5 ms·

I never had a smartphone. My social life did get worse when everyone around started getting smartphones. You could say just make friends with other people who d

I never had a smartphone. My social life did get worse when everyone around started getting smartphones. You could say just make friends with other people who dislike smartphones, but it's tricky when most people I come in random contact with (at work, in other environments) use smartphones.

sieste 4y ago
There is probably a meetup group for people who don't have phones ... oh, wait, nevermind.
whstl 4y ago
I think it's much more than smartphones. It's also the Netflixes, Prime Videos, Twitches, and Steams of the world. Also Youtube and Reddit. I know plenty of people who pride on not having smartphone but barely come out of the house due to streaming or games. Also Amazon, and Uber Eats, and whatever that grocery store app who fired half their staff lately is called. Smartphones are just the visible tip of the iceberg. People have no incentive to leave their house anymore. All their entertainment is inside. Hanging out barely exists for some people, even for some teenagers. We have WFH so we don't have to commute but I bet a lot is just gonna turn off one screen and turn another. I don't know the cause. Everyone says they're perpetually tired. Perhaps that's it.
- DeathArrow 4y ago
  I agree 100%. It's not about the phones, it's that technology makes everything seem effortless and many people want now instant gratification, if not, they are unhappy. So the answer to this situation is to start being able to control yourself, let the game console, the phone the smart TV and everything else, go outside, take a walk, see what's new in town, meet with friends, go for a dinner at an restaurant, read a book, spend some time in nature. Do some of the boring things people did before smartphones, the Internet and gaming consoles. From time to time.
  - whstl 4y ago
    Yep. More boredom is the answer. Bored teens in the past created punk. Today teens are too busy to even play all the games in their Steam library. Phones aren't even the problem if you use them well. The problem is the apps that try to make you "engaged".
- timerol 4y ago
  Don't forget HN on that list. I think the minimalist design and lack of notifications are good nudges to log off, but it's very possible to spend too much time here. (As I would know from experience.)

sieste 4y ago

There is probably a meetup group for people who don't have phones ... oh, wait, nevermind.

whstl 4y ago

I think it's much more than smartphones. It's also the Netflixes, Prime Videos, Twitches, and Steams of the world. Also Youtube and Reddit. I know plenty of people who pride on not having smartphone but barely come out of the house due to streaming or games. Also Amazon, and Uber Eats, and whatever that grocery store app who fired half their staff lately is called. Smartphones are just the visible tip of the iceberg. People have no incentive to leave their house anymore. All their entertainment is inside. Hanging out barely exists for some people, even for some teenagers. We have WFH so we don't have to commute but I bet a lot is just gonna turn off one screen and turn another. I don't know the cause. Everyone says they're perpetually tired. Perhaps that's it.

DeathArrow 4y ago
I agree 100%. It's not about the phones, it's that technology makes everything seem effortless and many people want now instant gratification, if not, they are unhappy. So the answer to this situation is to start being able to control yourself, let the game console, the phone the smart TV and everything else, go outside, take a walk, see what's new in town, meet with friends, go for a dinner at an restaurant, read a book, spend some time in nature. Do some of the boring things people did before smartphones, the Internet and gaming consoles. From time to time.
- whstl 4y ago
  Yep. More boredom is the answer. Bored teens in the past created punk. Today teens are too busy to even play all the games in their Steam library. Phones aren't even the problem if you use them well. The problem is the apps that try to make you "engaged".
timerol 4y ago
Don't forget HN on that list. I think the minimalist design and lack of notifications are good nudges to log off, but it's very possible to spend too much time here. (As I would know from experience.)