Parents and teens alike are trading in their smartphones for "dumber" models to help stay offline.

Parents and teens alike are trading in their smartphones for “dumber” models to help stay offline.

  • WFloyd@lemmy.worldEnglish
    19·
    6 months ago

    I tried this myself, but it’s hard for a few reasons:

    • Messaging actually takes more time (defeats some of the purpose)
    • No banking apps (inconvenient)
    • No proprietary 2FA (nonstarter for work reasons)
    • No “let me Google that real quick” moments (comparison shopping when in store, looking up a phone number for a restaurant, etc.).
    • Their cameras universally suck

    Some “dumb” phones still have a web browser and such, so you’re not completely out of luck, but it’s painful.

    • ObiEnglish
      6·
      6 months ago

      Right my phone is just a pocket computer, I only use it as an actual phone when I have no other choice.

    • southernbrewer@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      6 months ago

      A friend has had a dumb phone for a few years but supplemented with an iPad for things like messaging apps, maps, banking, camera. He finds the iPad just inconvenient enough to avoid social media addiction and always-connected mentality while still convenient enough to deal with the problems you described