Why Dumb Phones Won't Cure Digital Addiction

[@andreilukyanov4286]

I actually live most of a time of the year on the dumbphone. I use the dumbphone for like 3-4 months, then I feel happy and decongested, and tell to myself: "Ok I can come back to a smartphone." 1 month, 1 month and a half again I'm fully addicted and say: "No, thanks. Hand me back that dumbphone." I use Nokia 4G

[@trout7136]

I take my flip phone with me everywhere I go and leave my smartphone at home

[@Mirafzalkhan41]

Hey bro … what flip phone are you using ?

[@snowcatde4708]

I am almost 50 years old and grew up without a cell phone or smartphone. Then technology came along. The first cell phones and the development went faster and faster and we were all excited about the new possibilities, but we still had our offline life. The cell phone was just a companion, a toy, nothing more. It wasn't until the first smartphones came onto the market and we started to rely on technology. We entrusted it with a part of our lives and gave it many tasks that we still had to do ourselves, and that's when things got complicated. But we can undo what we have started. What we have gotten used to, we can get used to again. We just have to want to do it and not be too comfortable and lazy.

[@slowdownandhealyourseoul]

Perfectly said ❤

[@Starcatcher27]

Those are great questions to be asking. I've had my Light Phone for about a month and a half now and I have really loved the experience. It definitely has caused me to decrease my screen time and increase productivity. Right when I got it, I happened to have just signed up to play clarinet in the pit orchestra for a musical. That kept me busy. Now I need to fill my time with other things. I have a lot I want to do, it's just a matter of implementing it. One thing that I think is important for me (and maybe others) to remember is that I need to think of fun things to do that do not require much brain energy, because I can't be productive all the time. I think getting outside is a big one. Thanks for the video! It was a good reminder as I was starting to slip a little bit back into watching too much KZbin/scrolling through FB on my laptop.

[@c.r.devries3072]

This was incredibly helpful to watch. I just got my flip phone in the mail, and I’ve been hesitating switching over. I couldn’t figure out why because I really am excited to take back my life. This video has really helped me pause to make sure I figure out the new good habits I need to have lined up and strategies for when inconvenience strikes so I’m less likely to give in and go back to my smart phone (which has already happened once before). Thank you for making this! This was incredibly helpful.

[@JoseBriones]

Glad to hear it helped!

[@mortalkaiban]

I've taken steps towards reducing screen time on my smartphone and it's helped me keep focus on things that I want to do offline. I'm slowly transitioning and once my phone eventually stops working I'll move to a dumb phone. I will say it does take discipline, but I'm doing my best.

[@juanelo6221]

It's true José, those changes can cause friction, but what will help the most is rebuilding my lifestyle. Greetings from Mexico.

[@musicman9945]

I agree. It was easy for me to use my screen time to distract from any discomfort such as social awkwardness or spending time alone. Having a LP II for a year (and now a jelly star) it helped me when out and about to be more present but I am still struggling with screen time at home with my iPad. The dumbphone is a tool but agree it is only a start and there are other changes needed too.

[@bhoghabhogha]

You are absolutelly right Jose. Digital minimalism is god for mental and physical health and it helped me to improve peofessional skills end to spend more time with family and friends physically. Your approach of digital world is a source of inspiration to me. I'm going to do more outside activities as you have advised. Thank you so much for this video.

[@natek3954]

Beautifully said, José! Thank you for all your encouragement!

[@lindsaylintonbuk2512]

This is so great. I just started my "experiment" and this perfectly captures the shift-- all about the lifestyle design and how you want to spend your time, and what you're willing to give up. Great perspective!

[@abelgranado7569]

Great video, i just bought kyocera duraxe epic. Just waiting to pay off Samsung 22. So i can begin the journey with a flip phone.. Noticed i pick up my phone every 5mins. Time for a change.

