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I've spent the last year or so trying to control my smartphone usage, by removing apps and trying to set rules for myself like "your phone stays in the kitchen

by ppf 6y ago

I've spent the last year or so trying to control my smartphone usage, by removing apps and trying to set rules for myself like "your phone stays in the kitchen for most of the day". I recently took the plunge and got rid of it entirely, and it was truly surprising to realise how much of my time and attention it had still taken, despite my best efforts. If you think you're ready for that step, I highly recommend it. Just as mindless browsing, refreshing, and scrolling is self-perpetuating, so is the obverse. Once you start removing apps and accounts, and habits are broken, you will start asking yourself "Why am I on my (phone/computer/laptop)? What else could I be doing?"

alexpetralia 6y ago
Similarly, everytime I decide to relegate my phone to another room, I am better off for it. The problem is that, one week or another, it eventually liberates itself and somehow makes its way back into my day-to-day. One day, I hope to solve this.
Mediterraneo10 6y ago
Will it even be possible for many people to give up smartphones in favour of a dumbphone any more? Thanks to COVID, you may have to own an Apple or Android smartphone to do certain things. Several countries have announced that their vaccination certificate will exist mainly in digital form, with one official app that generates limited-time QR codes. For instance, I can’t find any information on what Israelis without a smartphone are supposed to do at restaurants etc., since the news is reporting that the QR code will be mandatory to enter such places. Nearly all people entering Poland must now quarantine, and after you hand over your details at the border, the police send you an SMS saying “Installing our quarantine app from the Google Play store or Apple’s store is legally required”. Then you already had the problem of some banks no longer offering code cards or SMS verification, and requiring you to use their app for 2FA for online banking.
- ppf 6y ago
  Fortunately, I live in a country where I think there is less chance of such things happening. However - is mandated smartphone ownership the future we want? It goes without saying that almost all government over-reach is done "for your own good".
- mackrevinack 6y ago
  what about an old smartphone then? one that can do all that stuff but one that is slow and has a small screen so it would be really annoying to use for any length of time?
esperent 6y ago
I've considered doing this, but it's not possible for two reasons: all my banking apps require using a smartphone. And second, I'm a web developer and need to test sites on a phone daily. There's also one killer app I don't want to stop using: maps (Google, Apple, Open Street Map, doesn't matter which). However, I have switched to NextDNS and locked out a large chunk of the internet on the phone. That helps.
- throwawayboise 6y ago
  Maps are definitely the one thing that still keeps me owning a smartphone. The navigation is just super convenient. That said, before smartphones, I managed to find my way to where I needed to be, using paper maps and written directions. It's not that hard.
- mackrevinack 6y ago
  if you're on android, there's an app you might like called "target home launcher" that will let you set your map app as the home screen. i have mine set to open metro so it feels more a like an mp3 player first that's also able to do other things if needed you could then use something like zone launcher and only add one or two important apps to it, or use swiftly switch instead and set it up so you have to search for an app, basically making it harder to casually wander onto some social media app like you would if you had them all showing on your homescreen
elijaht 6y ago
I haven't gone as far as that, but have deleted anything on my phone that provides "infinite content". Twitter, the reddit app (still use logged out in browser so I get the ~20 top posts for a couple specific subreddits), things like that. I notice the same phenomena- I haven't restricted any behavior on my computer, but notice I am spending a lot less time on it
InnerGargoyle 6y ago
thats why i use feature phone..

by ppf 6y ago

alexpetralia 6y ago

Similarly, everytime I decide to relegate my phone to another room, I am better off for it. The problem is that, one week or another, it eventually liberates itself and somehow makes its way back into my day-to-day. One day, I hope to solve this.

Mediterraneo10 6y ago

Will it even be possible for many people to give up smartphones in favour of a dumbphone any more? Thanks to COVID, you may have to own an Apple or Android smartphone to do certain things. Several countries have announced that their vaccination certificate will exist mainly in digital form, with one official app that generates limited-time QR codes. For instance, I can’t find any information on what Israelis without a smartphone are supposed to do at restaurants etc., since the news is reporting that the QR code will be mandatory to enter such places. Nearly all people entering Poland must now quarantine, and after you hand over your details at the border, the police send you an SMS saying “Installing our quarantine app from the Google Play store or Apple’s store is legally required”. Then you already had the problem of some banks no longer offering code cards or SMS verification, and requiring you to use their app for 2FA for online banking.

ppf 6y ago
Fortunately, I live in a country where I think there is less chance of such things happening. However - is mandated smartphone ownership the future we want? It goes without saying that almost all government over-reach is done "for your own good".
mackrevinack 6y ago
what about an old smartphone then? one that can do all that stuff but one that is slow and has a small screen so it would be really annoying to use for any length of time?

esperent 6y ago

I've considered doing this, but it's not possible for two reasons: all my banking apps require using a smartphone. And second, I'm a web developer and need to test sites on a phone daily. There's also one killer app I don't want to stop using: maps (Google, Apple, Open Street Map, doesn't matter which). However, I have switched to NextDNS and locked out a large chunk of the internet on the phone. That helps.

throwawayboise 6y ago
Maps are definitely the one thing that still keeps me owning a smartphone. The navigation is just super convenient. That said, before smartphones, I managed to find my way to where I needed to be, using paper maps and written directions. It's not that hard.
mackrevinack 6y ago
if you're on android, there's an app you might like called "target home launcher" that will let you set your map app as the home screen. i have mine set to open metro so it feels more a like an mp3 player first that's also able to do other things if needed you could then use something like zone launcher and only add one or two important apps to it, or use swiftly switch instead and set it up so you have to search for an app, basically making it harder to casually wander onto some social media app like you would if you had them all showing on your homescreen

elijaht 6y ago

I haven't gone as far as that, but have deleted anything on my phone that provides "infinite content". Twitter, the reddit app (still use logged out in browser so I get the ~20 top posts for a couple specific subreddits), things like that. I notice the same phenomena- I haven't restricted any behavior on my computer, but notice I am spending a lot less time on it

InnerGargoyle 6y ago

thats why i use feature phone..