This video made me think that I’ve been on a “dumb phone journey” myself. I tried to apply “self-control” to how much I use my smartphone since I bought my first one in 2012, but I’ve never been...
This video made me think that I’ve been on a “dumb phone journey” myself.
I tried to apply “self-control” to how much I use my smartphone since I bought my first one in 2012, but I’ve never been disciplined enough.
In late 2023 I concluded that this is an area of my life where, unfortunately, I am not capable of being “moderate”, so I have to be “abstinent” (I’m good at being moderate with my diet, for example, but not with my smartphone). So, I decided to make a New Year’s resolution for 2024 (something I never did before in my life) and just delete all of my social media accounts, as well as accounts on other sites and services that just distract me. I also deleted their and other apps from my smartphone.
Some accounts (looking at Facebook and Instagram) were hard to get rid off, but I got it done.
Earlier this year I stumbled on the “indie web” (or whatever you prefer to call it), and have finally found a community on the Internet without being endlessly distracted or giving away my private data. Found Tilde just today, in fact!
Meanwhile, my now six-year-old iPhone Xr (which I intend to hold onto for a few more years) has become a bit of a dumb phone. The apps that I use on a regular basis all fit on the Home Screen without any folders. They’re all just tools, no exception.
And it turns out that the people that I actually want to stay in touch with, will find me when they need to. They can reach me via phone, Messages/WhatsApp, and e-mail. That’s more than enough.
Welcome aboard! I went on a similar journey a few years ago and deleted FB and other socials. I kept going to reddit up until the API fiasco. It was hard, like you said, but after adapting to...
Found Tilde just today, in fact!
Welcome aboard!
I went on a similar journey a few years ago and deleted FB and other socials. I kept going to reddit up until the API fiasco. It was hard, like you said, but after adapting to having to be more proactive in maintaining my friendships, I quite enjoy not being stuck in a simulation-seeking loop for so much of my time.
Thank you. 😊 I forgot to mention that I deleted my Reddit account as well (along will all the hard-earned karma 💔). Apollo dying off due to the API pricing changes was the beginning of the end for...
Thank you. 😊
I forgot to mention that I deleted my Reddit account as well (along will all the hard-earned karma 💔). Apollo dying off due to the API pricing changes was the beginning of the end for me.
Also, it’s very true what you say. It’s difficult to transition away from social media, unless we make an effort to maintain a proper social circle some other way.
One tip for you to make your iPhone even less appealing is to turn your app icons grey. The newer iOS versions let you customize your app icons by applying a color tint and grey is possible to...
One tip for you to make your iPhone even less appealing is to turn your app icons grey. The newer iOS versions let you customize your app icons by applying a color tint and grey is possible to make. App icons have very distinct and vibrant designs that subconsciously draw your eyes to them to try and get you to click on them. Taking away the color makes opening an app much more deliberate. I’ve also taken most apps off the home screen to further make opening an app a deliberate choice instead of a muscle memory tap.
Also the new “Reduce Interruptions” focus mode may or may not be available to you since it may use AI features that older iPhones don’t have, but it’s a game changer. It mutes 99% of notifications, but if you get a phone call or someone texts you with something AI think may be time sensitive, it will show the notification. I already check my phone about once an hour, so I’ll see any texts then, but I get to choose when I think about my phone instead of my phone trying to grab my attention.
I keep “Do Not Disturb” on all the time, since… 2015? 2016? It's a godsend feature. I'm no doctor or do anything that's time sensitive, so there's no need to answer messages ASAP, and calls are so...
I keep “Do Not Disturb” on all the time, since… 2015? 2016? It's a godsend feature. I'm no doctor or do anything that's time sensitive, so there's no need to answer messages ASAP, and calls are so rare nowadays that I let them skip DND.
Can't recommend enough if you don't need to be reachable and answer quickly to messages.
There are in my opinion two main categories of blockers for modern dumphones. The silent assumption that everyone has a smartphone and the fact that depending of where the person lives and what...