[@snowcatde4708]

Let's not misunderstand each other. I am also affected myself. I love and collect feature phones, dumbphones and smartphones. And every minute of my day revolves around my technology. But I stopped trusting it and entrusting it with my tasks and my life. For me, this technology is nothing more than a toy. And I live well with this attitude. And I wish you the same. Be careful with this technology. It is dangerous for the mind and the soul, but if you don't let it, it can't control you. Good luck with it.

[@jackieb0069]

Such a great perspective. I used a dumbphone for a few weeks, but ultimately got fed up with how hard it was to type on, so I switched to an old Pixel 5. It's light, doesn't weigh me down, and allows me to use a custom launcher to minimize distraction and scrolling. I am still maintaining under 2hrs of screentime per day, mostly for messaging, which is a massive improvement from the 7 or so I was averaging. I think the dumbphone break gave me new perspective on what my smartphone is useful for, and what it's not. Thank you for bringing this great community together, Jose!

[@allankvist6741]

Well done to you 💪

[@JoseBriones]

Glad you found something that works for you! Sometimes the dumbphone route is temporary and it helps a ton to gain perspective!

[@wild4fp]

As a 46yrs old, I remember no technology days. Best days but now forgotten. Smart phone addiction happens at any age. I used nokia now and again. Great way to take some control. noticeable that I dont screen watch, get sore neck, watch others looking down always or too busy. KZbin etc it gets alot. Im trying other things, started dancing, do language. Some phone here needed. Its not a cure, but to swap my sim from android to dumb phone is somewhat powerful to oneself. I want to be productive, achieve something of quality hence dancing and language. I told myself that beginning of the year, 9 months in, hitting some goals, but not all. That comes from within not smart phones.

[@jacob5283]

Great video! I love that you said you have control over your time and attention, then corrected yourself to say you actually have a lot of control over those things, implying that we don't have full control. I think that's a great point. We do have some degree of control over those things, but not total control, and it's possible to have more or less control over our own time and attention depending on whether we let other things (such as tech companies and other corporations) take that control away from us.

[@Benjamin-om3ih]

I also want to say, having been a subscriber for several years. Seeing your videos in my feed has been a constant reminder to stay engaged in this stuff. As for the device, i bought an F22 but have reverted bsck to my smartphone, still battling. I would love a lightphone but i csnt give up music or WhatsApp

[@JoseBriones]

Appreciate the support and viewership. Glad to know Ive been helpful!

[@daibach7749]

I was exactly the same in terms of the light phone - not wanting to give up Whatsapp and Spotify. But Jose I followed Jose's tutorial and accessed the Android layer of the Light Phone. I now have access to Spotify on the light phone. Plus, I use Whatsapp on my laptop which is mega useful. I've found it to be a really good balance

[@Musicman435]

I needed this! I used a dumb phone for about a month and a half but had to move back to my iPhone due to a fast paced school schedule, where I need access to apps like Canvas and Microsoft Teams on a daily basis. Once things relax a little more, I definitely want to go back to the dumb phone. But I also loved these tips for other devices and services to use as well. Thanks again, Jose! Looking forward to more videos!

[@MrPabgon]

Very good video. I see a lot of videos/opinions that are too simplistic with technology, or blaming it for the wrong things. There are caveats, and i think this video explains them well.

[@jamesharris9631]

