Since September 2022, I've been using a Light Phone as my primary phone, very different from the usual smartphones most people use in their day-to-day life. I've had plenty of people ask me why I made the switch to a dumbphone (and why I've shelled out lots of money for one!). Well, I figured I'd answer that more fully in this article.
Before I got the Light Phone II in 2022, I had a smartphone for over 10 years ... Yep. I first got an iPhone 4S in second grade, eventually getting other technology like an iPad soon after and my own desktop computer. While use of the other things came and went, I was exclusively hooked to using a smartphone for those 10 years. So yeah, I was one of the earliest adopters of a smartphone at a super young age. P.S.A., don't do that!
It wasn't until right before I first came to Covenant in August 2022 that I became aware of the Light Phone II again and was actually interested. I'm not sure what sold me on it, but I thought it would be the right decision to make in my life. So, I bought it, and it came a month later! Really soon after, I remember starting to try to sell people on it. Over time this worked, as I got my RA at the time to get it, which eventually led to a couple of people on campus getting Light Phones as well. Honestly though, there's been a noticeable difference in my life after using a dumbphone for almost four years now.
With a dumbphone, I feel way more focused and able to do one thing at a time. While yes, I still hunt for dopamine on my computer by my email, I'm just able to think better and clearer. I feel more present with those around me and less inclined to check my phone with hope of finding something appealing to look at. Instead, the only time I need to check my phone is to check text messages. It's quite freeing. My mood is also a lot better with a dumbphone, in the ways that I feel more balanced overall. Lastly, I've felt that I have reclaimed a lot of my time back, time that I can use to focus on school and get assignments done quicker and more efficiently.
So in my opinion, smartphones are dangerous for us because they are pocket computers. Sure, you can dumb your smartphone down (which works for some people!), but you still have access to the same and previously addicting phone. Going the traditional dumbphone route has helped me gain freedom from the advantage a smartphone has had on my mind. And while I still struggle with the addictive nature of some technology, I'm thankful for small dumbphone companies who are fighting against the attention economy.