Ditching smartphone, going dumbphone...
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I'd like a dumbphone that runs WhatsApp as 99% of the time that's the only way my family and friends communicate with me. Carrying around a smartphone all day just in case someone WhatsApps me feels like overkill.
It's so rare that someone actually calls me or sends an SMS. And when my kids call me, it's always through WhatsApp as they barely understand the concept of non-Internet calling.
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I have a smartphone but I don't use it anywhere that much. I don't have social media accounts, games, or watch movies on it. Mostly music while driving is main use.
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@Pete-S said in Ditching smartphone, going dumbphone...:
@black3dynamite said in Ditching smartphone, going dumbphone...:
So you have to get a dumbphone because can't help yourself from using your smartphones too much?
I didn't use it too much compared to everyone else. But the average user spends many hours on it every single day. The smartphone and it's apps are specifically designed to be addictive.
Get rid of or disable apps that you consider useless and don't use them.
It's a good idea. The smartphone is a distraction and when I disabled everything that is a distraction in it, all I had left was dumbphone. Might as well have a dumbphone then. The dumbphone is smaller, lighter, doesn't crack and seldom needs to be charged.
OH - I still have LastPass and Starbucks App, and banking/CC apps and MFA apps.. plenty to make it useful after getting rid of games and FB.
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@hobbit666 said in Ditching smartphone, going dumbphone...:
I really need to ditch facebook. That takes up about 80% of my phone usage, and mainly to see the same posts and adverts 90% of the time, then 9% of rubbish people on my friends list post. Then about 1% of things i actually read/respond to.
But @Obsolesce says it's more about self control for me. I just find myself picking it up just "to see" what's new
wish I could get some of the filters I have on the desktop on my phone on FB.
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@hobbit666 said in Ditching smartphone, going dumbphone...:
I really need to ditch facebook. That takes up about 80% of my phone usage, and mainly to see the same posts and adverts 90% of the time, then 9% of rubbish people on my friends list post. Then about 1% of things i actually read/respond to.
But @Obsolesce says it's more about self control for me. I just find myself picking it up just "to see" what's new
FB ditched me and it was great. Now my phone is just work, direct messages from friends and family, Spanish education, and memes. That's it.
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@Carnival-Boy said in Ditching smartphone, going dumbphone...:
I'd like a dumbphone that runs WhatsApp as 99% of the time that's the only way my family and friends communicate with me. Carrying around a smartphone all day just in case someone WhatsApps me feels like overkill.
It's so rare that someone actually calls me or sends an SMS. And when my kids call me, it's always through WhatsApp as they barely understand the concept of non-Internet calling.
Right, if "dumb" phones could be limited to the smart features that have replaced the dumb features (WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Telegram, etc.) it might strike a nice balance.
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@scottalanmiller said in Ditching smartphone, going dumbphone...:
@Carnival-Boy said in Ditching smartphone, going dumbphone...:
I'd like a dumbphone that runs WhatsApp as 99% of the time that's the only way my family and friends communicate with me. Carrying around a smartphone all day just in case someone WhatsApps me feels like overkill.
It's so rare that someone actually calls me or sends an SMS. And when my kids call me, it's always through WhatsApp as they barely understand the concept of non-Internet calling.
Right, if "dumb" phones could be limited to the smart features that have replaced the dumb features (WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Telegram, etc.) it might strike a nice balance.
This again, is simply a matter of self control. Don't install those things (or uninstall them if they are installed by default) and you should be fine.
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@Dashrender said in Ditching smartphone, going dumbphone...:
@Pete-S said in Ditching smartphone, going dumbphone...:
@black3dynamite said in Ditching smartphone, going dumbphone...:
So you have to get a dumbphone because can't help yourself from using your smartphones too much?
I didn't use it too much compared to everyone else. But the average user spends many hours on it every single day. The smartphone and it's apps are specifically designed to be addictive.
Get rid of or disable apps that you consider useless and don't use them.
It's a good idea. The smartphone is a distraction and when I disabled everything that is a distraction in it, all I had left was dumbphone. Might as well have a dumbphone then. The dumbphone is smaller, lighter, doesn't crack and seldom needs to be charged.
OH - I still have LastPass and Starbucks App, and banking/CC apps and MFA apps.. plenty to make it useful after getting rid of games and FB.
Well me too. I have a few useful things. They take up very little time though. Your right, just get rid of social media and games.
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I would sprint to a dumb phone that only had Signal on it.
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@popester said in Ditching smartphone, going dumbphone...:
I would sprint to a dumb phone that only had Signal on it.
I mean you CAN get android, remove all apps, install Signal, remove Play Store and that's what you have
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There's been some movement on a semi-smart feature phone with the KaiOS platform, which I think is based on an older Firefox OS (although I think there's work with Mozilla to modernise this).
I have a Nokia 8110 4G, but had to quit using it due to the tiny T9 keypad and ergonomics. I had my fingers crossed for KaiOS port of the Signal app, but it's only got 'useful' 3rd party apps influenced by some of the big name investors in the platform (It's probably very easy to guess why they're interested and keeping fingers in this pie). I'm waiting for the Nokia 2720 Flip to come on sale, maybe have another go at it.
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I have an android with tons of apps. Not sure how it can be so hard for others to not use them. I only use what I want and ignore the rest. Also, most are useless apps to me anyways.
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@warren-stanley said in Ditching smartphone, going dumbphone...:
There's been some movement on a semi-smart feature phone with the KaiOS platform, which I think is based on an older Firefox OS (although I think there's work with Mozilla to modernise this).
I have a Nokia 8110 4G, but had to quit using it due to the tiny T9 keypad and ergonomics. I had my fingers crossed for KaiOS port of the Signal app, but it's only got 'useful' 3rd party apps influenced by some of the big name investors in the platform (It's probably very easy to guess why they're interested and keeping fingers in this pie). I'm waiting for the Nokia 2720 Flip to come on sale, maybe have another go at it.
I looked at those phones as well but decided to get the Nokia 3310 3G instead.
Anyway, I'm not too worried about texting and messaging in general. I'm trying to become more focused and more efficient and I believe choosing other ways of communication will accomplish that.
There will be some friction at first I think. But eventually when people know you decided to become dumbphone user, they will not send you long texts and expect long answers.
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Problem solved:
You’re welcome.
