i dumbed down my smartphone
the intersection of moral trends & overconsumption.
It has undeniably become increasingly popular to embrace “outdated” tech. Flip phones, iPods, wired headphones, analog media, have all, ironically, made their way to my algorithms. There has been a surge of new phones like the Samsung Galaxy Fold that upgrade the concept of the flip phone while still allowing users to enjoy access to all their usual apps, meaning they can participate in this trend without forgoing their comfort.
Like most trends, the dumb phone seems to be a counter response to the mainstream zeitgeist, in this case, being rapidly evolving tech and the normalization of replacing your iPhone with each new release. The opposite of this is regressing to older tech.
With that, there seems to be a sort of moral high ground for those who choose to get rid of their smart device(s). Though there are inarguably detrimental effects to spending unprecedented amounts of time doomscrolling, with plenty of studies to support that, it raises the question: Does an individual’s screen time correlate to their morality?
The answer, obviously, is no.
Having the option to be distracted from the things you want to accomplish certainly makes it harder to achieve those tasks. Getting rid of the device that gives you the option would be ideal. But is that ethically, financially, or logistically sound?
What is the environmental impact of buying a new phone when your current one is completely operational? The amount of technology that already litters our soils and waters is astronomical. Though it's difficult to say how much of this is "necessary" waste, I'm going to venture a guess that a lot of it is redundant - people wanting newer, better, shinier tech in their pockets.
Who can throw out their phone? It’s not affordable for many people to buy new devices, point blank, let alone buy a new device when their old one is in working or repairable condition. There's ironically a privilege that comes with buying a flip phone.
Who can logistically use a "dumb phone" in an era where work is often reliant on a smartphone? The idea of single-use devices is very appealing to me. I would love to have a flip phone for calls and messages, but I need a phone that offers two-factor authentication for school and work. I would love to have an iPod, but I have access to music on my phone already, and I don’t much care for carrying around two devices when pockets in women’s pants are already so small - if they’re there at all.
Instead of replacing your smartphone or buying a “dumb” phone in addition to keeping your smartphone, consider that your willpower is greater than you are giving yourself credit for.
I am choosing to keep my smartphone free of all unnecessary apps and notifications. This means no YouTube, no Reddit, no Instagram, etc. I have only kept the apps that I need for finances, messaging (WhatsApp, iMessages), and music (Spotify). I still have the aforementioned social media accounts, but I now only access them through my browser on my laptop.
Additionally, I have turned my phone to black and white. This makes looking at it much less pleasant and mirrors the phones of bygone days. It’s also incredibly less overstimulating. Prior, I didn’t realize how much the barrage of constant colors was straining my eyes and making my head hurt.
Is this article itself morally righteous? I certainly hope not. Buy a flip phone if you want to - you are not an evil person. I am not a better person for dumbing down my smartphone instead. Nonetheless, my hope is that this at least gives you something to consider.