Show of hands, how many of us have gone back now?
Posted by LastCallKillIt@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 84 comments
Show of hands because like all social media apps Reddit is gatekeeping features like adding a Poll on mobile only to keep us smart phone addicts and coming back to their app.
Switched back in July I think.
Background- I was born in 84. I remember the rise of cell phones as a early '00's thing. I remember it being so annoying seeing my girlfriend at the time - say like 2002-2003 tacking away at her Nokia bar phone constantly texting back an forth with friends. The start of my hatred of cell phones lol. I finally caved in 2006 when I got to my first duty station in the Army so I could keep in touch with friends and family at home.
Later the rise of smart phones- also reluctant. I hated them initially too. I think it was roughly 2011 when I tried my first. Got a cheap MyTouch 2G. I loved the QWERTY keyboard, and so it began, but it was never an issue switching back and forth. I had a couple cheap smart phones around then, I'd break them then go back to my MOTO ROKR E8 (which I loved), or later random burner phones that I could get for nothing.
Think it was not much longer after that I never really went back. Went through 3 2 generation Samsungs, a LG G6, and then drank the Apple kool-aid in 2020 with the release of the 12 Pro. Then the 15 Pro.
Now I'm here with this here Sunbeam F1 Pro. No social apps or internet capability other than navigation. Back to taking photos with real cameras again and love it. Inspired me to finally try some newer/ modern cameras and retire my old 6MP Powershot S3 IS from 2006 or 2007 lol.
I work behind a desktop for the last 2.5 years and just going back and forth from the computer to the phone has been enough. That and watching myself and everyone else becoming enslaved by a little device we voluntarily keep in our pocket.
No more constantly tapping my phone screen to check if I missed a notification. Love this phone has LED's like smartphone originally did that told you if you had a missed call or text. Blue missed call, Green a new text.
Actually engaging in conversation in the breakroom with co-workers.
The amusement of watching people walking along constantly staring at the phone screen with zero awareness of whats going on around them. Waiting for them to walk into a man hole like Mr. Magoo.
Drives me nuts when my GF won't put her phone down when we're watching a movie, or driving somewhere and not enjoying the scenery with me. So many things.
I really yearn for a simpler time again. I miss the late 90's and the early-early 00's 00-01/02 was pretty great too. If I could go back I'd live there forever.
Hereforthedung@reddit
I'm looking at a Jelly star phone. I like a smart phone for maps, music, banking, searching the net etc but I hate the hold it has on my life and my wife. In fact the general public as a whole are addicted to phones.
Burningbeard696@reddit
I'm starting to remove social media, but I love that my phone has an amazing camera and I can edit those photos on here. I also use it for travel, as my bank card listening to podcasts. The phones aren't really the issue it's the apps we choose to use.
avoozl42@reddit
I didn't know that was possible.
VinylHighway@reddit
Fuck no
aLongWayFromOldham@reddit
My instant reaction also. I’d see it as some form of cruel technological torture.
VinylHighway@reddit
Not that I wasn't happier pre-smartphone days ;)
MardelMare@reddit
Not yet but I want to!!
I miss my Blackberry 😢
rigidlynuanced1@reddit
More proof that “Boomer” is a mindset
thecatsofwar@reddit
Lots of boomer energy in here true
Spartan04@reddit
Nope. Smartphones have replaced way too many things that I’d have to get new versions of if I ever went back. I’d need a separate music player, PDA/organizer of some kind, digital camera, gps navigator, etc.
LastCallKillIt@reddit (OP)
Meh I already owned all of these things anyways. I still like Garmin navigation. I still have my Zune (not to mention still have my whole CD collection- what hasn't been lost over the years anyways), still had one of my digital cameras, and I just upgraded my laptop over the summer.
thecatsofwar@reddit
Zune owner? That explains a lot.
Spartan04@reddit
If that works for you cool, to each their own. I have no desire though to go back to having all those separate devices.
