Why the Perfect Smartphone Can't Exist.

[@jasonchipmanhowlett]

the phone really isn't the problem. we know what is good and useful. we know what isn't. it is a choice. we simply need to identify and address where the addictions are coming from.

[@shushunk00]

Propaganda and influence are far too powerful for the working class

[@omarjimenez8895]

I feel this is a good point but not the final solution. Yes we can make better decisions when we consciencely are aware of what affects us, then you're absolutely right, it is a choice The problem is there's so much else that affects us subconsciously that is out of our control. Old diners used a lot of red and bakeries fan the scent of pastries because they know colors and smells affect our appetite. We know the sound of running water sometimes makes us want to pee, we know seeing another person yawn makes us want to yawn. We know classical music relaxes our heart rate while fast heavy music excites our heart rate. Just because we know these things doesn't mean we can just decide to not let them affect us. The human mind and body doesn't work that way These companies make it their business to know how our brain's psychology works to grab our attention as much as possible. So just because we know their tactics doesn't automatically make us immune to them. Yes you're absolutely right that we make the decision ourselves on how we use our devices. Spending 10 minutes vs 2 hours on social media is indeed a choice. But just because we have the willpower to stay off tiktok doesn't mean intentionally designed distractions of the phone won't still affect us be it obviously or subtly

[@interstat2222]

If you had to pay for social media, you'd realise it was worthless.

[@quas3728]

everyone pay for internet you know

[@corporatemcmahon2815]

Brother Spencer. Today I was at the public services for my new address and its passport. To get an appointment, you need a mobile / email. I saw many old people having issues getting an appointment. Even yelled by the service people. It is sad seeing elderly people being excluded from the tech savvy, hip, and young people, aka zombies glued at their mobiles. I feel sad seeing a man/woman not getting by with tech these days. Ordering a meal where you need to scan a qr code tonsee the menu. Gimme a break. Please talk about that my brother. Because one day, the zombies will yell at us when we get old.

[@spencers-adventures]

Thanks for sharing your experience buddy, that is something that is worth talking about for sure. It seems crazy what random things have become a “tech” thing nowadays, like a standard customer service interaction to even going to the bathroom (smart toilets). I’ll for sure put this on my list of future videos - good to hear from you dude!

[@SilverSeleucid]

there are some options out there that one can do to reduce usage but keep a smartphone. one is just "minimalizing it" with a minimalist launcher, app blockers with a password known by a family member who isnt yourself, and perhaps flashing a privacy respecting alternative OS on an android phone like lineage OS, Calyx OS or Graphene some "dumb" feature phones use the open source web based OS called KaiOS like most Nokia phones which have maps, spotify etc but its web based and clunkly so social media is not really a applicable thing there. I minimalized and de-googled my pixel 8 pro until i finally switch to a nokia flip phone with KaiOS, luckily i dont need a smartphone for work anymore

[@spencers-adventures]

These are great tips! I have a video shot and set to come out in a week or two about this topic. How do you like the Nokia? They’re pretty tough to find in Canada so I’m testing a few other models in the meantime

[@Romafedorov]

This is essentially how I simplified my iPhone. I deleted all social media apps and blocked Safari and the App Store with a password that only my girlfriend knows. Now, my iPhone is dumb enough to avoid distractions but still smart enough for me to use Google Maps, music, or messaging apps.

[@EliasRS3312]

Was about to comment the same, besides those things I would add a headphone Jack, a usb c and a not so huge screen size since it would be meant for practicity and not media consumption

[@derdehv]

I've got pretty much this setup, installed CalyxOS on my Fairphone 4, planning on somehow blocking or deleting the browser and syncing my calender and contacts with a private server. I still have spotify, Signal, maps and Train Information on there.

[@SilverSeleucid]

@@spencers-adventures i didnt pick up the nokia yet but im planning on it, been watching reviews on it and im pretty set on the purchase. ill be picking it up next week and ill be sure to let you know how my experience is!

