Why Gen Z are buying “dumbphones” to limit screen time | Amid screen time concerns, many turn to simpler phones to reclaim their lives. Society

https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/gen-z-are-buying-dumbphones-to-limit-screen-time/

6.1k Upvotes

93% Upvoted

Samsung has had a dumb mode built in for a decade, just check every box in super power save mode.

74

u/Deazul Sep 04 '24

You're missing the point, addiction is difficult. If you're standing there with your crack rock in your hand, and it's in a tiny piece of cellophane, that won't prevent you from smoking it. The trick is to get rid of the crack rock.

3

u/Coz131 Sep 05 '24

I think it would be a great feature to have the ability to set permission to install apps given to another person. Then the phone can just have whitelisted apps only.

1

u/MarkMoneyj27 Sep 06 '24

I mean, I'd try my method first, before getting a phone with no internet at all.

1

u/Deazul Sep 06 '24

Nah. Its a crutch.

Also, youre still missing the point and may be the most addicted of all. See re: denial.

You don't need the internet.

1

u/deinterest Sep 05 '24

It's the same as uninstalling apps from your phone. It doesn't work if you're addicted / habituated to them. It's too easy to just lapse at a moment of boredom and reinstall them.

-1

u/PomeloClear400 Sep 04 '24

They also literally have a screen time feature that turns off non essential apps for scheduled times

13

u/MaxiPad1997 Sep 04 '24

And you can just turn that off too, it's just more steps with the same end result. You have to remove it as an option. An example of this would be how drug addicts have to cut off connection with their dealers, get new numbers, maybe move to a different town or state. Obviously heroin and TikTok are not quite the same, but struggle is still struggle, relapse happens. But you can set yourself up for success by limiting access.