There are in my opinion two main categories of blockers for modern dumphones.
The silent assumption that everyone has a smartphone and the fact that depending of where the person lives and what they do it may not actually be realisticaly possible to not have a ios/android with google. For myself I think I may theoretically be able to for personal phone but it would introduce so much problems that I just cursorily debloated Samsung one to be done with it.
The simple fact that a pocket computer with cellular access actually a very powerful and useful tool whose replacement might not be possible or require several devices. That it is hijacked to maximize the engagement of the user, comes with artificially crippled os and the sw landscape around it is largely toxic is another thing.
I also tried Pinephone with postmarketOS(or other Linux based mobile distro that is not effectively single vendor dependent) for about two years.
That combined both the power of an uncrippled computer and portability and data access. Though there was always the problem of the assumed apps access and to be honest neither the hw or sw at the time was ready for standard daily use which is not surprising given the who knows how many billions of lead the ios/android had and the locked down nature of modern performant mobile chips and the high barrier of power requirements.
This is unfortunately very true. When my family went on vacation to Texas a few years back, parking was a nightmare because a bunch of parking lots demanded we use an app to pay. We just left one...
The silent assumption that everyone has a smartphone and the fact that depending of where the person lives and what they do it may not actually be realisticaly possible to not have a ios/android with google
This is unfortunately very true. When my family went on vacation to Texas a few years back, parking was a nightmare because a bunch of parking lots demanded we use an app to pay. We just left one lot altogether because we didn't want to go through the hassle of setting up an account and payment to get ice cream.
It was just as bad last year on a trip to Toronto. I swear every parking lot pushed for different apps. Those lots had physical machines at least, but they didn't seem well maintained. I think we had to download one app because the machine was just broken. We'd even asked a local guy working at a nearby bakery cart for help with the machine thinking maybe we were doing something wrong.
And don't get me started on the increasing pushes for QR codes and apps over physical menus or maps in malls...
I'm cool with it if they also have physical menus as an option. Or if they have a map in the mall we can actually look at. I swear I've been to at least one mall that had no map, just a QR code. I...
I'm cool with it if they also have physical menus as an option. Or if they have a map in the mall we can actually look at. I swear I've been to at least one mall that had no map, just a QR code. I don't like the growing forced dependence on smartphones since not everyone has one.
The moment when everyone's done with the meal, but has to wait for the server to make multiple trips to your table to deal with the check is absolutely the worst moment of eating out for me. Being...
The moment when everyone's done with the meal, but has to wait for the server to make multiple trips to your table to deal with the check is absolutely the worst moment of eating out for me. Being able to pay without waiting is great for my peace of mind.
I dont minds it as well, however it I despise bring asked to tip. We don't have tipping culture here, we don't need it or want it, and I'm for sure tipping you when I have had zero service from...
I dont minds it as well, however it I despise bring asked to tip.
We don't have tipping culture here, we don't need it or want it, and I'm for sure tipping you when I have had zero service from any staff or tasted the meal at this point.
And the pages love to reset the tip to try and trick you into a default tip, I often have to reload the page/back out/dig through a menu to remove it.
Rather than switch my phone to a “dumb phone”, what I think is just as or more effective without sacrificing the utility of a full-fat smartphone when it’s needed is just using a few more single...
Rather than switch my phone to a “dumb phone”, what I think is just as or more effective without sacrificing the utility of a full-fat smartphone when it’s needed is just using a few more single purpose devices instead of apps.
For example, using something like an iPod or minidisc player to listen to podcasts. This is something I’ve been doing lately, and it’s seriously curbed my pulling out the phone and fiddling with it while listening, compared to listening to them with an app.
Sounds goofy but it works. Because I didn’t have to pull my phone out of my pocket to start listening, I’m not distracted by anything I see on it, I’m less likely to be thinking about it, and there’s suddenly a small amount of friction added to doing anything else on the phone. Over time it also curbs any association made between goofing off on the phone and listening to podcasts.