[@dynamiketiger]

Great video and topic as always:) I think my issue (and general human nature) is self-control. Having 24-hour access to a literal computer in my pocket gives me instant gratification for any thought or question that pops in my head at any moment. Plus I was just happier before I had a smartphone (and the internet too for that matter). With my smartphone, I’ve sacrificed my happiness with convenience and the temporary pleasure of instant gratification (which I don’t think is a good thing in the long run). Now that I’ve realize all this (a special thanks to you and your videos a lot), now I have to decide what is best for me mentally. I am also a Christian, and I want to have self-control (In the Bible ‘self-control’ is one of the fruits of the spirit as well). I also want to please my Heavenly Father God and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So self-control is definitely one thing I want:) Thanks as always, Spencer, for all you do:) You are such a blessing to myself and many others I am sure:) Thanks and God Bless! :) 🙌

[@arielsimpleliving]

I think a lot of it comes down to personal choice and discipline. There is nothing we can really do about companies selling our data apart from not using certain apps. Yes many of the social media apps and other apps are designed to keep our attention and in some ways are very addicting, but I believe it is our responsibility to take control over our emotions and not get pulled in. I'm not saying it is easy to do, but just as alcohol, smoking and other things can be addicting and can be overcome, so can our addictions to our phones. Many people have left suggestions about different apps to help streamline our phones. We can also choose to delete distracting apps and only keep the ones that we find beneficial. Thanks for another great video Spencer!

[@CrabRango]

Hey! Thanks for featuring my comment, I'm glad I could offer something worth chewing on :] That said, I'm not sure I agree with what you're pitching. Not that it's a bad solution, but one that I feel ultimately misunderstands the nature of companies. They exist to make profit, and so even making a more-than-comfortable $5 billion monthly is eventually going to stop being enough, because next quarter needs to turn a further profit... so what then? Why not make their service a paid subscription... and revert to selling our data while they're at it? Ultimately, I think the only real solution, even if it's an unlikely one, is to regulate these companies. There is no other means than force, in my opinion. Not that that'd happen, though, so the best we can do is what's best for us individually.

[@spencers-adventures]

I agree with you 100%, I didn’t get into that in this video but I likely should have. I think another video will need to be in store in the future to go further into this topic you’ve mentioned. These companies for sure need to be regulated. I guess what I was pitching was a model for them to make money in the case that our economy was not structured around the ad model, and in my head I was setting up a hypothetical where ads wouldn’t be the norm (due to something like a culture shift or legislation). Like you said they could easily sell our data, make us subscribe and pocket even more, as I’m sure many companies like Microsoft and Adobe are already doing with their subscription offerings. Appreciate the thoughtful comment - you may have just inspired another video down the line!

[@CrabRango]

@@spencers-adventures I’ll certainly be looking forward to it! I appreciate you being so open to conversation! And hey, likely or not one can only hope that we may see a change in the status quo eventually.

[@winjaywin]

i remember When i had a Samsung galaxy s6, there was this ultra power saver mode which shuts off all apps except the calls and a few select apps that you can add. As a bonus the phone lasts around 4 days on a single charge. Granted i only used it in case of battery emergencies, but it seems like a good solution for people like you who want semi-smart phones

[@buckyyyb]

Where do you find an S6 that is still supported?

[@winjaywin]

@@buckyyyb i dont think s6 is still supported. It was released 9 years ago. However apparently even the newer galaxys have it hidden somewhere in the power saver menu.

[@_peacefulPlace]

Ah, I remember how internet was a whole interesting world, not a distracting dumpster

[@AlbedoAtoned]