LastCallKillIt@reddit (OP)
I enjoy it. Always been kind of a techie.
DoubleRightClick@reddit
There needs to be something in between dumb phones and smart phones. I'd like something that connects with my car for maps and music, but doesn't promote doom scrolling... And needs to support 2FA for work. And maybe voice to text so we're not T9-ing again.
MK_BombadJedi@reddit
Its called having self control
bgva@reddit
At this point, I'd settle for going back to Blackberry. You could still doomscroll on Facebook or whatever, but IIRC it wasn't as simple as today's smartphones.
LastCallKillIt@reddit (OP)
T9 with predictive text really isn't bad at all. If I had my way I'd have a QWERTY slide phone again.
massivewhitekitteh@reddit
Look at a phone called keyphone . it's not a slide but a qwerty basic phone . I preordered one and will work on all carriers in the usa . Even prepaid ones. I have been following for a while. They are shipping out their first 3000 pre orders in 3 weeks and shortly after that think will go puclib.
LastCallKillIt@reddit (OP)
Nice. I prefer the horizontal wide format type slide keyboard, but it's better than not having one at all!
brawndoenjoyer@reddit
I just want my blackberry tour back
NotAProfessiona1@reddit
Check out the minimal phone- I’m considering making the switch this month.
I’ve seen a lot of discourse about how it “can’t replace your smartphone” and has been receiving a bunch of negative backlash because of that. Imo, it still has the functionality of a smartphone at its core but doesn’t run in an “efficient” way making it less desirable and harder to work with. Like a futuristic PDA.
Mr8BitX@reddit
Personally, when my Apple Watch is getting a little long in the tooth, I replaced it with one that has an eSIM so I can get calls and text through my watch. Now, I leave my smart phone in the car when doing errands of visiting friends and family and I’ll just keep earbuds in my pocket. When I walk my dog in the morning and afternoons, I leave the phone at home and this has worked out great for me so far. I still have access to my camera and apps and email when I need it but when it’s me (aka not work) time, I can cut away from the smart phone and all the distractions it brings while still getting the essentials to stay in touch with people in my life (and music streaming). Plus, it’s nice having less stuff in my pockets.
Indubitalist@reddit
You’re basically describing a “feature phone,” which was a phone that had some basic apps but the ones it came with were all it would ever get. What we really need is a slower internet. The biggest single issue I see with mobile phones now is that the internet is so fast you can mindlessly and endlessly seek out little dopamine hits. If you had to invest a minute to get a response from the internet for whatever you needed, you’d be a lot pickier and less likely to use it.
bobobobobobobo6@reddit
I did it. I had a year where I went back and fourth, but then for the past year I've been strictly dumbphone, I don't own a smartphone anymore, and I can't think of a better decision that I've made for myself. I try not to evangelize about it, but talk about it when asked, and have thought about doing some writing on the subject, on what it was necessary for me, and how I have learned to live without a smartphone in a world that demands you have one. Short answer on that last piece? It was incredibly daunting at first, but got easier fast. Once you realize that the extra friction is part of (but not all of) the point, your mentality shifts and it becomes a breeze.
therobotscott@reddit
I only got my first smartphone 5 years ago. I almost never use it at the house. But, boy howdy, do I use it outside the house.
PokerbushPA@reddit
I'd love a flip phone, but I also love music, stupid games, and sports scores.
I'm torn. Life is hard. Someone hold me?
Tedanki@reddit
Flip phones are cool retro tech, but like so many, I've come to rely on having a phone, GPS, computer, camera, and so on, being on me. Also, I need to be able to be reached by my wife, my kids' schools, and I guess my job.
I think the solution is just to uninstall social media apps, or turn off notifications to apps that you find are interfering with your peace of mind.
Also, and this is important, I'm totally fine not answering texts all damn day.
