UK’s Daily Mail, June 30th Article: Increasing Number of Americans Abandoning Smartphones
More and more Americans are ditching their smartphones in favor of “dumb phones,” devices that only make calls and send texts, to avoid falling into “zombie mode.” As a result, dumb phones have become popular, with sales reaching 2.8 million units nationwide last year. Users of dumb phones feel calmer and more focused on real life.
Anxiety and Depression Increase by 50%
Software developer Caroline Cadwell acknowledges that initially, using a dumb phone can be inconvenient, but over time it becomes relaxing: “You’ll find that giving up your smartphone provides you with a lot of time and space, and you can better maintain relationships.” Data shows that the rise of smartphones has coincided with an increase in anxiety and depression rates, which grew by 50% from 2010 to 2019. After 15 years in her previous industry, Cadwell realized that smartphones might be the problem: “I was exhausted, eventually quit my job, and then fell into a ‘zombie mode’ for the next three months. That summer, I did nothing. Looking back, the biggest problem was the lack of boundaries after losing my job.”
In the past, Cadwell had to be on call at all times for work, often taking calls late at night. But when she found herself too busy replying to social media messages to even remember to walk her dog, she realized the severity of the problem.
Cadwell developed an app called Unplug that can lock smartphone apps, helping people use their phones more healthily. Users of this app see their daily phone usage decrease by an average of 72 minutes.
“I think people are gradually becoming aware of the harm of social media and smartphones, and the younger generation will lead the movement to improve the relationship between people and phones,” Cadwell added.
Ditching smartphones isn’t hard
After hearing that a friend had given up her smartphone to care for her child, full-time mom and freelance writer Kristina Dinur also switched to a dumb phone. “I felt the same way for a while but didn’t know what to do. I lacked self-control, but switching to a dumb phone seemed too extreme,” she said. “After talking with my friend, I mustered the courage to make the change.” Dinur was inspired by the book “The Anxiety Generation,” which blames the rising anxiety among young people on the prevalence of smartphones. “From the book, I understood that kids shouldn’t be exposed to social media and smartphones too early, but I hadn’t even managed that myself. To refuse my kids’ requests to play on the phone, I needed to set an example.” For Dinur, ditching her smartphone was easier than expected, and she has no regrets. “I feel exceptionally relaxed, without the struggle of self-discipline. Even when there’s nothing to do, I used to frequently check emails and social media on my phone.”
“After switching to a dumb phone, I no longer face decision paralysis. I feel more peaceful and more engaged in real life, especially spending more time with my kids,” Dinur said. She still uses social media through a tablet but only checks it a few times a day. “Even after several hours, there’s not much interesting happening on social media, which made me realize I was wasting my time before.” Dinur explained that since ditching her smartphone, her focus and reading time have increased, and she spends more time with her family. As a member of the American “Childhood Without Smartphones” movement, she is now working to prevent her two children from developing unhealthy internet usage habits. “Many parents’ smartphone habits aren’t healthy, and for children whose brains and willpower are still developing, these devices are even more harmful,” Dinur said.
Seeking moments of peace in life
Author Stephen Kuchik, who wrote “The Quiet Zone,” once passed through a town called Green Bank while traveling. Due to the nearby astronomical observatory, there is no cellphone signal in this area, and he realized that the locals were experiencing “withdrawal.” “While writing ‘The Quiet Zone,’ I talked to many people who shared their experiences of phone withdrawal when they arrived here,” Kuchik said. “Locals told me that young people become as restless as if they had hives when they realize their phones don’t work. Even knowing there’s no signal, they still compulsively check their devices.”
“The latest data shows that people tap their smartphones more than 2,600 times a day,” Kuchik said. After staying here for a week, his wife’s phone usage started to decline as she gradually adapted to the slower pace of life. Kuchik didn’t go through such withdrawal because he never used a smartphone.
“This is my little trick for finding moments of peace in life. Numerous studies show that if we distance ourselves from the internet appropriately, we feel happier and more efficient. I understand that some people need to check their phones frequently for work, but I’ve found a way to quit, and I hope others can find this method too.” He chose to say goodbye to smartphones completely, “I know my willpower is too weak. When I was playing by the pool with my two kids today, I decided to buy a new beach shovel. If I had a smartphone then, I would have opened Amazon to shop, then get sucked into a black hole of beach shovels, texts, and emails. Being present in the moment is hard, and smartphones only make it harder.”
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