IMO, the problem isn't the phone itself, it's the users. Whenever I hear people bring up feeling distracted by their phones, it always sounds so foreign of a concept to me because I use my phone for only a few things. I use it for the occasional call and text. I use it to listen to my music in foobar (no streaming). I'll also occasionally watch a video on it with newpipe,. I'll very rarely I will browse the web. Lastly, if I need a camera for any reason, I'll use it. I don't use my phone for any social media, I have accounts but I only go there on a PC. If I absolutely must go to a social media website using my phone, I'll use firefox. A proper web browser can block ads, malicious scripts, and at least most trackers. Though a desktop web browser will have more options usually. I'm the same on PC, if I need to access a website I will do so in my browser rather than in their client if they have one (for instance, Discord). I don't think I've ever seen an ad outside of a web based context where one would expect them. Perhaps it is because I use Nova Launcher. I didn't like the launcher that came by default, but I also can't remember if it had ads on it since I switched pretty much right after getting the phone. I also don''t use any subscription services like spotify or netflix. I did try out KZbin Premium and Crunchyroll a few years ago. Both ended up being a waste of time and money as YT still kept giving me ads with it, and Crunchyroll's service was terrible. I'm talking it needing to constantly buffer and defaulting to very low quality despite my internet speed being fast for much higher resolutions. In the end, even if I waited I found the quality lower than what I could find by sailing the seven seas. Overall, it seems obvious to me that most of the problems is self-manufactured. My phone isn't very high end so it is not like it is some luxury feature. It's just a standard smart phone. I disagree that charging money will make people really consider the costs. When Twitter decided to charge people money, most people ended up paying in the end because they were too addicted to it. Amazon already charges for their services and when they began adding ads to the paid service, people kept paying. Crunchyroll increased their prices, people still pay. Same story for pretty much all of these services. What's more is that the saying that "if something is free, then you're the product" is no longer accurate, corporations still treat you as products regardless of if you are paying. And most people find they would rather be products than live without the service, whether they have to pay for it and/or see ads. Some corporations will even build a profile of you without you ever willingly using their product or service. If one is really concerned with distractions on their phone, first try deleting any social media apps on it. If you need to go to twitter or reddit or whatever, go to it in a web browser, don't log in unless you absolutely need to. Once done, log out. If you have to log in and out each time you use it, you will visit less often as time is usually valued higher than money is. Another thing you could try is to go with a cheaper phone. A faster phone might make you more likely to use it for everything. I'm not suggesting going with a phone so slow that it is miserable to use, but unless you are using it for something like emulation or native games, you likely don't need it to have the best hardware or anything. Lastly, learn to put it down somewhere. When I am not using my phone, it is almost always on the desk out of sight. If I am not at home, it's in my pants pocket. If you want to use it for music, but don't want to look at the phone, get a cheap bluetooth receiver or headphones/IEMs that are bluetooth and use that for media controls whenever. For a receiver, I use the 1mii 100 and the quality doesnt seem to be any lower than when the headphones are plugged in (though if you get this, you may want a stick on clip for it as well).

[@medleysa]

The cats already out of the bag with the data collection revenue model. Look at Windows - it’s still a pay to install model and there’s TONs of telemetry embedded in the OS. Even with subscription tiers like KZbin premium, companies still track and monetize data, just in other ways. I do agree that if a product is free, then generally YOU are the product. But that data revenue model is too enticing for companies to not be used now.

[@j0edynamite]

the solution you assert is a short sighted half measure. whats going to stop companies from doing both? The way to make the internet more fair and less distracting is for good regulations on these companies, encourage companies into being open source, and maybe even nationalize some of these social media companies.

[@spencers-adventures]

I agree that it’s not enough. That’s why I said it’s not feasible for such a thing to ever happen. Some form of intervention would be needed like you mentioned to spur the change. Appreciate the comment!

[@willm5032]

Human society needs a huge shift away from the consumerist/profit over everything model

[@YogiTheBearMan]

Someone else offering the same service without ads is what would stop them, right? Consumers who are willing to pay what is necessary to get rid of the ads.

[@flybalbu]

I use an iphone 11 right now and would like to keep it as long as possible but the day i need to switch, i kinda want to use android because i heard there's apk's of instagram but scroll-free and considering i use it a lot to contact people but hate the scroll it could be a good compromise Apple's kinda annoying with it's FOMO though, especially the apple ecosystem i am deep in cause my parents are deep in it too

[@orsinai]

woho the night I watched your video this week I checked the light phone and was impressed, not sure it is supported in my area, but I thought "wouldn't it be nice to switch to something like that one day", the day after I woke up late and had to go volunteering and guess what? I forgot my smartphone at home, such a liberating experience, which I recommend to everyone.

[@tiagoreis5390]

Two options: Google Pixel with Graphene OS is the way to go... Or another smartphone with Calyx OS... Just disable notifications....