I enjoyed your perspective on the digital world and addiction. I am glad that I found your channel and that there are other likeminded people out there who consider that some technology has become regressive. Your video looks better on a large laptop screen anyway, and although it is still technology, I can walk away from it and take a break. Personally, I have demonstrated repeated patterns of compulsiveness that have manifested in various areas of my life. Not all of these areas are negative such as a strong will and commitment to exercise, study, and challenging myself in different areas. However, the smartphone is one aspect of modern society and personal addiction that I have grown to dislike more and more. It is suffocating and consuming of the mind without supporting personal growth. It is ubiquitous and promotes the worst in humanity. It is a tool that has become essential to modern living because people like to have entertainment on hand without having to work at it. It makes us lazy, and laziness makes us weak. When I was young, I used to go out and play with my friend, with nothing specific to do but to escape to places only constrained by our imaginations. We built build treehouses, walked up a road just because we didn't know what was at the end of it and played kerbie (ball games). I miss those times. I tired to use a dumbphone for the 1st time 2 years ago but the self experiment only lasted 2 months. I found that the compromises were too great. My train was cancelled when away from home and I had no means to book a new ticket, or plan my journey times without borrowing someone's phone so I decided to re-join the hoards of walking dead zombies attached to their devices. It would be funny to see the way people walk around attached to their device if it were not so sad. I have ordered a Xiaomi Qin F21 after watching one of your reviews and I think that this is a good compromise. I hope that the screen is prohibitive for extended use but I evaluated my priorities, and I would like to still be able to use WhatsApp, Maps, Spotify and the internet when essential, whilst having an interface that is not so polished as to repeatedly keep you coming back for more. I hope that I can use this new phone as a tool and not a substitute for self soothing. Contrary to popular opinion, being bored is sometimes good for mental health and sparks creativity. Don't get me started on AI :( Thanks again for your content.

[@JoseBriones]

Appreciate you sharing your journey! I hope you continue finding better solutions and creating pockets of offline in your life! Keep going strong!

[@Directorkey718]

I'm 44 and just got a kindle for the first time. I'm reading books again like when I was young. Now that I'm doing that, I don't even want to carry my iphone anymore! Lifestyle change!

[@seboka_]

been using various blocking apps for years before thinking about dumbphones, but i haven't thought about what inconvenience i would be willing to deal with, thanks for bringing it up thought i remembered you saying you were from denver but couldn't confirm. nice to have another coloradan share my interest and goals 🤝

[@JoseBriones]

I am in the Denver area! Lmk if you ever visit, I'm usually free to chat in the mornings with some coffee.

[@xxvertcerizexx]

I got a nokia about 3 years ago and it was the best. The obly thing i found it lacked was a gps, and possibility to connect wireless earphones to chat on the phone. Yes there was friction, bht you get used to it at some point. Helped me get rid of my social media addiction. Currently looking for another dumbphone that will allow me to do this, and hopefully have waze and blutooth.

[@jadesded]

Exactly phone addiction does not exist within a vacuuum. For me I battled with substances in 2020-2022 and settled on allowing myself to buy a lil treat when I go to the gas station, and letting my caffeine addiction be a 'thing', both as lesser evils 😅. I mean not everyone whose addicted to screen-time is necessarily within the field of addictive personality, but it's definitely note worthy to think of the transference of addictive habits like you pointed out trying to solve one instance of addiction may lead to a new one without conscious planning. Within the dumbphone world however I've decided that carrying around a CATS22 daily is good for keeping key smartphone features with social media uninstalled so I feel less compelled to use it and associating myself as someone who doesn't use social media as much has anchored this act to a personality trait so I feel less compelled to download apps (I think also turning screenmode to black/white in developer settings is cool and would be effective for me, like I like how retro it makes my phone feel, but I primarily use my phone as maps so being able to differentiate between a blue/red traffic line in maps is important to me). Where I am alert and not on my phone in public I do allow myself to indulge in internet usage on my desktop at home where I don't track screentime so my way of life is not perfect (especially when I need to be productive), but has been a marginal improvement in my quality of life, and it's really about those small battles/compromises within this stuff, and ofc being mindful while also being truthful to ourselves, that will lead us to happier/less destructive routines/habits.

[@theunknowngamer2397]

My Light Phone is entirely an aesthetic choice that I love for than any other device I’ve ever bought. I also literally only used my smartphone for entertainment. I don’t need any apps in my day to day life so the switch was mostly painless.

