4 chapters across the catalog
A growing trend among young people involves replacing smartphones with "dumb phones" or flip phones to escape social media addiction. A startup called Dumb.co reports thousands of active users for devices that only support practical tools like Uber and Maps. The hosts discuss the benefits of unplugging to avoid digital grooming and rabbit holes.
NPR featured artist August Lamb, who wrote for the New York Times about her decision to switch to a "dumb phone" to escape constant digital interruptions. Lamb described the psychological challenge of facing boredom and the eventual benefit of becoming more present in her personal relationships.
Apple Event Summary, Huawei Mate XT, Dumb Phone Trend
The latest Apple event introduced the iPhone 16 with a focus on "Apple Intelligence" features that are not yet fully released. Meanwhile, Huawei launched the Mate XT, a $2,800 tri-fold smartphone that has reportedly garnered millions of pre-orders in China. In contrast to high-tech trends, a growing "boss flex" involves using dumb phones and fax machines to signal a desire for privacy and simplicity.
A trend among millennials and Gen Z involves switching from smartphones to "dumb phones" (feature phones) to avoid digital distractions and tracking. Sales of these devices increased by 150% since 2019. The hosts argue that the term "dumb phone" is a derogatory label used by the media to discourage people from opting out of the smartphone ecosystem, which is essential for the implementation of QR-code-based tracking and digital IDs.
