After several years of becoming a smartphone-addicted society, there is a growing trend among young people to ditch their devices and go back to basics.
‘Dumbphones’ are enjoying a resurgence in popularity among Gen Z, and the British teenager flying the flag for the trend has explained why he switched to this model.
A “dumb phone” is a mobile device based on an older telephone model. More and more young people are ditching their high-tech phones to protect their mental health and reduce screen time.
A model that was once the pinnacle of technological advancement, then taken over by giants like Apple and Samsung, is making a comeback as young people crave the security that comes with living “offline.”
Rio, from the UK, revealed on YouTube why she decided to go on a ‘digital detox’ after becoming worried about how much time she was spending on her phone.
In a video uploaded to his channel @theliopleurodon in May 2023, Rio updated viewers on his progress in switching to a “dumb phone” after using it for a week.
In this clip, the teenager introduces the Nokia 6300 4G device and explains how the phone has changed the time he spends with his Samsung Galaxy A8 smartphone.
The Nokia 6300 4G is a model with basic features such as SMS messaging and a keypad. Users can also browse the Internet with this model.
Explaining why he decided to “downgrade” from his smartphone device, Rio blamed the “addictive nature” of accessing social media and online sites.
She said: She said: “She found herself getting more and more addicted to it, endlessly scrolling through her Youtube shorts and her Instagram reels.
“When I have time to do nothing, I check my email and find something random on Google. Watch a video about how short-form content reduces attention spans. I did.”
She realized she could no longer “sit down and read” and began to worry that she had undiagnosed ADHD. So she decided to take action and bought her Nokia model.
Although you can no longer “listen to Spotify while commuting,” the device still has lots of fun features, like the ability to take photos and keep in touch with your loved ones using Whatsapp, Rio says. insists.
She claims that her attention span has improved in the first week since she started using the phone, and she can now read more books and watch movies in her spare time “without breaks.” Masu.
“If you go back to old habits, you can quickly detox,” Rio said. I think using one of these phones is a great way to detox or get rid of social media addiction completely.
She added: “It was a very positive experience. I enjoyed it and became more conscious about life. I’ve lived more. I feel more… now.”
To date, Rio’s video has been viewed over 16,000 times and received over 80 comments from supportive smartphone users, as well as testimonials from users who have switched to smartphones.
“Downgraded my cell phone,” one person wrote. Some people say, “My life has been upgraded,” while others say, “Thank you for sharing this video.” Smartphones are making people more and more stupid. ”
A third commented: “I love this trend so much.” As I moved into my 20s, I noticed that concerts became less fun and parties were filled with people on their cell phones. It’s so nice to see young people getting away from the quadrangle-sucking souls. ”
A satisfied ‘dumbphone’ user wrote: “I’m looking at this from my Nokia 6300. I bought it yesterday and I love it.” I’m so glad I finally made the switch, and yes, I totally empathize with you. ”
Amidst the retro revival of yesteryear models, Nokia launched a new hot pink foldable phone in May 2023 called the Nokia 2660 Flip.
Its launch comes exactly 25 years after the launch of Nokia’s first-ever flip phone in 1998.
“We’re seeing an increase in interest in foldable phones, and we believe that interest is driven by the need for a break from the constant stream of digital notifications and social media posts,” said the company’s chief marketing officer. , said Lars Silberbauer. HMD Global, home of Nokia mobile phones.