[@alexprieto4815]

You should make a video about the app Blank Spaces (available for iOS and Android) and the Minimus app (currently only Android). Lately I’m combining Blank Spaces as my skin on my iPhone with the app blocking of Refocus app. And it is giving me the simulated dumb phone lifestyle with some smartphone benefits like GPS, Browser, Podcasts, KZbin Music, iMessage.

[@spencers-adventures]

That seems like a great smart/dumbphone workflow! I’ve heard of Blank Spaces and will definitely consider checking it out and doing a video on it. Thanks for the comment!

[@benhoskins5322]

Is the solution a Linux smartphone? Such as the Librem 5. FYI Linux is an open source community driven operating system for computers, and some companies are trying to bring it to smartphones. The open source community angle helps it to be what we want, private and safe from alternative means of revenue like ads and data selling etc. The downside I've seen is that they are not quite mature enough yet.

[@spencers-adventures]

That’s a great tip to try as well. I think something like this could be a great option, but I know very little about it. I’m going to read more about it and perhaps will try one in the future, thanks for sharing!

[@gabbodj95]

The problem is a dumb phone can work in NA where everyone is still using sms. In EU, and in my case in Italy, a dumb phone makes you dumb because nobody uses sms or imessage, that’s why we often ask about whatsapp, because it’s monopoly here. I hope Meta will fail sooner than later, but until then, dumb phones will only work in America unfortunately, which may be leader in many things, but cannot change these kinds of paradigma

[@spencers-adventures]

This is a very good point that I haven’t considered. Thanks for sharing!

[@JimmyLazers]

As a start, make sure you use your notification and do not disturb options wisely.

[@ericarex4522]

What about getting like a gabb phone or a pinwheel phone? I know they are geared towards teenagers but they don’t have social media or internet but you would have access to a better camera, and I think GPS and certain apps. It is more as a starter phone but I think someone who wanted a simple smartphone could use it.

[@spencers-adventures]

That’s a very interesting idea! Maybe I’ll pick one up to do a video on eventually 👍

[@aloramakesvideos]

id like to hear your thoughts on the rabbit r1, I think another commenter mentioned it too. Its not designed to replace an iphone just yet but I think it has the potential to. as long as it remained secure + private

[@spencers-adventures]

Yeah I think it’s pretty interesting and could pair well with a dumbphone. I’m still skeptical about it but I may try to get ahold of one to review!

[@omarjimenez8895]

Spencer, what do you think of the new Punkt smartphone and the Minimal Phone?

[@spencers-adventures]

I would love to try the Punkt MC02, perhaps I can get a copy to review. Security is for sure it’s benefit, but I think for distraction it may be only partially beneficial. The Minimal Phone is something I haven’t seen until I read this comment so I’ll have to look more into it but I love the blackberry look of it. Thanks for the comment!

[@cartmondey202]

Ive also been having problems with switching from my iPhone to a dumb phone and messaging not working. I got it fixed though when I turnt off the iMessage functionality in the iPhone Settings. I think other iPhone users tried to reach out but they couldnt reach me because of how iMessage functions. Maybe its the same problem with yours. and nice video!

[@spencers-adventures]

I’ll double check that, thanks for the suggestion :)

[@wes_online]

small paid services or ad free tiers are great for this turning off notifications, whatever else. but nothing has helped so much as extracting things to single purpose devices. I listen to music on my Walkman, play Tetris on my analogue pocket, etc. If everyone I cared about was on signal I could use a punkt. Not the case and I’m not about to start having private conversations over sms. Icky and plaintext. I honestly am gonna give the rabbit r1 a shot because I think a good audio interface + language models allows for a way more intentional experience. You can’t put too much conflicting information through your ears the way you can your eyes?

[@spencers-adventures]

I’d love to take a look at the R1 - it does seem like a neat device but I have my doubts. Going to try to pick one up to review eventually. Thanks for the comment!

[@YogiTheBearMan]

Ppl just need to delete the apps that are bad for them and turn off notifications that aren’t communication or important in some way. Ya and going back to paid news and other media would really help.