Spartan04@reddit
I've found that if you still want to use social media some it works well enough in the browser, just without the notifications and other annoyances that come with it running in its own app. It makes it so you only check social media when you want to. Plus you get a lot more control over things like tracking since you can use content blockers.
_TheWolfOfWalmart_@reddit
This is what I do on my Android. Any social media I use, I just do it in the browser. I don't need notifications or apps. It works very well these days now that sites are well-formatted for mobile browsers, but that didn't used to be the case.
Hot-Highway13@reddit
I’ve tossed around the idea for a few years. Ultimately I just quit using social media altogether. My phone is for news and magazines, etc. and my screen time has been reduced by a factor of hours.
Katerade44@reddit
Yep, getting rid of social media except checking Reddit occasionally completely changed my relationship with my phone. I still use it a lot, but as an e-reader for digital books I get through Libby or to listen to music.
_TheWolfOfWalmart_@reddit
The benefits of a smartphone are huge, but I'm just not sure if they outweigh the drawbacks. For better or worse, I'm not sure if I could manage to go back. The genie is out of the bottle.
Katerade44@reddit
I use my smart phone as an e-reader, so I likely will never go back.
I avoid social media except a little Reddit here and there, so I don't think I encounter as many issues with my smart phone as others might.
apt_get@reddit
Not happening. I have dozens of MFA tokens that I need plus things like a password manager that there's no dumb phone alternative for.
cmgww@reddit
Same here. I absolutely can’t stand 2FA. Yet every time I log into my company database I’m required to input a stupid code sent to my phone. I know there are newer “brick phones“ with bare-bones features, but between that and having to use outlook for my job, I can’t see getting rid of my smart phone. I’m not gonna lie either, it’s really nice to do all my banking and other things on my phone. But I really need to do is scale back social media…. And yes I include Reddit. Everyone loves to claim that Reddit really isn’t social media, but let’s face it, between the ads and all of the nonsense, it’s pretty much social media these days compared to 10 years ago.
apt_get@reddit
Reddit is my kryptonite. I've succeeded in not allowing myself to visit certain subs - the ones that make me stressed out and angry, but I haven't been able to quit it completely. The other apps I tend to just delete. Having to go through the process of reinstalling and logging in makes the act of using them way more intentional which eliminates mindlessly picking up my phone every few seconds for a few swipes. I limit that to weekends if I can, but sometimes I don't even do that. The FOMO tends to fade pretty quickly and next thing I know it's been a couple weeks since I've looked at anything.
cmgww@reddit
I have forced myself do not even visit the popular or news sections. I only stay on my home feed, which is this sub and a handful of sports or hobby subs
Remy0507@reddit
Dealing with annoying 2FA is a hell of a lot better than dealing with your shit getting hacked.
Lucky_Louch@reddit
haven't gone back but I'm still using the same $30 clearance "smart phone" from walmart I got 5 years ago. Thinking of upgrading to a newer clearance phone this black friday.
kinopiokun@reddit
Why do y’all have such a fetish for feeling old?
LastCallKillIt@reddit (OP)
There's a whole 'dumbphone' sub that's pretty much all Gen Z'ers. I've read some interesting points of view from those kids who felt like they never felt any sense of privacy growing up, with social media, their parents constantly knowing where they are and all that. Regretting their childhood memories are laying on a couch with a tablet watching YouTube videos, growing up to be addicted to the dopamine hits of screen time and social apps. I imagine it's liberating getting away from it for the first time for them. Feel bad for this generation of kids.
irgr3at@reddit
SweetCosmicPope@reddit
I wish I could. My job requires me to have a smart phone. Plus there are far too many conveniences I don’t want to get rid of like putting boarding passes on my digital wallet and stuff like that. But I could probably get by if the work requirement wasn’t there.
LastCallKillIt@reddit (OP)
I got my job to work around me de-activating mine.