As a fun side bonus, many of these single use devices can be interesting hobbies in themselves.
This principle can be applied outside of reducing smartphone usage, too. Have trouble focusing on studies on your main computer? Grab a cheap but decent used laptop, slap some flavor of Linux on it, and intentionally keep it signed out of non-study things and keep it as disconnected as possible. Maximize friction for everything that’s not studying on that machine. Pretty soon just sitting down with that laptop will put you in the zone.
In the 90s a lot of small video cameras were available and you would see them everywhere, especially amusement parks and tourist sites. And it was kind of a problem, because people were staring at...
In the 90s a lot of small video cameras were available and you would see them everywhere, especially amusement parks and tourist sites. And it was kind of a problem, because people were staring at the little viewfinders instead of being in the moment. It made the experience worse for themselves and for other people too because these videographers were kind of out of it.
And now most phones have cameras and camcorder functionality but that isn't even considered a particularly addictive or distracting feature.
This video made me think that I’ve been on a “dumb phone journey” myself.
I tried to apply “self-control” to how much I use my smartphone since I bought my first one in 2012, but I’ve never been disciplined enough.
In late 2023 I concluded that this is an area of my life where, unfortunately, I am not capable of being “moderate”, so I have to be “abstinent” (I’m good at being moderate with my diet, for example, but not with my smartphone). So, I decided to make a New Year’s resolution for 2024 (something I never did before in my life) and just delete all of my social media accounts, as well as accounts on other sites and services that just distract me. I also deleted their and other apps from my smartphone.
Some accounts (looking at Facebook and Instagram) were hard to get rid off, but I got it done.
Earlier this year I stumbled on the “indie web” (or whatever you prefer to call it), and have finally found a community on the Internet without being endlessly distracted or giving away my private data. Found Tilde just today, in fact!
Meanwhile, my now six-year-old iPhone Xr (which I intend to hold onto for a few more years) has become a bit of a dumb phone. The apps that I use on a regular basis all fit on the Home Screen without any folders. They’re all just tools, no exception.
And it turns out that the people that I actually want to stay in touch with, will find me when they need to. They can reach me via phone, Messages/WhatsApp, and e-mail. That’s more than enough.
Welcome aboard!
I went on a similar journey a few years ago and deleted FB and other socials. I kept going to reddit up until the API fiasco. It was hard, like you said, but after adapting to having to be more proactive in maintaining my friendships, I quite enjoy not being stuck in a simulation-seeking loop for so much of my time.
Thank you. 😊
I forgot to mention that I deleted my Reddit account as well (along will all the hard-earned karma 💔). Apollo dying off due to the API pricing changes was the beginning of the end for me.
Also, it’s very true what you say. It’s difficult to transition away from social media, unless we make an effort to maintain a proper social circle some other way.
One tip for you to make your iPhone even less appealing is to turn your app icons grey. The newer iOS versions let you customize your app icons by applying a color tint and grey is possible to make. App icons have very distinct and vibrant designs that subconsciously draw your eyes to them to try and get you to click on them. Taking away the color makes opening an app much more deliberate. I’ve also taken most apps off the home screen to further make opening an app a deliberate choice instead of a muscle memory tap.
Also the new “Reduce Interruptions” focus mode may or may not be available to you since it may use AI features that older iPhones don’t have, but it’s a game changer. It mutes 99% of notifications, but if you get a phone call or someone texts you with something AI think may be time sensitive, it will show the notification. I already check my phone about once an hour, so I’ll see any texts then, but I get to choose when I think about my phone instead of my phone trying to grab my attention.
I keep “Do Not Disturb” on all the time, since… 2015? 2016? It's a godsend feature. I'm no doctor or do anything that's time sensitive, so there's no need to answer messages ASAP, and calls are so rare nowadays that I let them skip DND.
Can't recommend enough if you don't need to be reachable and answer quickly to messages.
