Dumbphones, Smart Choice

It's hard to imagine that at some schools, during lunchtime, there are kids hunched over Nokia phones, pressing buttons three times to reach the letter C. Yet in certain schools, there are kids who are pioneering the answer to the smart phone: “the dumbphone,” phones that lack all the features that modern phones have. While the name is straightforward, the fact that this choice of technology was not forced upon them by the teachers and administrators isn’t. Rather, at certain schools this return to a by-gone era is a deliberate act of resistance.Almost no one would be shocked to learn that kids are using smartphones. There have been many debates, especially in education, of how to untangle modern technology from our lives when we are so intertwined with it. The interfaces we are provided by smart phones are seamless: fancy things like a retina display and face ID have collapsed barriers between us and the screens themselves. This interface contrasts starkly with that of the phones created in the early 2000s, where the most intuitive feature was sliding keyboards. But between two decades, the difference between flip-phones and the newest iPhone is the age-old goal of smartphone companies to “make an app for everything”. This promise sounded a lot less threatening twenty years ago, when people were frustrated with tiny screens and even tinier buttons for texting. But now people have a new frustration: phone addiction.The seamless nature of phones with touchscreens unsurprisingly means these devices provide a very easy means of escapism. If you are on a train you play a game, if you have any lapse in attention you have a means to chat with anyone you want. Boredom has been replaced by short term dopamine, a sort of “crowding out” effect that makes it difficult to pick up a book if you lack the willpower. The competition for our attention has become so fierce that even the owners of the phones are jumping in the ring.This is where the "dumbphone" movement gains traction. It may seem ridiculous to intentionally place a digital handicap upon yourself– but that's exactly the point. It's about making that self-deterministic choice and returning to more meaningful tasks. The act of choosing an older phone is difficult yet feels meaningful, exactly like working out or any of the millions of things screen-time could be replaced with. For some students, choosing a device that can only make calls and send texts rids them of having to sacrifice reading or talking to people. Instead of being tethered to a device that dictates their every moment, these students are choosing to dictate their own.There's many obviously positive implications to this concept. When a student isn't constantly distracted by a buzzing pocket, they can engage more deeply with their studies. They can participate more fully in discussions without retreating to their phone, absorb information without the urge to check their notifications, and dedicate more time and energy to long-term dopamine. The subtle art of boredom, once a catalyst for creativity and introspection, can return. Without the immediate gratification of endless entertainment, students might find themselves turning to books, engaging in more face-to-face conversations, or simply allowing their minds to wander and explore ideas.Of course, the transition isn't without its challenges. Navigating a world where smartphones are ubiquitous can be isolating for those who opt for simpler technology. There are practical concerns, too. How do you coordinate with friends for a last-minute study group when you can't easily send a group message? How do you access essential school information that's only available through an app? These are valid questions, and the students embracing dumbphones are often finding creative workarounds. They might rely on older, more reliable methods like phone calls or pre-arranged meeting times. They might even leverage the limited functionality of their phones to be more deliberate about their communication, ensuring that when they do connect, it's for a specific purpose.If the tediousness can be overcome, dumbphones may prove to be more than a reactionary trend. It’s at least a statement that says we can choose how we engage with the digital world, and that sometimes, less is more. It’s a reminder that in our quest for connection and information, we shouldn’t lose sight of what actually matters: our focus, our well-being, and our ability to be truly present in the world around us. As we grapple with the ever-increasing integration of technology into our daily lives, the students choosing to disconnect from the smartphone are, in their own way, leading the charge towards a more mindful and human future.