LastCallKillIt@reddit (OP)
Can't imagine why anyone downvoted that. You're job shouldn't be able to force you to own a damn smart phone if you don't want to. If it's needed, then provide one like so many other good companies will. The only thing mine was need for was the stupid ass two factor authentication app, but don't need it anymore. Set me up with the desktop version of the authenticator instead.
Remy0507@reddit
There is no desktop version of authenticator apps for most things, and from a security point of view that's not really a great idea anyway. And 2FA itself is absolutely essential in this day and age for any accounts that you don't want to get hacked (I work in IT and deal with a lot of cybersecurity stuff).
LastCallKillIt@reddit (OP)
Then you've probably heard of PingID. It does indeed have a desktop version. You have to enter a six digit passcode to and it gives you the code for your 2 factor.
Remy0507@reddit
Sure, but this is a solution that would have to be implemented at an organizational level, and wouldn't be an option for individuals using 2FA for their personal accounts and such (or if their workplace just doesn't use this product).
SweetCosmicPope@reddit
At least two people downvoted that. Crazy.
fourofkeys@reddit
people get emotional when they see something they might consider if they thought it was possible.
when i went vegetarian in high school my mom screamed at me because she thought i was implicating her in animal cruelty somehow. like my actions threw hers into a scrutiny she was unprepared for. i honestly didn't care if she (or anyone else) ate animals, and i'm a meat eater today. people can be reactive when they feel guilty about something subconsciously, or think someone is being holier-than (which i don't think you are, but that doesn't mean people aren't hearing it that way).
LastCallKillIt@reddit (OP)
That's very true
TRGBFAN@reddit
I have waffled so much with this idea. Just get a flip/non-smart phone, and a desktop/laptop for browsing the net. We've lost our independence being attached to these phones. Frankly, I'd rather just not have one at all at this point. If people can't get ahold of me then I guess I'll call them when I get home. However it is really hard to break from, especially considering I have a cell phone from my work. I commend you on getting a flip phone and making the leap 🫡
SweetCosmicPope@reddit
My wife has actually discussed getting a separate smart phone just for work so she can have her own phone separate from that and not be bothered during her off time.
TRGBFAN@reddit
She should. I do sales, I didn't need a hundred customers (plus management) having my personal cell phone number so I got a basic Motorola phone for like 35 bucks and a straight talk monthly service unlimited everything for 45/mo. being able to turn it off when I'm not at work is worth every penny.
LastCallKillIt@reddit (OP)
I've actually been looking at the new Samsungs since they still use physical SIMS. I'd still be stab my SIM into it when out doing my back country bike rides and allow my GF to track me so if something happens she and Garmin know where I am still.
LastCallKillIt@reddit (OP)
It's been well worth it.
DirtRight9309@reddit
i’m not sure i could totally go back but i miss those LED indicators! my Blackberry did that. i would go back to a Blackberry (with physical keyboard) in a second
aliciadina@reddit
I haven’t owned a computer in 10 years because of my phone so I’d never. But I feel kind of lucky because I gave up social media 5 years ago and I think it was easy for me because I was one of the last to actually want a cell phone to begin with. Plus I’ve been going online since the mid 90s and had a certain wariness and awareness about how people behave online vs real life, and a healthy dose of stranger danger.
Long way of saying- I love my smartphone but only because I feel in complete control of how I use it.
Tabs-in-Today@reddit
I wish there was a Luddite Club in my area.
whomsoever@reddit
I've never had unlimited data and I pay for every GB I use, so I never use it a lot outside my home. I use its functions (calendar, timer, phone, text, camera, etc) and for just random research, like looking up recipes while at the grocery store or googling something I need/want to know. Doom scrolling is a bored-at-home activity, with that sweet wi-fi.
I wouldn't give up my pocket computer, it's too useful and convenient and I'd feel limited without it.
hallowdmachine@reddit
Couldn't do it. I don't use much social media other than Reddit (which... counts?) but I definitely enjoy the messaging, GPS, instant access to the Internet for whatever my ADHD brain throws at me, refilling a prescription with the tap of a button, flashlight, translations, camera at hand, and the occasional phone call.