[@spencers-adventures]

I think a paid model would help! If you can muster the willpower and “miss out” on what others are doing then certainly like you said deletion is a great call 👍

[@adamwragg4606]

I think the subscription model could definitely help this problem! Also I think people's habits could change in time, as I hear people taking breaks from social media and phones etc. It's not beyond the realms for sure

[@spencers-adventures]

I’m with you Adam! I think more and more people are seeing the negative side of this tech and are looking for ways to mitigate that. Perhaps more legislative intervention would be necessary, but it’s easy to start with ourselves and build from there!

[@adamwragg4606]

@@spencers-adventures yeah I think it needs laws from government tbh but as always money talks and they will go that way instead of helping their public. We always have to help ourselves first, governments don't care most of the time I've found

[@lilPopper]

There’s never gonna be a perfect smartphone because there won’t be any competition if that were the case. And not everyone needs all the features. Some need a smaller compact phone for reasons such as comfort ability and one hand use. While others may want a big phone for a bigger battery or are prone to easily loose their phone that a big device is easy to detect. Some people may want a phone with an LCD because not only will it not burn an image like OLED, it lessens the chances of getting sick and dizzy caused by pulse width modulation via OLED screens. Everyone is unique and they don’t buy the device to fit in. They buy the device that meets their needs. Buying a phone is a lot like shopping for a car. Not everyone needs a pick up truck while some need a sedan. Others may need off road while others need something for the city.

[@quas3728]

I still prefer PC over smartphone. yeah I use smartphone on other place or bedroom but pc is just better tool.

[@Izzy-g7t]

Get a privacy-focused OS.

[@lisa-c7s8s]

Enlightening, definitely need to review personal use.

[@Valoric]

I'd say the only viable solution is a philosophically lead spiritual movement in the form of abstinence. That would carry over to all forms of social subversion and advertiser people farming. #1 These companies want the widest possible audience and that'll always be the ad/analytics driven model. #2 These companies couldn't access, control and shape as many children on their networks (even if they "dont allow them"). These companies would sooner destroy everything than give up those two things. Even government intervention wouldn't work and arguably would be a devastating weapon in their hands. Always imagine the worst possible government getting control of it all.

[@EugeneHoverhand]

Fairphone

[@kevinwong_2016]

7:06 they would still sell your data💀

[@mostlycharlie]

Deleting my social media accounts took care of 90% of my distractions.

[@noneyourb172]

I highly doubt that a company with a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders would choose not to have their cake and eat it too. They'll gather your data and also your money.

[@spencers-adventures]

Yeah there’d need to be further measures to make sure that didn’t occur, you’re right!

[@lahuk1194]

"Perfect dumbphone" is stupid, if you hate the distractions of a smartphone and want a dumbphone instead, but also want it to do gps, podcasts, spotify, internet, etc, then you don't want a dumbphone, you want a smartphone and to pretend you're being better. Its like wanting a "healthy" version of the various sugar-frosted sugar flake cereals; you aren't really interested in getting healthier, you just want to pretend you're being healthier.

[@yugen042]

I'll never understand why people don't just use a smartphone and set it up to be less distracting? It's downright trivial. Or do these people have such poor self control that they need to have a really high barrier towards using/installing distracting apps? Just use parental control on yourself with a long password that you save at home or something? Or use a second account on android with the minimum amount of apps when you want to disconnect? And if tracking and privacy are your concern, using a dumb phone is a stupid knee jerk reaction that stems from a lack of technical understanding. These phones are usually proprietary and you have to blindly trust their software. Use something like degoogled android or graphene OS instead. Also I find it funny how you say: "they want to get you to buy random products that you probably don't need" - meanwhile you bought a second phone rather than using the one you already have. Sorry but dumb phone users are logically inconsistent. I'm not seeing any strong arguments in favor of using one nowadays. What you actually want is control over your phone and not be controlled by it. Replace your iPhone and dumb phone with any old android and install LineageOS, AOSP or GrapheneOS and enjoy. As you correctly say, you cannot have functionality, privacy and control out of the box in the current economic system, but you can educate yourself and get them fairly easily; and not by purchasing a dumb phone.

[@misssheltered1081]

Zup people have nice day