There are in my opinion two main categories of blockers for modern dumphones.
The silent assumption that everyone has a smartphone and the fact that depending of where the person lives and what they do it may not actually be realisticaly possible to not have a ios/android with google. For myself I think I may theoretically be able to for personal phone but it would introduce so much problems that I just cursorily debloated Samsung one to be done with it.
The simple fact that a pocket computer with cellular access actually a very powerful and useful tool whose replacement might not be possible or require several devices. That it is hijacked to maximize the engagement of the user, comes with artificially crippled os and the sw landscape around it is largely toxic is another thing.
I also tried Pinephone with postmarketOS(or other Linux based mobile distro that is not effectively single vendor dependent) for about two years.
That combined both the power of an uncrippled computer and portability and data access. Though there was always the problem of the assumed apps access and to be honest neither the hw or sw at the time was ready for standard daily use which is not surprising given the who knows how many billions of lead the ios/android had and the locked down nature of modern performant mobile chips and the high barrier of power requirements.
This is unfortunately very true. When my family went on vacation to Texas a few years back, parking was a nightmare because a bunch of parking lots demanded we use an app to pay. We just left one lot altogether because we didn't want to go through the hassle of setting up an account and payment to get ice cream.
It was just as bad last year on a trip to Toronto. I swear every parking lot pushed for different apps. Those lots had physical machines at least, but they didn't seem well maintained. I think we had to download one app because the machine was just broken. We'd even asked a local guy working at a nearby bakery cart for help with the machine thinking maybe we were doing something wrong.
And don't get me started on the increasing pushes for QR codes and apps over physical menus or maps in malls...
Honestly I love this, especially when they let you pay via Apple Pay through the page as well. I hope all restaurants implement it.
I'm cool with it if they also have physical menus as an option. Or if they have a map in the mall we can actually look at. I swear I've been to at least one mall that had no map, just a QR code. I don't like the growing forced dependence on smartphones since not everyone has one.
The moment when everyone's done with the meal, but has to wait for the server to make multiple trips to your table to deal with the check is absolutely the worst moment of eating out for me. Being able to pay without waiting is great for my peace of mind.
I dont minds it as well, however it I despise bring asked to tip.
We don't have tipping culture here, we don't need it or want it, and I'm for sure tipping you when I have had zero service from any staff or tasted the meal at this point.
And the pages love to reset the tip to try and trick you into a default tip, I often have to reload the page/back out/dig through a menu to remove it.
Rather than switch my phone to a “dumb phone”, what I think is just as or more effective without sacrificing the utility of a full-fat smartphone when it’s needed is just using a few more single purpose devices instead of apps.
For example, using something like an iPod or minidisc player to listen to podcasts. This is something I’ve been doing lately, and it’s seriously curbed my pulling out the phone and fiddling with it while listening, compared to listening to them with an app.
Sounds goofy but it works. Because I didn’t have to pull my phone out of my pocket to start listening, I’m not distracted by anything I see on it, I’m less likely to be thinking about it, and there’s suddenly a small amount of friction added to doing anything else on the phone. Over time it also curbs any association made between goofing off on the phone and listening to podcasts.
As a fun side bonus, many of these single use devices can be interesting hobbies in themselves.
This principle can be applied outside of reducing smartphone usage, too. Have trouble focusing on studies on your main computer? Grab a cheap but decent used laptop, slap some flavor of Linux on it, and intentionally keep it signed out of non-study things and keep it as disconnected as possible. Maximize friction for everything that’s not studying on that machine. Pretty soon just sitting down with that laptop will put you in the zone.
In the 90s a lot of small video cameras were available and you would see them everywhere, especially amusement parks and tourist sites. And it was kind of a problem, because people were staring at the little viewfinders instead of being in the moment. It made the experience worse for themselves and for other people too because these videographers were kind of out of it.
And now most phones have cameras and camcorder functionality but that isn't even considered a particularly addictive or distracting feature.