Surge in Popularity of ‘Dumbphones’ as Adults and Teens Seek to Reduce Screen Time

Adults and teenagers aiming to cut back on their screen time are increasingly swapping their smartphones for simpler, “dumb” models.

The ability to track daily screen time on smartphones can lead to an uncomfortable realization: a once-useful tool has turned into an obsession. This is a sentiment echoed by 16-year-old Luke Martin from Canada, who told the BBC, “Social media is built around FOMO (fear of missing out), so I felt like I couldn’t get off it. Instantly I got Instagram and it was a downward spiral.”

Luke is not alone in his experience. Research from Harvard University indicates that using social networking sites activates the same part of the brain as addictive substances. This has heightened concerns about smartphone use among young people. In the UK, Ofcom estimates that approximately a quarter of children aged five to seven now own a smartphone. Studies have also linked social media use to negative effects on mental health, particularly in children.

In response, some campaigners are calling for age limits on smartphone use, while others, like Luke, are choosing to switch to basic phones, or “dumbphones,” that offer only essential functions like texts, calls, and maps. Luke’s new phone has significantly reduced his screen time from four to five hours a day to just 20 minutes.

Parents are also turning to dumbphones, both for themselves and their children, to foster more present and engaged family time. Lizzy Broughton, a mother of a five-year-old, recently bought a traditional Nokia flip phone. “It helped me recalibrate my own habits; I have way more quality time with my son,” she explained. Lizzy plans to provide her son with a similar device when he is old enough, stating, “It doesn’t feel like the best idea to just start with a smartphone.”

The demand for dumbphones is rising in North America. Daisy Krigbaum and Will Stults, owners of Dumbwireless in Los Angeles, note an increasing number of parents seeking low-tech phones for their children. However, Stults mentions that some schools require students to have certain apps, making it challenging for parents to fully commit to dumbphones.

One solution is the “unpluq” device, which allows parents to block specific apps on a smartphone, thus limiting distractions while still meeting necessary requirements. There are also phones designed specifically to minimize addictive use, such as the “Wisephone II” developed by Chris Kaspar’s company, Techless. This phone features a minimalist design with no icons and limited functionality, aimed at promoting a more peaceful digital experience.

Kaspar, who created the phone with his teenage foster daughters in mind, notes that 25% of their sales are to children, though the device is marketed to adults. “If you have a phone that’s branded as a kids’ device, there’s some shame associated with that. So we made a very adult, sophisticated, Apple-esque, really nice device,” he said.

Despite the rise of these alternatives, the financial incentives for big tech companies to maintain current user habits are significant, with billions of dollars in revenue from apps and social media advertising.

Meanwhile, Luke Martin remains committed to his dumbphone, despite the reaction from his peers. “They think it’s pretty weird, but at this point, it doesn’t really matter because it’s helped me so much,” he said. “It’s definitely taken me into a better spot right now.”