[@Alex2020lama]

A more approachable solution for most people would maybe be to have a dumb phone as their main device but carry around a (small) smartphone for payments, maps, etc. in case of need (and perhaps keep it turned off when not needed)

[@JoseBriones]

This is a common approach that many use. It has been good for sure for those that need those extra conveniences :)

[@laptoprelaks]

i've been thinking abt this approach.. its easier to do than buy and research some rare phone lol

[@Benjamin-om3ih]

Great video I think for me the thing that keeps coming up are what are the emotional reasons i continue use my phone for entertainment for hours and hours a day. Its the same with my PC and TV. What am i running from? Pursuing that question has been the most fruitful. I am an alcoholic (4 years sober) and i see all the same patterns

[@inanestereo]

good video. buying a dumbphone alone, or any product, is not a magic bullet. new & shiny? yes. but it comes with challenges of friction you mentioned and is most effective with real lifestyle changes, both of which are easy to gloss over and hard for some to accept. I've fallen into this trap myself. this video is a good wake up call (even though I kinda knew all this already its nice to hear it coming from someone else) thank you, Jose.

[@WildWildWeasel]

Every time I go at a gathering where family will be present, I use my Android mainly for auth purposes and for music that's in the SD card.

[@stevejohnson1321]

I have a galaxy shingle-sized phone, because my carrier took flip and candy-bar phones out of their inventory. The alerts are on by-default on feature phones. They don't have to be left on! Though I miss my Alcatel flip, the galaxy has the alerts turned off and is therefore not invasive. The battery life is even better, and $50 is not all that costly.

[@Tom_Kowalczuk]

It might be easier for people who started with mobile phones not smartphones. My first phone was Siemens S35i and Nokia 5110 for example (and those were new to marked then). I have 100+ apps on my smartphone including KZbin and Spotify etc etc but I'm using only phone, WhatsApp and maps as I drive a lot and need to be able to contact my family abroad via WhatsApp. Other apps were put into deep sleep by android os and it stays like that. Even put into use my kid old iPhone as Spotify player as I'm listening it only at home (car fm radio with traffic info is a must for me).

[@timdreessen4724]

Great.Thank you for the video, from Holland.

[@laptoprelaks]

helo bro... ive been watching you on and off...similarly like my digital minimalism journey its on and off... and in this time on... i finally had this mindset and poof you made this video loll, its like you read my mind... if i reflect back more than a decade ago when i didn't have my smartphone i noticed I already have the problem(you guys might call it digital addiction but some include me refer to it going into the mind wanderind mode(DMN) in the frame of thinking of ADHD)...... that time i already have mp4player and internet access(but i have to get to a bus ride 45 minutes to get there).... but even at that time i have that mind wandering brain... it had always been there.... from that i do realize its myself i have to take care of in terms of meditating/pray to improve mindfulness, and what you have said to add activite/structure to life is correct too... the dumb phone will help as another branch on a tree...

[@JoseBriones]

Thanks for sharing! Glad that the video was timely!

[@hugo98765]

Jose, thank you so much for the video. In the past you have mentioned deleting built-in apps with ABD. I am not sure what this means but do you have any recommendations for learning about this? Thank you. Any reply is appreciated

[@yeenar]

Jose my guy you've spoken more eloquently on this subject than your peers have. This video is one of true substance in contrast to the vapid ramblings which characterize others on the dumbphone and digital-addiction phenomenon. Thanks for your articulate insights

[@justincornell2927]

excellent content. liked and subbed.

[@BobbyRouse]

I love the Unplug. I wish there was something like that for computers. I just want to be able to write and I have such a hard time keeping myself from distractions.

[@JoseBriones]

Try ColdTurkey

[@chris2025-v8w]

Excelente contenido José! Nos das buenas ideas y consejos!

[@ricardojmestre]

Great video. Thank you ❤

[@BlueJeans-mf6mx]

Such a good video and at such a good time for me! Thank you for this channel

[@piraterandall]

Love this video 💗 Are you gonna get one of the Nokia 215/225/235 2024?

