6 Comments
User's avatar
Safia Messaoud's avatar

When I saw the HMD Barbie “dumb phone”, I almost got it but then I realised that I need my phone for so many things! I cannot even log in to my bank without it or purchase a ticket for the bus. It’s a bit scary how dependent we are on these things…

I shall keep on trying to be mindful with this tool 🫡

Expand full comment
Seva Burmaka's avatar

Made the switch to a dumphone a few months and wrote an article about it. So happy to have made the switch! Thank you for being part of the effort to regain our agency!

https://sevab.substack.com/p/the-flip-phone-experiment-dumber

Expand full comment
Abby Johnson's avatar

I just listened to an episode of the Moving Offline podcast on minimalist UI that reminded me of this essay--I had to come back and find it. I downloaded the Before Launcher and removed all app icons this morning. Now my home screen is a list of my most used tools and nothing else. I'm ready to focus my energy on the physical world, rather than the digital one!

Expand full comment
Break Free From the Internet's avatar

love this! I’ll have to catch that episode!

Expand full comment
Vanessa Koeler's avatar

I have done the same! Usind the minimalist phone launcher and I find myself free from the overstimulation of the many colorful shiny apps.

Having a clear home screen really helps

Expand full comment
Break Free From the Internet's avatar

Take the kid out of the candy store!

Expand full comment