. That discouraged me, and I put the sim card back in the iPhone. But I agree, smartphones are exhausting; so useful so bad for my poor brain. I will try again

[@99debris]

you can just copy your contacts to your SIM card before putting it in the Doro. Or, and I’ve done this before, just use it as a bit of an exercise and sit and type them in again in the Doro and see which ones you really need!

[@LNixon-d2r]

Every smart phone, I have ever owned has self destructed after 2 years. Might as well, put the money towards a cool proper camera or a mac computer.

[@theroutinepro]

Whats the model of this dumb phone? I need one.

[@uldispaze7325]

me too. Tired of smartphones

[@RandomNullpointer]

BTW, tethering over bluetooth (for internet access) is very effective and uses much much less battery charge than a wifi hotspot.

[@farchord]

To be fair; I do have a smart phone. But.... Notifications are 100% muted from 8am to 5pm (During weekdays). Then, from 10pm to 7am. I don't use Twitter. Am I addicted to my phone? Oh yeah! But I think Chris's experience might be somewhat exacerbated by the fact that he's an online personality. But I would hate not having a smart phone. Oh and I don't use my phone in the bathroom. This is my experience anyway :)

[@NidhiSharma-sb7dh]

i deleted fb/twitter years ago. Then got hooked on to KZbin. Sadly Android doesn't give the option to delete default apps, and that's really evil.

[@tylerjohns]

I did this as well and felt the same way. Now glad that I've stumbled upon your experience as well

[@Dec4AllTimeAlways]

Some folks will say, just delete all your social media apps on your smartphone. Have more self-control. Easier said than done. Some of us will be back in that rabbit hole once we click on Safari. Having a dumb phone guarantees that cheating with app time limits on an iPhone or Android doesn't happen. I wish OEMs revive old dumb phones like the Razr V3. Just add 4G since 2G and 3G are shutdown in my country.

[@americanbookdragon]

Once you delete social media, you still reach for your phone out of habit. I ended up playing Chess for hours…

[@josh3326]

I tried the dumb phone. Missed out on so much. So I buy a smart phone, dumb it down, and when I need music, pay the bills, use the camera, edit photos, I just change the focus mode. It's called self control. and I get all that and a qwerty keyboard. My time on the phone is little.

[@paulsehstedt6275]

I was the first to get a HTC Diamond Touch in Denmark in 2008, and it stressed me so much, that I went back to the real thing. Now I'm on a CAT, but there's a company paid and owned smartphone at my work place. I never use it, it's resting on the dashboard and get cleaned once a week.

[@Bluelightcheaphotel]

I’m thinking about taking plunge. An alcoholic doesn’t keep booze in their home so this makes sense for my struggles

[@TarnishPrower]

Ironic that the the device that's supposed to increase your productivity by giving everything in reach of your fingertips actually decreases productivity. I guess it's one of those "Be careful what you wish for" things.

[@aelaan12]

It is a bold move, I remember the days of pagers. No texting, no SMS or MMS in those days. If you wanted me to act on a system outage you actually had to call me and... well... coverage was not so good in those days. Today I am on-call, have been on slack and zoom most of my day "working". Meetings that could just be an email. I long for calmer seas.

[@FinaISpartan]

Been meaning to do the same thing, but unfortunately I'm missing pager integration (required for work), and Signal. I'm thinking of porting both of them to KaiOS so I can pickup a nokia 800

[@markh.6687]

Paging as in those little plastic things that used to beep and you had to call your voicemail or call the person back?

[@sadmatch41]

Just leave your smartphone at work and use a dumb phone anywhere else then?

[@FinaISpartan]

@@markh.6687 Correct. Oncall shifts at my company requires one. Android has apps that emulate pager behavior and provide a pager contact.

[@Atopsxv]

Bro escaped the matrix

[@PescaitoFrito]

I used android emulators, like memu for example, there i have whats app, but i dont use it that much. Good video btw

[@hjackson.92]

0:07. I just stumbled onto a CNBC feature "How the Cellphone Market is Transforming" and was surprised to see you in that intro (you should be able to search for it on KZbin, if you haven't seen it yet). With privacy and hacking becoming increasingly problematic on smartphones, I'm thinking this might be the only way forward. I might have to revive an old iPod Classic to start playing music in the car again. 😉

[@leszeknagooglach]

Dont have to get rid off a smartphone. Just turn off any notifications and use when YOU need it...

[@BurgerKingHarkinian]

Kinda shocked how week-minded a lot of people seem to be that they claim to be soo liberated by artificially restricting themselves.

[@mrcrackerist]

I haven't cut the Android phone out completely, but I almost never touch it only for calls(app) and photo taking(with synology backup), 2auth, speed test(almost never). Its all about controlling your self(if you can).

[@rattsjcfanpage01]

Crappy dumb phone ~ smart I’m going back to a flip phone soon, thank you for your video. 🙂 we need to get rid of smart phones! People will say why and it’s like it’s addictive, dumb phones are cool. I would still use my smart phone on the side.

[@williambaldwin9346]

I work at a hospital in nursing. I am sure I am the only employee who does NOT bring in my phone. I leave it in the car. I check it on my 15 minute and 30 minute lunch, and that is it. I go inside, it stays in my car. I do have my watch with service so if someone is trying to get ahold, which is pretty much almost never, I will see it, then dismiss and continue with work.

[@allenqueen]

You already had only 30 minutes and no notifications. I already see that as a win

[@Dec4AllTimeAlways]

Humans are really social creatures and we want our opinions written down and known even if we are introverts in real life. We could be the quietest nerd in a public setting but a keyboard gangsta when we are online. We want shared experiences with other people. We enjoy listening to opinions. We want to watch how another person reacts to a trailer or scene. Internet provides all this. A utopia for even the insecure, shy, loners.

[@Pedro-of4tn]

Well said.

[@sadonomic]

I've always wanted to do this but I inevitably never do because of three things. 1. Two factor apps, I dislike the idea of relying on sms for it (for security reasons) 2. Podcasts, other than KZbin this is my primary source for entertainment. 3. Mobile / Remote SSH, easier than trying to find or open a laptop when I need to resolve things on the go I wish a dumb phone was for me but I feel locked into it for the things above.

[@ghost-user559]

Yeah honestly it makes no sense to cripple a successful workflow just to fit in and be edgy. I think it is definitely a good idea for people like him who might be obsessed with a KZbin following and checking social media constantly can seriously impact mental health. Especially when being online is your job I understand being glad to be able to unplug and not be stressing 24/7. For most people phones very likely improve our productivity. Although even then it is hard sometimes to self discipline and not get stuck in a time sink.

[@Nyaalexi]

I'm not ditching my smartphone, but I can tell you that I lived without a smartphone until I was about 19. Yes, I had a dumbphone until I was 19. Years. Old. And I'm 24 now. That's like, long after smartphones were commonplace. And to be honest, I have no regrets. Living without a smartphone for that long was probably good for me. Helped me keep my sanity, if you know what I mean. But it's probably better that I have one now, 'cause it helps me stay close to reality, if you know what I mean. I don't have any problem staying in touch with my creative side or anything.

[@UltimusShadow.]

I think DT also ditched using Smartphones ages ago. Can't imagine doing this myself honestly, I save a lot of time doing basic things without having to switch on my PC. I use an S10+ with Custom Firmware.

[@Winnetou17]

I think he didn't ditched them, he simply never got into them in the first place.