[@JoseBriones]

Yes. I'll review them this upcoming month hopefully

[@piraterandall]

YAY I’m so curious 👀 like are they gonna suck or are they gonna be a dream come true

[@LauraMalvoyante]

Great video and truly inspiring. I am 6 months in my journey and learning everyday how to adapt my lifestyle. Thanks for sharing!

[@JoseBriones]

Happy to hear you are still going strong! Keep it up!

[@marciocapinto]

Agreed, great perspective, truly inspiring 👏🏻

[@allankvist6741]

Thank you for sharing your ongoing struggle and inspiring ideas of tackling "addiction" I think smartphone overtook from info/gaming for me. Played a lot on my phone but thats disappeared. Now I search interesting but mostly unnecessary info. Hope my Jelly Star will help limit this, while still giving me all the usefull(not absolutely nessesary, but still) tools of android. Small screen but not much smaller than early iPhones that were probably also addictive. Cheers!

[@Pirouli]

I would love to minimize digitally but my job is so boring and I use my tech to game and watch movies at work on night shift. I remember back in the day all we had is a game boy that I could take to work and it got super boring.

[@MegaZeeeh]

And a lot of us can't... Many services in the country where I live rely on an app and you simply can't not have it.

[@WildWildWeasel]

I think a good option for your case could be the Hisense e-ink phones, they're plenty functional for apps but the screen makes it super annoying to do addictive things with.

[@allankvist6741]

I hope my little Jelly Star phone will be the compromise that gives me all the "nessesary" app, but frees me from screen. See more real world would be nice😊

[@westhigh1976]

A very well done podcast...

[@JoseBriones]

Appreciate it haha. Vodcast with the extra video there hehe

[@swagmanandy]

I have no phone and manage to get through the day just fine.

[@christianmilkes5808]

Great and sincere video.

[@snowcatde4708]

Hello everyone, I don't understand why people always blame smartphones. It's up to each individual whether and how they use their smartphone. For example, we don't blame the Porsche for being able to drive so fast and then say that I couldn't help but drive through the city at 300 km/h and put myself and others in danger. There is a word in psychology. I only know the German term, but in English it means something like "self-efficacy expectation". It means that you believe that you can change yourself and your circumstances for the better through your actions. In other words, that you are not helplessly at the mercy of circumstances. It's the same with using your smartphone. We are not helplessly at its mercy. We can switch it off, give it away or leave it at home when we go out. WE are the actors, not the smartphone. But most people act as if we are helplessly at its mercy and that annoys me. So to the people who are affected: stop blaming technology for everything and start taking your life into your own hands.

[@wiktorzyca83]

If I ask you what will come out of the connection: cheap, good camera, dumbphone, what will you get?

[@aleksod]

Great points!

[@ale_______________]

You can try the Korean phone alt mive style folder 🥺🙏💕💕

[@ShadowyNekoUwU]

Yeah none of these alternatives worked for me there’s always away to get around and it’s not hard at all. So that’s why I’m trying to go dumb phone

[@rooshe8957]

So a dumb phone simply doesn’t work for me for these reasons. I tried the lightphone and it didn’t work for me. That said I’m seeking a smart phone without a browser , minimal apps, but with the ability to play apple or Spotify music as that is required for my work. The wise phone almost does that. I’ve tried restrictions, screen time , content blockers all on my iPhone - always a way to get around them though. Help!

[@Pranitp44]

U can turn off sfari from screen time> Content restrictions and also disable installing and uninstalling of apps and let somebody set password to your screen time

[@nontrickpony]

I just bought an old slide phone and I’m gonna have my iPhone charged in my bag switched off and use it like I would a computer

[@maxkoth5261]

Minimalist phone has worked well for me

[@mjs4663]

I have this and am still struggling. At this point I don't even notice when the pop up comes for how much ti my e to add, I just mindlessly click 15 mins again and again. The ability to block apps however has been really helpful. I find it works better then deleting because I could just download it again if deleted. I block then hide apps, with the hope I forget it when the 30 days are up.