Objective-Bird-3940@reddit
I desperately want to do this (as I’m browsing Reddit on my phone 🤣) but like someone else said - navigation and music connection are heavily relied on in my day to day. Plus MFA for work stuff.
Bored_Acolyte_44@reddit
Man some of y'all are reverting to boomer
Glitter_Sparkle@reddit
No because i’m a couch potato with my phone and I swore off flip phones after one fell out of my bag and snapped in half.
MisRandomness@reddit
I haven’t yet but I’ve decided my current phone will be my last smart phone. I plan to get a flip phone, and have an iPad for times I need the “smart” stuffs. iPad is definitely not something I’d take with me everywhere but could be useful like on a road trip or something.
Zeke688@reddit
I’m thinking about getting one for my 9 year old daughter.
greaterwhiterwookiee@reddit
SERIOUSLY considering it
ONROSREPUS@reddit
Gone back? Hell never went past. Kyocera for life!
Feralest_Baby@reddit
I would if I didn't have 4 required apps for work on my phone.
BearCat1478@reddit
I miss my blackberry some days. I remember a drug dealer game too that someone at work gave me to play. It was stupid but fun.
Mission-Jackfruit138@reddit
I tried and went back. Using Google maps did it for me. Something simple like meeting up for coffee with a friend in a large city was so hard. I heard Jack White did it but said he caved because it was to hard to do parking in a city at all.
Now sometime I delete every app that has any type of scroll feature. Instagram or even YouTube app. Just take a few weeks off.
LastCallKillIt@reddit (OP)
Some of the Sunbeam phones have HERE/ WAZE. The model I have does.
TopRedacted@reddit
No but sometimes I uninstall reddit, X and discord for a few weeks. I touch my phone 90% less.
CaptPotter47@reddit
No. I wouldn’t never go back to a dumb phone.
I was upset when I picked up a LG Chocolate (MP3 player) a month before the OG iPhone was announced. I would have waited the extra 6 months to get an iPhone. Instead I had to wait until my contract was up and the 3GS released the following June.
I was annoyed by Verizon calling me constantly to offer free BlackBerrys to stay. And I wanted none of that junk. iPhone or bust.
LastCallKillIt@reddit (OP)
Man I fucking hate touch screen typing.
CaptPotter47@reddit
I never had a BB so I never got used to using a mini keyboard. T9 on a regular keyboard was fine.
But I’ve gotten pretty solid on a iPhone screen keyboard.
iPad on screen keyboard I struggle with.
Intelligent-Camera90@reddit
I like the idea, but I also like the convenience of little pocket computer in my everyday. But, I also don’t feel like I’m as addicted to my phone as some.
I have a 5 year old iPhone SE.
If I am home, my phone is usually in a different room. If I am out with my husband, sometimes I forget to bring it. If I go out alone, I take it so I can listen to an audiobook or music and for emergencies, since I’m generally driving 30 minutes - 2 hours.
It’s frustrating when I’m trying to spend time with people and they are on their phones, but me switching back to a less convenient option won’t fix that!
LastCallKillIt@reddit (OP)
You seem like you keep it in check a lot better than many of us. I normally would do my best to keep it on the charger in the kitchen when at home. No convenient chargers in the bedroom or living room.
BookkeeperJazzlike44@reddit
I have a few friends that use flip phones exclusively, would love to join them but I need a smart phone for work unfortunately.
IndomitableAnyBeth@reddit
Never went to smartphone. Current flip has minimal internet capabilites. I use that to look up phone number or static weather maps on occasion.
LastCallKillIt@reddit (OP)
NICE.
badteach248@reddit
No way. Google, multiple governments, and whoever else have my data in exchange for GPS, videos, and the ability to pay for everything.
Appropriate-Food1757@reddit
Jesus, no