In a recent article published in The New York Times, American writer Kashmir Hill shared her experience of switching from a smartphone to a basic phone for a month in an attempt to reduce her addiction to the device. Hill confessed to spending over five hours a day on her smartphone, engaging in various important activities such as work, family text messages, reading news, and communicating with distant friends, which often led to feelings of unhealthy remorse.
In December 2023, Hill made a radical change by swapping her $1,300 iPhone 15 for a basic $108 Orbic phone, which only allows phone calls and text messages. She emphasized that the change was neither easy nor quick, as her telecommunications company initially prevented her from making the switch over the phone, requiring her to visit the store.
While facing challenges with the basic phone’s short battery life and limited functions, Hill recommended consulting with one’s own telecommunications company for supported models if considering a similar experiment. She highlighted a growing market for minimalistic phones in recent years and cited Jose Broonies, founder of “Dumb Phone Discoverer,” who assists people in choosing from 98 models he has tested.
Hill’s experience indicated that using the basic phone helped reduce screen time and smartphone addiction. She referenced a study showing that converting a smartphone to grayscale mode helped individuals reduce screen time by 18%. Although Hill encountered difficulties such as the inconvenience of using a basic phone for tasks like charging her electric car and navigating without Google Maps, she ultimately found the freedom and control gained from disconnecting from the internet to be rewarding.
In addition to her personal observations, Hill noted that her 7-year-old daughter appreciated the increased engagement when Hill spent less time on her phone, hinting at the positive impact of breaking bad habits related to smartphone usage.
While recognizing the challenges and occasional inconveniences of using a basic phone, Hill highlighted the sense of freedom and increased control over time. She cited Dr. Matthew Bowman, an exercise science professor, who stressed that our health competes with many digital services and companies vying for our time, energy, and attention.
The article underscored the need for strategies to break the habit of excessive screen time, quoting Laura Zimmerman, assistant professor at the IE Business School in Madrid, on the unintended and addictive nature of smartphone usage. The piece concluded with a quote from Carmen Carton, director of policy at the Center for Humane Technology, emphasizing the deliberate design of smartphones and social media apps for addiction and advocating for regulation to protect our health.
Hill’s compelling account of her experience using a basic phone highlighted the benefits of redefining her relationship with technology and striving for a healthier balance in a digitally dominated world.