[@maxkoth5261]

@@mjs4663 how do you block apps? I have timers on some apps like KZbin, that's helped me as well

[@anthonyborrelli2380]

I’m thinking of getting the sunbeam aspen, but I’m worried I won’t connect and set it up right, should I bring it to a Best Buy for help?

[@JoseBriones]

You should be good with inserting the SIM card and making it work. The Sunbeam F1 Pro is a great phone!

[@theaskeytwitch6861]

I just have a dumbphone for MY life and use smartphone for others uses. Smartphones are just multipropose tool, and my Sharp are my phone

[@bailarinasesina1752]

gracias por los vids

[@blackham7]

How did you get a light phone, it's only available for pre-order on their website?

[@JoseBriones]

I have had a Light Phone for 4 years. Their pre-order is for the latest batch

[@nsfeliz7825]

you cant have it both ways. you dump some stuff.

[@SlowlyDown]

are you aware of any dumbphones that are capable of connecting via ethernet+adaptor ? I live in an area with no wifi or cell service, so need a cell phone I can plug into ethernet to connect (currently do so with iPhone).

[@JoseBriones]

None that I know sadly.

[@SlowlyDown]

@@JoseBriones what about using a laptop's internet connection through tethering? I guess that would still be an ethernet connection in a roundabout way.

[@intodust041]

I don't like this clickbaity title. Modern smartphones are addictive by their design. It's like crack cocaine lol, once you try it, you're hooked. So no, blocking certain apps or restricting use on your smartphone won't cure your addiction. Getting rid of your smartphone will cure your addiction. You can't stop smoking by cutting down. You have to quit all together. You can't reduce your use of crack cocaine. You just have to stop smoking crack dude. Why would smarthpone be different? I used stayfocused for 4 months. This app is really great because it really forced me to reduce my screentime to 1 hour per day. I was happy until I realized that I can just quickly open safe mode and disable app. The addiction is so strong that I disabled blockers which are almost impossible to disable. Dumbphone is the only solution. And leaving my laptop at my company which I use only during work time.

[@amadeusfuzz4320]

Is a metro card really inconvenient for people?

[@JoseBriones]

Some people think so tbh. But I love mine!

[@zealous_fervor]

Digital addiction is exactly that--an addiction. Dumbphones are just the digital equivalent of like nicotine patches or whatever. You're still indulging the addiction, just in a less unhealthy way. You as the victim have to make the extra effort to ween yourself off it. In a society that dehumanizes normal people, it's very easy to forget that the human element is the most integral aspect of conquering human issues like addiction.

[@JoseBriones]

Humans first is a good framework for remembering what matters most!

[@zealous_fervor]

​Too many businesses forget that people, not profits, are what buy products. What used to be designed to connect us is now designed to destroy attention spans, and convince us that we should be satisfied paying more for less... Camera tech has advanced beyond necessity, like CPUs. Security hardware has advanced, but it's completely pointless when big brother is always watching through the software. I love to joke that I'm using a dumbphone solely for hipster douchebag reasons, but it's so much more as a humanitarian.

[@foxdavani4091]

What is this digital addiction bullshit? Am i the only person who puts my iPhone down and does stuff? I shoot photos, write, play games, go bike riding with my bestie, go exploring with my best, cook, read and so on. And on weekends, i like to check with my friends on social media for a while. But on weekdays, i dont use my phone for entertainment. I only use it to take notes on work stuff. Or read books. Or take photos while exploring. I am a photographer. Why cant people control themselves????

[@JoseBriones]

Complexity. That's why. Happy that life has worked out for you that way, but it's not everyone's experience.

[@schaukelpferd99]

You're better than everyone else. Congrats.

[@jackjohnson7253]

0:56 Talk Tuah

[@natek3954]

Beautifully said, José! Thank you for all your encouragement!